Kendall closes in on Ravanelli

The Everton manager, Howard Kendall, yesterday pronounced himself optimistic that Fabrizio Ravanelli would soon be joining his club.

After a day of talks with the Italian international striker Kendall said: "I am hopeful that things are moving forward, and it's looking good at the moment."

Everton have already agreed a fee of pounds 7.5m with Ravanelli's employers, Middlesbrough. Kendall showed the Italian around the club's Bellfield training ground facilities, and the two then moved on to Goodison for talks about personal terms.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are confident that Paul Ince will have completed his pounds 4.5m move from Internazionale by the start of next week. The England midfield player has already undergone a medical at Anfield and the two clubs are finalising details.

Roy Evans, the Liverpool manager, said: "It will be completed some time this week or early next week. He wanted to go and speak to the Inter president and tell him of his decision, which I think was the right thing to do."

Roy Keane will take over as captain on Manchester United's tour of the Far East, but it may only be a temporary position for him. The United manager, Alex Ferguson, is apparently eager to see whether the captaincy suits Keane.