United move for Quaresma to add sparkle on flanks

Manchester United are closing in on a £10m deal for the highly-rated Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma, with talks planned next week to agree a fee with his club, Sporting Lisbon.

United's elimination from the Champions' League by Real Madrid on Wednesday night could be the catalyst for a clear-out at Old Trafford. The United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has made Quaresma his top target as he looks for an injection of youth and excitement on the flanks. The brilliant youngster, who can play on either wing, destroyed England's Under-21s last month. His agent, Jorge Mendez, confirmed last night the negotiations are at an advanced stage.

United have been in talks with Sporting for months. Ferguson sent one of his favoured agents Pini Zahavi to try to agree a fee earlier in the season. Sporting were originally looking for £16m, but that valuation has now come down to around £10m. They have had a poor season and may miss out on the Champions' League next season.

United will also sign the French forward, David Bellion, from Sunderland once his contract expires. A deal is set up for the pacy attacker although the price may be settled by tribunal. Unlike Quaresma, who is the type of eye-ctaching player who can walk into the side, Bellion is likely to be a squad man.

The Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce, has made a £700,000 bid for the French defender, Florent Laville, who has been on loan at the Reebok.

Allardyce has been so impressed with the centre-half that he has made an offer to his club Lyon to make the deal permanent at the end of the season. Laville has played a major role in Bolton's push for safety. They have had a run of clean sheets since his arrival. The former Lyon captain is keen to stay, but has also attracted interest from other Premiership sides.

Shaun Goater will leave Manchester City during the summer. The 33-year-old Bermudan has earned hero status in his six-year stint at Maine Road, during which time he has scored over a hundred goals. However, his appearances have become increasingly rare since the arrival of Robbie Fowler.

His chances of starting this weekend's home encounter with West Ham are slim and after talks with Kevin Keegan, the City manager has reluctantly agreed to his departure. Leaving will deny Goater the chance of appearing at City's new Eastlands home, where he carried his country's flag at last year's Commonwealth Games.

"Shaun is 33 now and feels he wants to play," the City manager, Kevin Keegan said. "I have told him I would be very happy for him to see out his contract with us but it is his choice and that is the way it has to be."

The Liverpool defender Stéphane Henchoz will not play again this season, his manager, Gérard Houllier, said yesterday. The Swiss international has not featured in the first team since having calf surgery after the League Cup final victory over Manchester United on 2 March.