Arsenal in the hunt for Baggio

Arsenal have offered Italy's World Cup star Roberto Baggio £6 million over the next three years to move to Highbury, according to the president of his current club.

Bologna president Giuseppe Frascara Gazzoni has all but given up hope of keeping Baggio at the club, and claims Baggio will go either to the double winners or Inter Milan.

"The chances of Roby leaving us have unfortunately risen to 99.9 per cent," he said. "Arsenal and Inter are offering him something that we can't: the European Champions League."

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, who likes the idea of Baggio alongside Ronaldo, is expected to make a lower offer of £4 million over three years.

But the aces up Moratti's sleeve are that Baggio has never shown any desire to leave the Serie A, and that Inter are willing to loan Bologna one of their many young talents, such as Nigerian midfielder Nwankwo Kanu.

Baggio joined Bologna last summer on a two-year contract which could be rescinded by either side after the first year. The striker has until July 15th to exercise that option - although Gazzoni is pressing for a decision from the 31year-old before he leaves for the World Cup finals on June 5th.

Brazil's goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel (32) may move to West Ham on a two-year contract. Taffarel, who is in France with the Brazil squad preparing for his third successive World Cup, reportedly said one of his agents is negotiating with West Ham, but the deal has not been confirmed.

West Ham's manager Harry Redknapp has been keen to keep the French international goalkeeper Bernard Lama, who came on loan from Paris St-Germain last season, but it is almost certain Lama will be a PSG player again next campaign.

Meanwhile, Bryan Robson yesterday confirmed that the former England centre-back Gary Pallister, who was raised on Teesside, is on the verge of quitting Manchester United to return to promoted Middlesbrough.

Robson is keen to push through a deal in excess of £2 million to make the 32-year-old the first of several summer signings. "The negotiations are ongoing but I don't want to say any more at the moment," Robson said.

With £20 million to spend on players Middlesbrough are confident they can compensate for Pallister's testimonial at United that could earn him around £500,000.

Peter Reid is plotting a double swoop on neighbours Newcastle United, having secured the goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek on a free transfer and renewed his interest in Steve Howey.

Southampton expect to complete the signing of Tottenham's David Howells on a free transfer by the end of the week.

Stan Collymore yesterday dismissed suggestions that his Aston Villa career was coming to an end. "I love being a Villa player," said the £7 million striker. "I know that I haven't done myself justice but I know that I can do the business for the club."