Everton try to plug gaps

Everton's growing sense of desperation was underlined yesterday when they attempted to recruit Michael Thomas, a player who was shown the door by Liverpool last year. In an attempt to strengthen his injury and suspension hit squad for the fight for Premiership survival, Everton manager Walter Smith is trying to sign, on loan, both Thomas, 31, and the former Nottingham Forest striker Kevin Campbell.

Campbell is likely to agree a short-term deal this morning after last night flying back to England from Turkey where he is currently on the books of Trabzonspor.

Smith spent much of yesterday trying to broker a deal which would also see the former England international midfielder Thomas move to Goodison Park from the Portuguese club Benfica ahead of tomorrow's transfer deadline.

Thomas's future in Portugal has been in some doubt since he was involved in a training-ground confrontation with a team-mate 10 days ago. He joined Benfica on a free transfer 12 months ago after being told by the former Liverpool manager Roy Evans he had no future at the club.

Campbell's return, albeit only on loan, will signal a temporary end to what has been a turbulent and rather traumatic nine months in Turkey following his £3 million transfer from Forest.

Last month, Campbell's agent Paul Stretford asked FIFA to intervene after his client had been publicly insulted by Trabzonspor president Mehmet Ali Yilnaz.

Yilnaz branded Campbell as a "cannibal" and "discoloured", an outburst which prompted the player to send his family back home to England.

Juventus, the Serie A champions, are reported to be planning an offer of more than £12.6 million for Arsenal's French striker Nicolas Anelka, according to the country's two leading sports newspapers.

Corriere dello Sport and La Gazzetta dello Sport both said that Anelka, who turned 20 this month, commanded that fee after he scored both goals in France's 20 victory over England at Wembley Stadium last month. Gazzetta also reported Juve's interest in the player who has scored 14 goals for Arsenal this season in 38 appearances, but who has reportedly never really settled in London.

In the often fanciful world of transfer speculation it is rare that both Italian sports dailies agree on the same issue. The source of the speculation appears to be Anelka's French compatriot Zinedine Zidane, the world player of the year, who spoke to Anelka when the two met up with the French team in London last month.

Corriere said Anelka, who would play alongside Zidane if he signed, was ready to sign a five-year contract with the Turin club, currently lying sixth in Serie A.

Aston Villa have signed Scottish international Colin Calderwood from Tottenham for £225,000. The 34-year-old defender will fill in for the injured Ugo Ehiogu.