9 CLUBS ARE IN THE RAN-ING
CLAUDIO RANIERI has become the most wanted man in Europe.
The Chelsea boss has an incredible NINE job offers to sift through in the summer.
Ranieri has been swamped with approaches since Peter Kenyon made it clear he would be sacked at the end of the season.
He has already been sounded out by Spurs and several clubs on the Continent have made discreet enquiries.
Real Madrid and Juventus are among those but Ranieri maintains he would prefer to stay in England.
His agent Jon Smith confirmed: "Juve are an option but other clubs want to speak to him.
"We've had nine firm approaches so far from clubs in England and elsewhere in Europe but Claudio can't talk to them while he is under contract.
"The bottom line is that he would prefer to stay at Chelsea."
Even though Ranieri is on his way, Chelsea continue their search for yet more signings.
And the latest international star in their sights is Inter Milan's Turkish play-maker Emre.
DANNY MILLS will leave Middlesbrough if he is only offered an extended loan deal for next season.
Mills is set to return to Leeds if the Teessiders cannot agree a fee with Leeds and terms with the England right back.
DANIEL LEVY has added the name of former Spain coach Javier Clemente to his list of candidates as the long-running managerial saga at White Hart Lane shows no sign of ending.
Agents representing the former Marseille and Athletic Bilbao coach have been in touch with Spurs chiefs who have asked them to send the 53-year-old's CV.
PORT VALE have received a #300,000 bid for striker Steve McPhee, Hotline can reveal.
The identity of the bidders remains under wraps but Millwall lead the race, as we revealed recently.
NEWCASTLE had to hold off competition from Liverpool to hang on to England Under-21 defender Steven Taylor.
The 18-year-old centre-half was a wanted man before he signed a three-year deal that will keep him at St James' Park until 2007.
IWAN ROBERTS will join Swansea after the curtain was brought down on his Norwich career.
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ROBBIE IN THE FRAME FOR CELTIC
CELTIC are lining up a move for prolific Cardiff striker Robert Earnshaw.
The Welsh star's reputation continues to grow after a series of goalscoring displays for his country.
WEST HAM are sniffing around Celtic keeper Rab Douglas and will also join the chase for Sunderland midfielder John Oster.
A WHOLESALE clear-out at Sheffield Wednesday will see an entire team axed.
Boss Chris Turner is poised to release around 11 players and the casualties are expected to include one-time high-fliers Robbie Mustoe and Terry Cooke.
BRYAN ROBSON is in the frame for the boss's job at Sheffield Wednesday if Ken Bates wins control.
JARNAIL SINGH will break new ground next season by becoming the first man to referee in the Football League wearing a turban.
Singh, who will use the first name John, has spent this season running the line in the Nationwide League.
RONALD DE BOER has sealed a money-spinning deal to play in Qatar next season. The veteran Rangers and Holland star will quit Ibrox when his contract runs out in June.
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KOP EYE SUPER MARIO
LIVERPOOL have emerged as shock candidates to land Mario Melchiot in the summer.
The Chelsea full-back will be available on a free transfer at the end of next month and has already attracted interest from several Premiership clubs - most notably Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Liverpool kids Neil Mellor and Steve Foley will be on their way out at the end of the season. Striker Mellor - back from a year on loan at West Ham - is fancied by Ipswich boss Joe Royle on a similar loan basis. And midfielder Foley is wanted by Luton
NEWCASTLE UNITED boss Sir Bobby Robson has put Portsmouth's midfield destroyer Amdy Faye on his summer hit-list.
NEIL WARNOCK will lead the chase for Burnley's free-scoring Robbie Blake - whether or not his Sheffield United side makes the Premiership.
ANDY TODD'S Blackburn Rovers career may be over after he was given a new snub by manager Graeme Souness yesterday.
Todd has been in the cold since he refused to go on the bench two weeks ago and he was left in the wilderness, despite both Lorenzo Amoruso and Craig Short being missing yesterday.
PROMOTED First Division champions Norwich are keen on Hibernian winger Scott Brown.