Transfer news: Manchester United hope to agree a fee with Paris St-Germain for Ronaldinho today, although the Brazil international's protracted £23.5 million transfer could yet stretch into another week before it is finally completed.
Talks between the United chief executive Peter Kenyon and the PSG president Francis Graille continued yesterday, with a last-ditch attempt by Barcelona apparently gazumped by the Premiership champions' improved offer of £20 million with a further £3.5 million linked to honours won.
United do not intend to take Ronaldinho on their pre-season tour of the United States, nor his fellow Brazilian Kleberson, for whom they have agreed a £5.5 million fee with Atletico Paranaense.
Meanwhile, Spanish winger Joaquin claims he has turned down the chance to fill Manchester United's right-wing berth which was vacated when David Beckham left for Real Madrid.
The Real Betis youngster was, according to his club's website, approached by United through them but the player declined the offer, preferring to stay with his hometown team.
Joaquin (21) insists he will stay at Betis for as long as they want him, providing they increase their latest contract offer.
Football agent Nikola Mandic yesterday declined to comment on brother Bernie's involvement in Harry Kewell's contentious transfer to Liverpool last week.
Following complaints from licensed agents in Australia to FIFA, football's world governing body, are looking at documentation supplied to them by the Football Association in relation to the £5 million move.
FIFA will then decide whether to launch a probe into the role played by Bernie Mandic as he is not licensed with them to serve as a player's representative.
Newcastle United are poised to make a renewed bid for Michael Bridges but will wait until the Leeds United striker proves he has fully recovered from the debilitating injuries which have marred the past three years of his career.
After spending two years on the sidelines with serious knee and ankle ligament injuries, Bridges ruptured an Achilles tendon in December.
Although he is not yet taking part in full training, the forward for whom David O'Leary paid £5 million to sign from Sunderland four years ago has been involved with the Leeds first-team squad throughout the pre-season and is expected to be ready for a Premiership return at some point in September.
Newcastle had initially asked about the possibility of buying Patrick Kluivert from Barcelona but Bobby Robson instead had to settle for being told that they have first option on signing the striker if, as expected, he remains at the Nou Camp until next summer.
Andrea D'Amico, at present acting for Mark Viduka, has claimed his client could be heading for Lyon, but Leeds maintain the striker is going nowhere.
Manager Peter Reid has been negotiating with Lyon in an attempt to take Brazil's World Cup winning defender Edmilson on a year-long loan. Lyon, however, are looking to sell the player outright - something beyond Leeds's budget.
Middlesbrough have hit the same problem in their attempt to secure Flavio Conceicao on a 12-month loan from Real Madrid because Real are anxious to sell the defensive midfielder.
Steve McClaren is continuing to try to secure Doriva from Celta Vigo and Trevor Sinclair from West Ham, but both transfers appear to have hit an impasse over the respective fees.
Middlesbrough's veteran defender Colin Cooper is expected to agree a new one-year contract today and Carlos Marinelli, their Argentine reserve midfielder, is attracting interest from Bari and Ancona.
The former Arsenal player Paul Merson is expected to join Walsall today after finalising his pay-off from Portsmouth.
Merson has agreed a two-year deal with the First Division club and will also be groomed for a coaching role.
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