Ferguson joins race to sign Senderos

Manchester United are interested in signing the highly-rated Swiss defender Philippe Senderos.

The 17-year-old, who plays for Servette, has been the target of several clubs, including PSV Eindhoven, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, whom he has reportedly turned down. But Real Madrid, who have drawn up a pre-contract agreement, are the favourites to sign him.

"It is no surprise that top clubs like Manchester United are after him," the Swiss football journalist, Silvano Speranza, said. "He is big, tall and technically gifted. He would be a perfect replacement for Laurent Blanc [at Manchester United]. He is young and has a lot of room to improve."

Liverpool were the first English side to declare serious interest in the player. Gérard Houllier has been on the tail of the £2m-rated player since the European Under-17 Championships. He travelled to Geneva to speak to Senderos and subsequently sent out his assistant manager Phil Thompson to monitor his form.

However, Senderos could delay any international transfer until he completes his secondary education in 2004.

United and the Football Association will find out early next year if they are to be prosecuted for allegedly fixing the price of replica kits. The Office of Fair Trading confirmed their intention to continue investigations into United, the FA and Umbro – as well as seven retailers – amid claims "they have been fixing the price of Umbro replica football kits".

The Birmingham City manager, Steve Bruce, is setting up a deal to bring Didier Domi back to the Premiership.

The 24-year-old French central defender or full-back had three seasons at Newcastle United before returning to Paris St-Germain, but he is now poised to join Bruce on loan for the rest of the season.

Bruce is also interested in signing Ipswich's Icelandic defender Herman Hreidarsson and Lens' Senegalese right-back Ferdinand Coly.

Kevin Keegan was at the centre of a bizarre rumour that he had quit Manchester City yesterday.

The City manager was apparently set to resign because of a dispute over money for players. ITN were even sending a camera crew to Maine Road and reports circulated about a 2pm press conference. However, City denied the rumours and the source was traced to a rogue City website.

Liverpool are keeping faith with their goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek for the Uefa Cup tie against Vitesse Arnhem tomorrow after leaving Chris Kirkland to play for the reserves.

Houllier had admitted he was weighing up who to play in the third round match, but it looks like a reprieve for Dudek who has made some poor errors of late. Kirkland, the England Under-21 keeper, must have been hoping for a chance but was sent to play for the second team against West Bromwich Albion instead.

Gordon Strachan, the Southampton manager, is lining up a move for Nottingham Forest's right-back Matthieu Louis-Jean at the opening of the January transfer window.