Boro Wait As Paris St Germain Suspend Digard

The latest twist in Didier Digard's protracted move from Paris St Germain to Middlesbrough saw the 21-year-old midfielder suspended by the French club yesterday. Digard was punished for making remarks in French newspapers in which he called the club's board "incompetent". PSG directors warned yesterday that additional sanctions will be imposed at the weekend.

By then Digard hopes to be a Boro player but the £4m transfer has stalled as the clubs haggle over the precise fee and whether it is to be paid in installments or, as the French side would prefer, in one go.

Similarly Boro's attempt to sign James Harper from Reading appears to have reached an impasse. Although the Boro manager, Gareth Southgate, still wants to add the 27-year-old to his squad, his counterpart, Steve Coppell, yesterday suggested that Boro have failed to meet his valuation of the midfielder.

"I don't expect any players to move out of the club in the next week or so," he said. "There has been a lot of talk but not a lot of reality. We have valuations and, if they are met, players may go."

Ross Wallace, the Sunderland winger, has turned down a £1m move to Preston North End but the Hungary international Marton Fulop, Roy Keane's reserve goalkeeper, is edging closer to a £1.7m move to Stoke City.

Hernán Crespo has ceased to be a Chelsea player after his contract expired this week. The Argentinian forward has been on loan at Internazionale for the past two seasons after scoring 25 goals for Chelsea over two campaigns, either side of a loan spell at Milan. He left Stamford Bridge for a second time in 2006.

Birmingham City are hopeful that Kevin Phillips can be lured from West Bromwich Albion to St Andrew's this summer. The Championship club have offered the 34-year-old striker a two-year contract. Phillips had sought a similar deal from Albion but the newly promoted Premier League club have offered only a one-year contract with a 12-month option. Derby County have also registered their interest in the former England international, who was Albion's leading scorer in their Championship-winning campaign last season. Birmingham, however, are confident that Phillips will sign for them next week.

Albion yesterday completed the signing of the Heerenveen right-back Gianni Zuiverloon for £3.2m. The Holland Under-21 international has signed a three-year contract at The Hawthorns.

Annan Athletic have gained entry to Scotland's Third Division after winning a vote to take the now defunct Gretna's place in the Scottish Football League. Annan, who defeated Cove Rangers, Spartans, Edinburgh City and Preston Athletic in a closely contested ballot at Hampden Park, join the national structure from the East of Scotland League.

David Weir and Christian Dailly have each agreed one-year contract extensions with Rangers.