Benito Carbone will fly into England today to finalise the details of a shock transfer to Bradford City that was billed by the club last night as "the most exciting signing in our history."
After leaving Aston Villa in acrimonious circumstances last month Carbone is now a free agent and Bradford have taken advantage of the apathetic reaction to his availability from Italy's Serie A to tempt him back to England.
According to the Bradford manager Chris Hutchings: "This signing will raise a few eyebrows in the world of football."
Niall Quinn and Sunderland have agreed on a pay-as-you-play deal to ensure both sides are happy with his new contract.
The 33-year-old Republic of Ireland international will earn less if he does not play in the last year of his three-year agreement.
Quinn, who agreed the new deal last week, was keen to make sure his new contract covered the next three years but was happy to include the pay-as-you-play stipulation in the third year, when he will be 36.
He said: "I'm pleased to get the new contract sorted and the club has done very well for me. The only problem I envisaged was the length of the deal. I wanted a three-year (contract) which I have got, but if I don't play every game it's taken care of in the contract.
"If I'm not in the team in the third year I'll not hold the earning power, so it won't be a case of me sitting around and collecting the money if the legs go, which is only fair."
Quinn, who missed this week's tour of Holland because of an ankle injury, is confident he will be fit for the opening game of the season against Arsenal. Robbie Keane scored his first goal for Serie A giants Inter Milan in a low-key friendly against amateur side Vigevano.
The 20-year-old Republic of Ireland international, signed from Coventry for £13 million sterling last week, played the full 90 minutes and scored Inter's first goal just before half-time in a 3-2 win.
The game, played in front of 5,000 fans, was in preparation for Inter's Champions League qualifier against Helsingborg on Wednesday. Keane is expected to start the match on the bench with Turkey's Hakan Sukor and Chilean Ivan Zamorano forming the strike partnership.
Arsenal are on the verge of signing the France international striker Sylvain Wiltord in a deal worth around £10 million.
Bordeaux's chairman Jean-Louis Triaud confirmed yesterday that the only direct approach they had received for the player was from Arsenal and, with Wiltord having fallen out with the French club and currently refusing to train, a deal is likely soon.
Paulo Wanchope has secured a four-year deal at Manchester City, subject to passing a medical. The signing was confirmed by manager Joe Royle, who has paid a club record fee of £3.65 million to West Ham for the Costa Rican international.
Middlesbrough have received a work permit for Croatian international striker Alen Boksic to complete his £2.5 million transfer from Italian champions Lazio.
The 30-year-old could join Middlesbrough on their two-match tour of Spain this week in their final preparation for the opening Premier League game at Coventry on August 19th.
Leicester manager Peter Taylor has urged Celtic target Neil Lennon to make his mind up about his future as soon as possible.
The 29-year-old midfielder is the subject of a bid by his former manager, Martin O'Neill, and has never disguised his respect for both the Parkhead boss and his new club.
Leicester have also offered Lennon an enhanced contract, but Taylor insists the Northern Ireland international must make up his mind swiftly with the English season less than two weeks away.
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