New Lines: Yorke deal looks on

The transfer of Dwight Yorke, the Aston Villa striker, to Manchester United moved a step nearer yesterday. It will involve the England forward Andy Cole and £8.5 million in cash travelling in the opposite direction.

When Villa's planned pre-season photocall was postponed at the last minute a variety of reasons were given, but it is thought that the session was called off to avoid the embarrassment of including Yorke and then having him leave the club.

It is understood that the 26-yearold has told Villa manager John Gregory that he wants to move to Old Trafford. It appears that Gregory will, reluctantly, let him leave even though he recently insisted he was not interested in "United castoffs".

However, United will have to do without new £4.4 million signing, Swede Jesper Blomqvist for for a month as the player has been told to rest a foot injury. Meanwhile, United's prospective fourth major summer signing, midfielder Marc Vivien Foe, was reported to still be receiving treatment in Manchester for a broken leg in order to speed up his move to Manchester.

United have until August 1st to register any new players for the preliminary round of the Champions' League, which is likely to be against Poland's LKS Lodz.

Foe is struggling to make that date, but could well beat the August 20th deadline for September's group stages.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley has signed a new four-year contract with Derby County. Carsley had been the subject of £2.4 million bid by former Everton manager Howard Kendall before he left Goodison Park.

Liverpool's Jamie Redknapp yesterday suffered a further blow in his injury-plagued career when he was forced to undergo surgery on a cartilage tear in his left knee, which could see him miss the start of the Premiership for the third consecutive season.

The English FA has announced a new £25 million four-year sponsorship deal for the FA Cup with AXA, the French insurance giants. With immediate effect, the competition ceases to be called The FA Cup sponsored by Littlewoods Pools and becomes The AXA-sponsored FA Cup.