Madrid winger may be heading home

Middlesbrough have agreed an #8 million fee for Real Madrid's out- of-favour winger Steve McManaman.

The former Liverpool player was omitted from the squad who travelled to Monaco for last night's Super Cup defeat by Galatasaray and had been left in no doubt that his future lies away from the Spanish giants following the world record purchase of Luis Figo.

McManaman has previously insisted he has no desire to return to the Premiership, but with Chelsea's Gianluca Vialli ruling out a move for him yesterday he has few options left.

The move comes as Arsenal completed the signing of 26-year-old French striker Sylvian Wiltford from Bordeaux for a fee of #12m.

"We approached Real about Steve and they have accepted our offer," said Middlesbrough assistant boss Viv Anderson. "We are now waiting to see what Steve decides to do."

Alain Boksic is reported to earn #63,000 a week at the Riverside, and Middlesbrough's offer is believed to be in the same region.

oAberdeen boss Ebbe Skovdahl has given full backing by chairman Stewart Milne last night after the Pittodrie outfit were dumped out of Europe by Irish part-timers Bohemians.

"When Ebbe joined us just over a year ago we both agreed it would be a long-term job," said Milne. "As far as I am concerned, that is how it will continue. I've seen improvements during that time. There is a lot more discipline about our training and our preparations, and Ebbe deserves credit for bringing in younger players, too."

oThe Scottish women's European Championship qualifying campaign ended in disastrous fashion when they were comprehensively beaten 5- 1 by the Czech Republic in Blsany.

Needing only a draw to have a chance of joining the top 16 nations in Europe, Scotland got off to the ideal start when striker Julie Fleeting scored in the first minute. But then the Scots were outplayed as the Czechs eased into a 3-1 half-time lead before adding two more goals in the second half.

The result meant the hosts finished on top of the four team group with 13 points, one more than Scotland.

oThe FA are set to decide next week whether to charge Paolo di Canio with intimidating referee Rob Styles following an alleged incident during West Ham's midweek game against Leicester.

If di Canio were to face a misconduct charge for verbal intimidation and be found guilty under the new FA punishment guidelines drawn up this season he could be hit with at least a two- match suspension and a fine.

If his actions, captured on TV replays as he protested against the sending-off of Igor Stimac, were also deemed to have added up to "threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour" any punishment given would be greater.

oPortuguese defender Abel Xavier has lost his appeal that his nine- month suspension should be lifted while his case was being considered. The Everton player failed in his application to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The ban was imposed by Uefa over an incident following Portugal's controversial exit to France during the Euro 2000 semi-finals last June. Xavier, 27, was accused of "violently grabbing the arm of the linesman" who awarded an extra-time penalty which Zinedine Zidane went on to convert sending France to the final and Portugal into a rage.

oReigning French champions Monaco, who will play Rangers in the Champions League, could only draw 1-1 away to Stade Rennes yesterday. They went a goal behind before Swede Pontus Parnerud equalised. Monaco are now sixth in the French League. Lens are a point clear at the top.

oBayern Munich beat amateur side FC Schoenberg 4-0 in the first round of the German cup.

Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, had a nightmare day against VfB Stuttgart.

Stuttgart, who will play Hearts in the Uefa Cup, sent out their own amateur side, yet still managed to win 6-1.

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