Football: Wenger set to move for pounds 1m Mahon

Arsenal are ready to make the first move for Tranmere's pounds 1m- rated midfield player, Alan Mahon.

Arsene Wenger, the Gunners manager, has been told by his spies to snap up the 18-year-old Republic of Ireland prospect who has played just five first team games.

Wenger's new Northern scout, Don Mackay, has seen Mahon twice in a week and is a big fan of the elusive youngster who Tranmere signed under the noses of bigger rivals.

Mahon is also being chased by Blackburn, Coventry and Sunderland, who watched him turn on the style at the weekend. But Arsenal are favourites in the chase for the Dubliner with Wenger expected to watch Mahon on international duty at the weekend.

Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, has lined up another Norwegian, Eric Nevland, to follow in the footsteps of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ferguson is set to swoop for the 18-year-old, who scored a stunning hat- trick in a secret trial for his A team at Preston on Saturday.

Nevland is rated the best prospect in his home country where he has just made the first team breakthrough at Viking Stavanger and is also in the national youth squad.

The powerful forward has impressed United officials during a week-long trial at Old Trafford and the clubs could put together a pounds 1m package deal for him.

The Oldham manager, Graeme Sharp, hopes to sign the Swedish winger Tommy Hansen from Trelleborg today.

Hansen is due to arrive at Boundary Park after helping his club avoid relegation at the weekend with a two-goal display in the final game of the Swedish season.

The left sided player is keen to come to England where he memorably helped his club topple Blackburn Rovers in Europe two seasons ago.

Oldham can sign Hansen for nothing at the end of his contract and he would boost their wafer thin squad without breaking the bank.

Stoke yesterday completed the temporary signing of the Napoli defender Mirko Taccola, who last month marked George Weah in a match against Milan. On "indefinite loan" he is set to play in tomorrow's reserve match at Bolton.

Meanwhile, Port Vale borrowed Jan Jansson, a midfielder with seven caps for Sweden, from SK Norrkopping and may use him in tonight's Coca-Cola Cup replay at Oxford if they receive international clearance in time.