Newcastle move to sign £6m Bellamy

Newcastle United are trying to sign Coventry's Welsh striker Craig Bellamy in a £6m deal. Bellamy is due on Tyneside to discuss terms and have a medical, with the City manager, Gordon Strachan, resigned to losing one of his best players for financial reasons.

Bellamy turned down the chance to join Bobby Robson's club a year ago, but the veteran manager is willing to forgive him, having missed out on the Everton striker Francis Jeffers, who moved to Arsenal last week.

The Watford manager, Gianluca Vialli, is trying to sign Manchester United's veteran full-back Denis Irwin, whose contract at Old Trafford expires this week.

Arsenal yesterday issued a blunt denial to the latest reports that Patrick Vieira wants to leave the club, saying the French midfielder "is not for sale at any price". The England goalkeeper David Seaman is set to agree a new one-year contract with Arsenal, despite the club being on the verge of signing Ipswich's Richard Wright for a reported fee of £6m.

Wolves have signed the Republic of Ireland international winger Mark Kennedy from Manchester City in a £2m deal, subject to a medical. Bolton Wanderers yesterday signed the Senegal midfielder Djibril Diawara from Torino on a 12-month loan deal, with a view to a permanent move. Norwich City have completed the signing of the goalkeeper Paul Crichton from Burnley for a fee of around £150,000.

Rangers will face the Slovenian champions Maribor in the second qualifying round of the Champions' League. The first leg in Maribor is scheduled for Wednesday 25 July, with the return a fortnight later.

In the first qualifying round, Linfield, Bohemians and Barry Town were all drawn at home for the first leg on 11 July. They will face Torpedo Kutaisi, of Georgia, the Estonian side Levadia Maardu and Shamkir of Azerbaijan respectively. The second leg is on 18 July.

In the qualifying round of the Uefa Cup, Kilmarnock face Glenavon, of Northern Ireland. Glenavon are at home for the first leg on 9 August.

* Greece, who are in England's World Cup qualifying Group Nine, are without a coach after Vassilis Daniil resigned yesterday. His last match in charge was the 2-0 defeat to England in Athens.