Football: Chelsea add Hogh to defence

CHELSEA HAVE signed the Danish international defender Jes Hogh from the Turkish club Fenerbahce in a pounds 300,000 deal. Hogh, 33, impressed the Chelsea coach, Gianluca Vialli, and his assistant, Gwyn Williams, in Denmark's 2-0 Euro 2000 win over Wales at Anfield last month. He has signed a two-year contract.

Sunderland have lined up the German World Cup international Thomas Helmer from Bayern Munich on a free transfer. The 34-year-old defender, who has 68 caps, has agreed personal terms and will be arriving on Wearside today for a medical before linking up with the squad for the pre-season tour of Denmark.

Bradford City have completed the pounds 800,000 signing of left-back Andy Myers from Chelsea. The former England Under-21 international, now 26, has signed a four-year contract and joins David Wetherall and Gunnar Halle in City's new defence.

Harald Brattbakk could be on his way back to Norway from Celtic. The 28-year-old striker was part of the side which earned the Glasgow club their Premier League title triumph in 1998 following a pounds 2.2m move from Rosenborg Trondheim, who have lodged a pounds 1m offer.

Igor Stimac will fly to Italy next week for talks with Verona about a possible move to the Serie A club. The Derby County captain, 31, was transfer- listed at the end of last season after injuries restricted him to just 14 Premiership appearances in the 1998-99 campaign.

Ian Rush has left Second Division Wrexham despite being offered a coaching role.

The Birmingham City manager, Trevor Francis, is trying to sign the Sheffield United left-back Wayne Quinn in a pounds 1.2m deal.

The Southampton manager, Dave Jones, is poised to sign Peter Ndlovu from Birmingham City for pounds 1m.