Beasant blunder makes Taylor a Saint

Football

Dave Beasant may have made his last mistake for Southampton after Graeme Souness yesterday spent pounds 600,000 on Barnet's German-born goalkeeper, Maik Taylor.

Beasant made a hash of a clearance to give John Barnes a goal and Liverpool the points on Sunday, prompting the Southampton manager to lift Taylor, a 6ft 5in former soldier, from the Third Division. Taylor has been registered in time to face Wimbledon today if selected.

Frank Clark wants his old Nottingham Forest keeper, Tommy Wright, to join him at Manchester City. The new Maine Road manager is trying to intercept the Northern Ireland international's move from Forest to Reading where he has been on loan. Wright is available at around pounds 250,000.

Arsene Wenger would consider bidding for Paul Ince if Internazionale put the England midfielder on sale. "We would think it over if Paul Ince became available," the Arsenal manager said. "Inter will decide the future of Ince, but, for his quality, yes we would be interested, just like many other clubs. There have been no bids or enquiries but I am looking at many situations and I don't worry about the nationality of a player, just his ability and character and whether he would fit into our team."

Gerry Francis will fend off any Premiership rivals harbouring hopes of snatching leading players from Tottenham. Teddy Sheringham is being linked with Chelsea and centre-back Sol Campbell is believed to be interesting leaders Liverpool. Speculation stems from the apparent reluctance of both players to agree new, long-term deals.

Liverpool, who recently sold the central defender John Scales to Spurs, could offer Jamie Redknapp in an exchange deal for Campbell and Francis has never denied his admiration for the talented midfielder.

"Liverpool wouldn't want to be heard talking about my players and I'm sure they wouldn't be happy about me talking about theirs, so I will pass on that," Francis said. "But Sol is not going anywhere and I've said many times that the story about Teddy telling me he wants to leave is nonsense."

Wimbledon's Norwegian midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen has turned down the offer of a new four-year contract. "I don't want to stay at Wimbledon any longer than one more season," said the 26-year-old Leonhardsen, who is valued at pounds 6m by the Dons.

The Leicester midfielder Neil Lennon has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for allegedly making gestures to fans. Lennon was reported to the police by Newcastle supporters for the gestures he was alleged to have made during Leicester's 2-0 win in October.

Brighton have banned a supporters spokesman, Paul Samrah, from all home games for 20 months after the chief executive, David Bellotti, blamed him for leading protests and threats at the Goldstone Ground. Samrah is a prominent member of the Brighton Independent Supporters Association.

Wolves have agreed to pay Aston Villa an initial fee of pounds 65,000 for England Youth international Mark Jones, ending a seven-month dispute. Jones, 17, joined Wolves in May despite spending the previous two years on schoolboy forms at Villa, who will receive further payments depending on how successful the player is. Earlier this month, Wolves and Villa were ordered by the Football League to settle their dispute or have it dealt with by a League tribunal.