Distin in Newcastle talks

Paris St Germain have revealed that their defender Sylvain Distin is discussing a possible move to Newcastle. The French side value the 23-year-old left-back at around £4m, but Newcastle are reportedly keen to initially sign him on a loan deal only.

The Millwall midfielder Lucas Neill has joined the Premiership side Blackburn Rovers on a three-day trial with a view to a permanent move to Ewood Park. The 23-year-old Australian international is the longest-serving player at The Den, but submitted a transfer request last week. His contract runs out in the summer and the Lions manager Mark McGhee would rather get a fee for him than see him depart for nothing at the end of the season.

The Portsmouth manager Graham Rix wants to take the Liverpool goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad to Fratton Park on a loan deal. The 28-year-old has dropped down the pecking order at Anfield but Rix is in a position to offer him first-team football and the Frenchman could opt for a temporary switch.

The Bradford City goalkeeper Matt Clarke has agreed to join First Division rivals Crystal Palace for an initial fee of £1m. The 27-year-old has accepted a contract that will keep him at Selhurst Park until the end of the 2004/05 season – subject to a medical.

The Scottish champions Celtic have struck a deal with the Danish club Aarhus that will see the 20-year-old Michael Doyle play in the Superliga for the rest of the season. The Glasgow club will continue to pay the left-sided Irishman's wages and in return Aarhus will keep the Bhoys informed of all movements in the Danish and Swedish transfer scene.

The new Rangers striker Shota Arveladze is expected to shake off work permit and injury problems to make his debut at Hearts on Saturday. The £2m capture from Ajax picked up a knock while playing for Georgia against Hungary over the weekend. But he is expected to recover and be granted a work permit ahead of the weekend's trip to Edinburgh.

Wimbledon have been thwarted in their attempts to sign the Arsenal defender Igor Stepanovs as a short-term solution to their injury crisis which has seen 10 players struck down already this season. The Wimbledon manager Terry Burton was keen to take the 25-year-old Latvian on loan but Stepanovs turned down a deal. Burton said: "We tried to get him on loan but he still thinks he has a chance of getting into Arsenal's first team."