Damien Duff will have make-or-break talks about his Blackburn future when he returns from holiday this week.

Blackburn are desperate to hang on to the winger who has been targeted by Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Rovers want to kill off this interest by agreeing a contract extension with Duff which would make him one of the best-paid players at Ewood Park.

Duff, who was one of the stars of the World Cup with the Republic of Ireland, has two years left on his current deal and Blackburn are anxious to open discussions.

The outcome of the talks will decide Duff's future and Rovers know they will probably have to sell him if he rejects their offer.

Duff is currently valued at around £20 million sterling and Blackburn realise this figure will depreciate rapidly as he nears the end of his contract.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid yesterday clinched the signing of Tranmere midfielder Sean Thornton.

The highly-rated 19-year-old, who is out of contract at Prenton Park, will meet up with the Sunderland squad for pre-season training this week.

"I am looking forward to joining Sunderland and having the opportunity to play in the Premiership," said Thornton.

He becomes Reid's second signing of the summer after Phil Babb's arrival on a free transfer from Sporting Lisbon.

Middlesbrough have opened talks with Juninho and are confident of bringing the World Cup winner back to Teesside.

In what has been a whirlwind few days for Boro, the club yesterday confirmed that their negotiations with the Atletico Madrid star are progressing.

After 18 months in the Far East, Guus Hiddink has finally returned home to take over the reins at PSV Eindhoven for a second time.

The man who guided South Korea to an unprecedented semi-final place at the World Cup flew back to Holland on Sunday where he agreed a two-year deal.

And PSV yesterday ended weeks of speculation concerning the future of Hiddink by making the deal public.

Birmingham City are finally set to complete the signing of Senegal's World Cup midfielder Aliou Cisse for around £1.5 million sterling from Paris St Germain.

AC Milan yesterday completed the signing of Italian midfielder Sam Dalla Bona from Chelsea.

Dalla Bona, who moved to England in October 1998 at just 17 from Atalanta's junior side, has signed until June 30th, 2007.

No fee has been reported but Milan have denied suggestions that the highly-rated youngster Marco Donadel was offered in a swap deal for Dalla Bona.