ROY HODGSON, the former Blackburn Rovers manager, was yesterday appointed technical director at Internazionale until the end of the season. The Italian Serie A side announced that the 51-year-old Hodgson would work alongside Luciano Castellini, who was appointed as caretaker coach in March after the resignation of Mircea Lucescu.

Hodgson has already had one successful spell with Inter at San Siro from 1995 to 1997, and knows Castellini, who was the caretaker coach after Hodgson resigned towards the end of the 1996-97 season.

Hodgson will try to salvage what has been a disastrous season for last year's Uefa Cup winners. They are ninth in the league, 10 points behind the leaders, Lazio. Regardless of success, Hodgson will hand over the reins to the former Juventus coach Marcello Lippi, who will take charge next season.

Everton's attempt to sign their one-man relegation defier, Kevin Campbell, on a permanent contract may be thwarted by West Ham or Sheffield Wednesday.

Campbell is in negotiations over his future with the Goodison Park club after scoring six goals in the last three games while on loan from the Turkish side Trabzonspor. However the Hammers' manager, Harry Redknapp, and Wednesday's manager, Danny Wilson, are keen to step in and are waiting to see what price is agreed between Everton and the Turks.

Campbell wants to join Everton after Walter Smith rescued him from Turkey, where he had been described as a "discoloured cannibal" by his club's president. Everton are struggling to find the fee to buy him. A deal would cost around pounds 3m as Trabzonspor try to claw back some of the money they paid Nottingham Forest for him.

Campbell's wages, also in the pounds 30,000 a week bracket, could be a major stumbling block, although he may take a cut to avoid going back to Turkey. The Hammers and the Owls are both looking for a goalscorer and could find the money for Campbell.

Liverpool have put David James up for sale at pounds 2m. James' availability and price was made known to clubs yesterday and a move is likely to be swift as his Anfield career is effectively over.