sounds like clutch to me you dont alwways get slipping from a knackered clutch mate and also biting point can be very low or very high with a knackered clutch it all depends on the vehicle, clutch type , clutch fault etc... my rs was exactly same fault as yours when i got it low biting and sometimes difficult to select gears , changed clutch and hey presto biting normal and gears easy to select (as easy as they can be for the escorts soup stirrer)