Premiership clubs join queue for Klinsmann: Football

English clubs were licking their lips yesterday at the prospect of Jurgen Klinsmann ending his career back in the Premiership.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker announced that he is to give up his pounds 2m a year contract at Bayern Munich after talks with the club's chairman, Franz Beckenbauer.

"I told him that I would probably play abroad next season," the 32-year- old German international said. "I don't fit in here. I wanted to tell Bayern now so that they can plan for the future. There are many reasons [why I am leaving] and I have decided to act."

Klinsmann can leave before the end of his contract in June 1998 because he has an opt-out clause which allows him to quit without a transfer fee.

As well as interest here, clubs in Spain and Italy will also be on the alert and there is the possibility that his swan-song could be played out in the United States.

Klinsmann, who captained Germany to victory at last year's European Championship, returned to his homeland in 1995 after a successful spell with Spurs during which he was voted England's Footballer of the Year and was a hugely popular figure with the fans.

He complained earlier in the season that he was unhappy with Bayern's defensive tactics and the way he had been treated when his form dipped. He has often been at odds with the club's captain, Lothar Matthaus, his predecessor in charge of the national team, and has found it difficult to cope with the squabbling which is part of everyday life at Bayern.

"It was obvious that the whole ballyhoo in Munich got on Jurgen's nerves," the Bayern general manager, Uli Hoeness, said. "He has said that himself many times."

Tony Yeboah has been hit in the pocket and the stomach by the Leeds manager, George Graham. A fine of a fortnight's pay was his response to Yeboah ripping off his shirt after being substituted during Saturday's defeat at Tottenham. Graham followed that by telling the 30-year-old striker, who cost pounds 3.4m two years ago, that he needs to lose just under a stone in weight.

Graham has also instructed the midfielder Carlton Palmer to put his transfer request in writing. "I am not surprised by his request because that is the way football is these days," the manager said. "Some people who are out of the team will try to fight their way back in, others will ask for a transfer."

Paolo Di Canio, of Celtic, has been given a one-match ban following incidents after the Old Firm game on Sunday. The Italian was shown the yellow card after he squared up to Rangers' Ian Ferguson following the final whistle at Parkhead, which technically added up to a sending-off after an earlier booking during the game. Di Canio is also likely to be fined pounds 12,000 in wages.

Queen's Park Rangers are ready to report Sampdoria to the governing body of world football, Fifa, over their free transfer capture of Danny Dichio. The striker will sign a three-year contract when his current deal expires at the end of the season. Players are allowed to arrange a move six months before a contract ends, but QPR claim that Sampdoria broke the rules by not informing them that negotiations were in progress.

Arsenal have signed the 19-year-old keeper Alexander Manninger from the Austrian club Casino Graz after a two-day trial at Highbury.The fee is believed to be around pounds 500,000.

Kasey Keller, the Leicester City goalkeeper, could lose his Coca-Cola Cup final place because of his World Cup commitments with the United States. Keller will miss three games and Leicester have signed the Bournemouth keeper, Ian Andrews, on loan for a month as cover.