CRESPO STALLS ON PARMA DEAL

HERNAN CRESPO has made a sensational U-turn on signing a new deal for Parma - increasing speculation that the player could move to either Lazio or Juventus.

Crespo was reported to have agreed terms with the Gialloblu, but a steady slide in form, and an ignominious exit from European competition - beaten first by Rangers in the Champions League and then Werder Bremen in the Uefa Cup - has left the striker unsettled.

Juventus, Lazio and Bologna are all known admirers of the talented Argentinian striker, who is currently the second highest scorer in Serie A with seven goals, and Milan are also reportedly keen to link up Crespo with their own prolific marksman Andrei Shevchenko.

It does not, on the face of things, appear to be financial wrangling that is hampering the player`s decision to sign the new contract - with a tabled bid believed to be worth around 5 billion lira a year (around £31,000 a week).

Patrick Goss