Leonhardsen on the move

Liverpool finally appear set to sign the Norwegian midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen from Wimbledon today for about pounds 4m, according to reports last night.

Leonhardsen, 26, joined the south London club from Rosenborg in 1994 on loan and made the move permanent the following summer for less than pounds 1m.

Middlesbrough, relegated to the Nationwide First Division in May, appear to have persuaded their Italian defender, Gianluca Festa, to stay with the club to help their quest for a quick to the top flight.

The club's Brazilian genius, Juninho, remains keen to move on, but Boro's chief executive, Keith Lamb, has denied that a reported bid by Atletico Madrid was ever made.