Brolin set to make return to Italy

Tomas Brolin looks poised to move back to Italy after just one season at Leeds. The Swedish international has agreed personal terms with newly promoted Serie A side Verona.

A fee has yet to be agreed but even if that deal fell through, Fiorentina are also interested, so it now seems extremely unlikely that Brolin will be at Elland Road next season. Leeds will want to recoup a large chunk of the pounds 4.5m they spent on recruiting Brolin from Parma last November but are prepared to take a loss on the deal.

Arsenal are thought to be about to make a pounds 2m offer for the Georgian- born defender-cum-midfielder Omar Tetradze. The 26-year-old Tetradze, who plays for Alania Vladikavkaz, was one of the few success in a disappointing Russian performance in Euro 96.

Middlesbrough's assistant manager, Viv Anderson, has dismissed speculation that the England striker Nick Barmby could be on his way to Newcastle as a replacement for the apparently departing French midfielder David Ginola. Anderson said Barmby was happy at the Riverside Stadium and was looking forward to playing alongside the club's new signings, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Emerson, next season.

It is by no means certain that Ginola intends to move on, however. His agent, Oliver Godalier, is angry at rumours about his client moving. "Don't believe what the newspapers say. Rumours saying David has already spoken to Barcelona are rubbish," he said.

Middlesbrough's unsettled midfielder Jamie Pollock is not a target for Aston Villa. "I am not trying to sign Jamie Pollock," Brian Little, the Villa manager, said. "I like the lad but my priorities lie in other positions of the team."

Michael Thomas did not join Liverpool's training session yesterday, the midfielder instead choosing to fly to Italy to talk to the Serie A club Reggiana. He is still considering the offer of a three-year contract at Anfield, but if the Reggiana talks come to nothing, another option could be provided in Italy by Perugia.

The Sheffield Wednesday manager, David Pleat, is apparently interested in signing Wimbledon's 31-year-old midfielder Robbie Earle, and ready to offer about pounds 2m.

Wolves' manager, Mark McGhee, is also shopping in London. He is considering making an offer for Tottenham Hotspur's No 2 goalkeeper, Erik Thorstvedt. McGhee is interested in the 33-year-old Norwegian international after losing to Sunderland in the pursuit of Tony Coton. McGhee needs a new goalkeeper as Andy De Bont has joined Hereford United and Paul Jones is wanted by Stockport County.

Wolves have given a free transfer to the Dutch central defender, John De Wolf, after they settled up with him for the remainder of his contract. De Wolf, who cost Wolves pounds 600,000 from Feyernoord in December 1994, is to return home.

Sheffield United have signed the Belarus international Peter Kachuro from Dynamo Minsk for an undisclosed fee. The striker played for Belarus when they defeated the Netherlands in the European Championship qualifiers.