Signings leave exit door open for Ince

ADAM SZRETER

The latest episode in the adventures of Paul Ince in Italy saw Arsenal pulling out of any proposed aquisition of the England midfield player while his club, Internazionale, made two signings, thus leaving the exit door wide open for Ince.

Inter yesterday beat the Italian transfer deadline to sign the Brazilian striker Caio from Sao Paulo for around pounds 3m, and they are also reported to have swapped the striker Marco Delvecchio for Roma's Marco Branca.

The transfer deadline only applies to players transferring within Italy, and therefore Ince will remain the subject of speculation as long as Newcastle, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Spurs or anyone else shows an interest.

But Ince, apparently, will not be going to Highbury. Arsenal are thought to have been put off by his high salary requirements as well as the pounds 7m fee. Peter Hill-Wood, their chairman, said: "Although we did show some interest in the player, that is no longer the case. We've totally pulled out."

As far as other offers are concerned, Inter's English coach, Roy Hodgson, said: "You have to remember in Italy the manager does not deal with transfers so I don't know what offers the club has received for Paul."

Ince's former employers, Manchester United, England's wealthiest club, are poised to go into the red because of their ground re-development. But Martin Edwards, the United chairman, said: "It will be a short-term exercise and profits are set to soar once the stadium capacity reaches a new peak of 55,000."

Shareholders will be told of the price of success at next month's annual meeting. "Building the new grandstand was a major decision," Edwards said. "We have now spent something like pounds 42m on the stadium in the last four years."

Chelsea were last night threatening to pull out of a pounds 750,000 deal to sign the Republic of Ireland full-back Terry Phelan from Manchester City. Phelan has passed a medical, but a financial problem at the City end could put the deal on ice.

Newcastle yesterday paid pounds 500,000 for Lincoln's 19-year-old striker Darren Huckerby. The Nottingham-born teenager has scored seven goals in only 28 league appearances for the Imps and has played in every Third Division match for the club this season.

The Football Association yesterday hit back at claims by the Wimbledon owner, Sam Hammam, that his club are being victimised by referees.

Ken Ridden, the FA's director of refereeing, revealed that, of the 11 reports made by Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear on referees' performances in Premiership matches this season, 10 were adjudged to be either "very good" or "good", with only one said to be unsatisfactory. "It is ridiculous for this attack in the light of these overwhelmingly favourable reports from the club manager," Ridden said.

Crystal Palace are delaying Richard Shaw's pounds 1.5m move to Coventry until they buy a replace- ment. They are keen on Sheffield Wednesday's Andy Pearce.

The veteran Wolves defender Eric Young has been called into the Wales squad for next week's final European Championship qualifying match in Albania.

There is no David Ginola or Eric Cantona in the French squad for the qualifier against Israel in Caen. Aime Jacquet, the coach, said: "Cantona is a special case but the team must be spared from surprises just now. This is a match we have to win."