LIVERPOOL seem likely to become the first of several English Premiership clubs to plunder the European Championship's brightest young talent.

After much consideration, the Merseyside club's manager, Roy Evans, has decided to offer around £1 million for Johann Vogel, the rising star of Swiss football.

Evans was so impressed with Vogel's mature performance against England in the tournament's opening fixture a fortnight ago that he immediately sought permission from his board of directors to arrange a deal.

Preliminary negotiations between Liverpool and Vogel's Zurich club, Grasshoppers, have already taken place and a deal is likely to be swiftly negotiated and ratified once Evans returns home from a family holiday.

The 19 year old midfielder is acknowledged to be Switzerland's finest young talent and 12 months ago he was voted the country's most improved player by his fellow professionals.

Gary Speed will finally complete his £3.5 million move between Leeds United and Everton today, more than a month after verbally agreeing to join the club he has supported since childhood.

The Welsh international midfielder underlined his determination to move to Merseyside last week when he rejected the opportunity to enter into talks with Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

Once Speed has formally put pen to paper, Everton manager Joe Royle will turn his attentions to another long term target, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.

Royle will next week lodge a bid of around £1.6 million for the former England international who is anxious to leave Palace following the club's failure to win promotion to the Premiership last season.

Martin's arrival at Goodison Park will not, however, signal the end of Neville Southall's illustrious career.

As expected, Southall will shortly sign a new and improved two year deal which will keep him at Everton until his 40th birthday.