Football: Royle's double deal

Everton plan to complete the surprise double signing of two Norwegians, Tore Andre Flo and Claus Eftevaag, in a pounds 3m deal today, writes Alan Nixon.

Joe Royle, the manager, agreed an improved offer with SK Brann of Bergen for the pair, and they are expected in Merseyside this morning to settle personal terms.

The arrival of Flo, a striker, will raise questions about Duncan Ferguson's long-term future at Goodison Park, although the Scot is unlikely to be sold before the end of the season.

Royle's move for Eftevaag is more of a surprise. The right-sided defender can play at full-back or centre-half but has a bad back. He had to limp out of Brann's European Cup-Winners' Cup defeat by Liverpool last week when his coach described him as "an old man".

Fifa, football's world governing body, confirmed yesterday that it was extending the Bosman ruling on free transfers. The decision means out- of-contract players from non- European Union countries will have the same freedom of movement granted to their EU counterparts.