Leicester beat Leeds to Kalac

Football

Leicester City, relegated from the Premiership, pulled off a transfer coup yesterday by signing the Australian international goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac from under the noses of Leeds United.

Reports had indicated that Leeds would pay Sydney United an Australian record fee of pounds 550,000 for Kalac. However, an increased offer by Leicester of pounds 760,000 had the 22-year-old six-footer heading for Filbert Street and insisting it had been his first choice.

"I always wanted to go to Leicester because they're a progressive club," Kalac said. "They also told me I would have a first-team spot from the start."

Paul Ince, stung by Alex Ferguson's claim that he "plotted" his transfer to Internazionale, yesterday explained his side of the story in a 40-minute phone call to representatives of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association. A spokesman, Richard Kurt, said: "We advise our members and other United fans not to rush into rash judgements."

United have been warned off Darren Anderton. Tottenham's chairman, Alan Sugar, confirmed the approach, but insisted the England winger was staying.

Newcastle last night completed the pounds 2.5m signing of David Ginola, the Paris St-Germain striker, taking their summer spending to pounds 12.5m. Millwall have bought Chris Malkin, the Tranmere striker, for pounds 400,000. Crystal Palace have confirmed that Chris Coleman, a target for Aston Villa, could leave for "a substantial sum". Another defender, Burnley's Steve Davis, has joined Luton, the fee to be decided by a tribunal.

Graham Taylor, the Wolves manager, has had talks with Mark Atkins, the out-of-contract Blackburn midfielder. Taylor has fined Brian Law, the defender who faces charges of taking and crashing a bus while drunk, pounds 5,000 and ordered him to do 50 hours' unpaid work with handicapped children.

Ronnie Whelan, the former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland captain, has been appointed player-manager of Southend.