Football: Walker chases Karlsson

SCANDINAVIAN players continue to be in demand among cost-conscious Premiership managers, with Everton and Leeds United both considering a double swoop yesterday.

Everton's Mike Walker, who had already lined up a pounds 1m deal with Brondby to bring in the Danish international centre-back, Marc Rieper, was in Sweden on Tuesday night to watch another central defender, Trelleborgs' Christian Karlsson, in a goalless Uefa Cup match with Lazio.

Karlsson, a 25-year-old bank clerk, attracted English attention after his performances against Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton in the part- timers' first-round victory over Blackburn.

Walker is believed to be keen to sign both Karlsson and Rieper. Meanwhile, Leeds have added Sigurd Rushfeldt, a 21-year-old Norwegian striker to a list of possible targets which includes the French-based Swede, Kennet Andersson, for whom Caen are asking pounds 2m.

One transfer which did go through yesterday took Stephen Pressley, the Rangers and Scotland Under-21 utility defender, to Coventry for pounds 600,000.

Kevin Scott, the Tottenham defender, has been cleared to play at Manchester City on Saturday after the Football Association reversed a red card decision. Scott was sent off in this month's Premiership draw against QPR.

Les Ferdinand, the Rangers striker involved in the same incident, starts a three-match ban this weekend for violent conduct.

Alan Buckley, the Grimsby manager, will announce today whether he is to take over at West Bromwich Albion.