Impatient Inter issue Ince with ultimatum

Paul Ince was warned last night by Internazionale to sort out his future or be replaced, writes Alan Nixon. The England midfielder is still to give an answer on whether he will return home at the end of the season, taking up a get-out clause in his contract.

A frustrated Inter coach, Roy Hodgson, told Ince last night that he had two players lined up already for his jersey. Inter have made approaches for Bayern Munich's Swiss international Ciriaco Sforza and Werder Bremen's Mario Basler.

Hodgson said: "If Ince goes, and that is still not settled, we will move for one of these players to replace him. That has already been arranged."

The message is blunt from Inter, who want to know Ince's plans soon and cannot afford to miss out on available players.

Parma claim to have beaten Juventus to the signature of the Guadeloupe- born French international defender Liliam Thuram. Giorgio Pedraneschi, Parma's president, said the 24-year-old will join them next season for pounds 4m from Monaco.

Romania's European Championship hopes, dented by the resignation of their coach, Anghel Iordanescu, on Monday, yesterday suffered another blow when Ion Timofte was ruled out of the tournament. The 28-year-old Boavista midfielder will need six months to recover from a broken leg and nose suffered in a Portuguese League game on Sunday.