Sunderland were last night reported to have won the race to sign Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Gordon, who attracted interest from Aston Villa and Manchester City, was said to have passed a medical at the Stadium of Light on Monday and spent yesterday in talks with Sunderland manager Roy Keane.

He is thought to have agreed terms on a €13.2 million move, although details of the deal had not been confirmed.

The prospects of Carlos Tevez making his competitive debut for Manchester United against Reading on Sunday appear to be receding after he was ruled out of tonight's friendly at Dunfermline as the Premier League continued to process his registration.

The forward had been expected to feature at East End Park alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves. However, with West Ham United not receiving payment of their €2.94 million out-of-court settlement from Media Sports Investment until yesterday, the Premier League was sent Tevez' registration documents only in the afternoon.

The league will now scrutinise and process those papers and does not expect to grant clearance in time for Tevez to feature tonight.

That leaves the Argentinian unlikely to play against Reading because Alex Ferguson will want to assess his fitness after his participation in the Copa America. Tevez is more likely to feature against Portsmouth next Wednesday or at Manchester City on Sunday week.

Gabriel Heinze's future should be much clearer next week, after a meeting scheduled in London on Tuesday at which Premier League officials will attempt to mediate between the defender and United about his desire to leave Old Trafford for Liverpool.

United will be represented by their solicitor, Maurice Watkins, and possibly the chief executive, David Gill, as Heinze and his legal team air their grievances about the club's dismissal of the €10 million bid that Liverpool faxed to Old Trafford three weeks ago. No officials from Anfield will attend the hearing.

West Ham United are poised to make an improved offer to Derby Country for Giles Barnes, the England under-21 international forward. The London club tabled a bid of €3.7 million for Barnes two weeks ago which was rejected but they are now resolved to go higher.

Their desire to sign Barnes is unrelated to their pursuit of Newcastle United's Kieron Dyer, who remains bitterly upset at the collapse of his move to Upton Park.

He passed a medical and agreed personal terms on a €8.8 million transfer only for Newcastle to hike the price to €11.8 million at the last minute.