Arsenal drop out of chase for Carrick

Arsenal have dropped out of the running to sign Michael Carrick but five other clubs are still keen to sign him, according to West Ham manager Alan Pardew.

Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric has told his manager Harry Redknapp to pull out all the stops to sign the 23-year-old and may be ready to up the ante still further following a club record £3m (€4.48m) bid after Arsenal decided not to follow up manager Arsene Wenger’s admitted interest with a firm bid.