News: Newcastle United hope to embellish an already well-stocked midfield by securing the signature of Emre Belozoglu today.
With a £4-million fee already agreed with Internazionale for the Turkish international, manager Graeme Souness was in Turkey yesterday to discuss personal terms with Ahmet Bulut, the player's agent, before an evening meeting with the player, who has just returned from holiday.
Although Bulut yesterday maintained "six English Premiership clubs" had expressed interest in the 24-year-old, only Newcastle have agreed a fee with Inter, where it is assumed he is Tyneside-bound.
Other clubs have been deterred by wage demands of around £60,000 a week, a sum that forced Everton, initially his preference, to pull out.
"You will know by tomorrow which team he will be playing for next season; maybe there will be an official announcement of his transfer," said Bulut last night. "He is playing next season in England, for sure."
Emre has said it would be "an honour" to play for Newcastle.
"I've a lot of respect for their manager," he added."It would be an interesting move; they haven't had the success they deserve."
He is expected to start alongside Scott Parker, recruited from Chelsea, in the heart of Newcastle's midfield.
Fulham are set to buy the Iceland striker Heidar Helguson from Watford for about £1.5 million.
Portsmouth are interested in Chelsea's striker Carlton Cole, who is for sale after spending last season on loan at Aston Villa.
Birmingham have accepted West Bromwich's £1.5 million offer for the midfielder Darren Carter.
Leeds have taken the American Eddie Lewis on a free transfer from Preston.
Yeovil manager Gary Johnson has ruled himself out of the vacancy at Derby, who are expected to appoint Bolton's assistant, Phil Brown.
Cristiano Ronaldo's representative has confirmed the Manchester United winger is prepared to wait for a revised contract but hopes to come to a satisfactory agreement soon.
The Portugal international is two years into a five-year deal, but having moved to the club as an unknown 18-year-old in August 2003, he now feels he deserves parity with the other top earners at the club.
"He still has three years to go on his contract so we will see what happens," his agent, Luis Correia, business partner of Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes, said.
"He will travel to Portugal with his team later this month so maybe a deal will be sorted out then."
Correia rejected claims the 20-year-old is being greedy and instead pointed to the fact that his client has worked hard to help the victims of the tsunami and has visited Aceh, one of the worst-struck areas, in a bid to raise money.
"It is not right that people should be concentrating about his contract negotiations at United; they should be more aware of the charity work that he is doing," he said.
Correia also stressed that though his performances for United and Portugal may have attracted interest from the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, the youngster has no intention of leaving Old Trafford.
"Of course, he is a top player and will attract interest from other clubs, but he is just concentrating on his football at the moment," he added.
Guardian Service
