Football: Coventry snap up Keane for pounds 6m

COVENTRY CITY are closing in on Robbie Keane after agreeing a fee with Wolverhampton Wanderers for the Republic of Ireland striker.

Middlesbrough and Aston Villa spent the summer leading the chase for his signature. But Middlesbrough could not agree personal terms while Villa refused to meet the pounds 6m asking price. Now Coventry, desperate for more potency up front, have signed the 19-year-old.

"We have agreed a fee with Wolves. The transfer terms have also been agreed," Richardson said. "We are currently meeting his representative about personal terms to try to bring him to Highfield Road."

Coventry's need for a striker is plain - they have scored once in their opening three games of the season, a Gary McAllister penalty at Wimbledon on Saturday. Keane has had a bright start, scoring in both of Wolves' opening First Division games against Manchester City and Portsmouth.

Kevin Gallacher, the Blackburn Rovers striker, could be on his way out at Ewood Park. The Scotland international would cost prospective buyers around pounds 600,000 as Blackburn's manager, Brian Kidd, tries to finance his continued rebuilding programme.

Gallacher is fuming about being dropped and then substituted in Blackburn's first two games. He has been offered to a handful of Premier League clubs in the last 24 hours and, although he was hoping to be offered a new deal, Kidd has other plans with Egil Ostenstad joining Ashley Ward and Matt Jansen in the squad. Nathan Blake could also be available while Kidd is set to sign Bradford City's namesake Robbie Blake today.

A rift emerged between Sheffield Wednesday and Benito Carbone yesterday, after the Italian claimed Aston Villa had made a bid for his services. A Wednesday spokesman said last night: "I am not aware of any offer which has been received by Sheffield Wednesday." Their assertion appeared to be backed up by the Villa manager, John Gregory, who said: "There is nothing doing in that area."

Michael Owen has returned to training after the hamstring injury he sustained last April. The Liverpool youngster pulled up during his side's goalless draw at Leeds at the end of last season and has been unable to train since. But he returned to his team's Melwood training ground for the first time on Tuesday and said he would take his time over recovery. "It went fine, and I am just easing myself back into it," Owen said.

The news is a boost to the Liverpool manager, Gerard Houllier, who saw his side suffer an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at home to Watford on Saturday.

The first serious date Owen will be considered for will be the game against Manchester United on 11 September. He is likely to miss England's final Euro 2000 qualifiers against Luxembourg and Poland that month.