Seaman confirms move to Manchester City

Manchester City have confirmed David Seaman has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the club.

The City manager Kevin Keegan wants the out-of-contract Arsenal and England goalkeeper as a replacement for Peter Schmeichel.

After 13 seasons with Arsenal, the 39-year-old had already been told by Arsene Wenger he would no longer be first choice at Highbury next season - although he had been offered a one-year contract with the promise of a place on the club's coaching staff after that.

The former Manchester City winger Peter Barnes said he believed that Seaman's availability on a free transfer paved the way for Keegan to secure his services, adding: "I don't think they've got millions of pounds to spend. It needed somebody to come in and do as good a job as Peter Schmeichel has done."

Keegan has also signed the veteran Bayern Munich defender Michael Tarnat for next season. Tarnat has agreed a two-year contract after leaving Bayern on a free transfer.

Tarnat can play either at left-back or in midfield and the 33-year-old should add some experience to City's rather brittle defence. Keegan moved swiftly to complete the signing just a couple of days after Bayern collected the German Cup and league double. His arrival should lift some of the pressure off the City manager, who has had to look around for free transfers or loans because his budget is so limited for next season.

Tarnat has a marvellous CV, playing for the past six seasons in Munich and also as a regular in the German national side until recently. He had claimed he would end his career at Bayern but Keegan talked him into the move. A pre-contract agreement has been signed and the move will be formally announced on 1 July.

Meanwhile, Keegan is also chasing the Sunderland midfielder Gavin McCann and is competing with Leeds to sign Patrik Berger, who has been released by Liverpool.

Portsmouth are set to make the Ipswich Town captain, Matt Holland, their first signing of the summer for a cut-price fee of £1m. The Republic of Ireland midfielder, who turned down a £4.5m move to Aston Villa last year, is due to join the Premiership newcomers later this week after a fee was agreed with the impoverished Suffolk club.

The move will still leave the Portsmouth manager, Harry Redknapp, with the funds to pursue Manchester City's Eyal Berkovic, who is also available for around £1m. Berkovic's wages will be a snag in that case but his advisers are working on ways round the problem with Redknapp and the midfield pair could be signed up by Pompey for a combined total of £2m.

Bolton have agreed a £1.2 m fee for the pernanent signing of Florent Laville from the French champions, Lyon.

Laville impressed during his loan spell at the Reebok Stadium last season and he has decided to stay at Bolton despite interest from other clubs. He is expected to agree personal terms in the next few days.