Heskey in the big money

Emile Heskey will become the second-most expensive British player in history when he moves from Leicester to Liverpool for £11 million today. The clubs have agreed a fee for the England striker, who travelled with his advisors to Liverpool last night to complete the deal.

It means the player, known as "Bruno" should be available to make his debut in tomorrow's Anfield clash with Sunderland, who 22-year-old Heskey helped destroy 5-2 last weekend in what now looks like his Leicester swansong.

A Liverpool spokesman confirmed: "The two clubs have agreed a fee and subject to a medical we expect to sign the player tomorrow."

Only England captain Alan Shearer, who cost Newcastle £15 million, will have cost more than Heskey, who overtakes Chelsea's £10 million recruit Chris Sutton in the list of high-cost British transfers.

Leicester manager Martin O'Neill made a last-ditch effort earlier this week to persuade Heskey to stay at Filbert Street via a lucrative new contract.

Instead he has opted to team up with his former England Under-18 strike partner Michael Owen, one of the main attractions in his desire to move to Merseyside.

There has been constant speculation during the past few months that Heskey would make the move to Anfield. His profile rocketed after he produced a stunning full debut for England against Argentina at Wembley last month.

But Leicester-born Heskey stayed to help the Foxes win the English League Cup and clinch a place in Europe before opting for his dream move.

Heskey's team-mate Matt Elliott felt Leicester could offer everything he might want, except perhaps a bigger stage on which to play his club football.

"If he ever was going to stay the reasons were growing for him to perhaps sign on for another year," said Elliott. "He's been looked after financially at Leicester, he's a home-grown lad, his family are settled here, we're in Europe and he's on the international scene.

"But it obviously wasn't enough. He's going on to bigger things, perhaps with a bigger profile.

"I don't think you can blame Emile. I suppose the lure of going to one of the glamour clubs of the country was too much. Liverpool is Liverpool at the end of the day, although Leicester fans would say we're an emerging club.

"You've got to be realistic. It's good business for the club. Emile is a fantastic player but £11 million is a lot of money for any club, let alone Leicester. You'd like to think we could buy three or four players with that."

The prospect of Heskey, Owen and Robbie Fowler - when he is fit again - in partnership will be a mouth-watering one for Liverpool fans.

It is another sure-fire sign that manager Gerard Houllier is putting together a squad destined to challenge for the Premiership title in the next couple of years.

One criticism levelled at Heskey is that he does not score enough goals and the one he managed against Sunderland on Sunday was only his eighth of the campaign.

But he has many other attributes including explosive pace, which can leave defenders for dead, and sheer strength and aerial power which can trouble the best as the Argentinians will testify.

Leicester have been linked with Wimbledon striker John Hartson - after the collapse of his move to Tottenham - and West Ham's Paulo Wanchope.