Football: Everton agree fee for Sierra

HOWARD KENDALL has set up a pounds 3m deal to sign the Chilean international, Jose Luis Sierra. The Everton manager has agreed a fee of pounds 1.7m for the 29-year-old Colo Colo midfielder, who featured prominently in his country's recent victory over England at Wembley.

Kendall hopes to complete the deal over the weekend, though his Aston Villa counterpart, John Gregory, is also interested. There is no need to apply for a work permit for Sierra as he has an Italian passport.

West Ham have admitted interest in another Chilean, the tough-tackling defender Javier Margas. It is unlikely he will be able to sign in time to beat the transfer deadline, though.

Bolton are trying to sign the Wolves striker, Don Goodman, whose goal put Leeds out of the FA Cup last week, in a swap deal for Jamie Pollock, who has told Todd he wants to leave quickly. He is rated at around pounds 700,000.

If Crystal Palace are intent on signing Paul Gascoigne, they may find themselves with little opposition. The competition was dropping away yesterday.

Middlesbrough's manager, Bryan Robson, dismissed reports that he wanted to buy the England midfielder, saying, "I wish I had the money."

Although Robson might yet be interested in a loan deal to take Gascoigne to the Riverside until the end of the season, Everton and Derby have ruled themselves out of the chase.

Gianluca Vialli, the Chelsea manager, has found a way to accommodate the first-team aspirations of his two goalkeepers. Ed de Goey will play in the Cup-Winners' Cup ties and Coca-Cola Cup final, with Dimitri Kharin appearing in Premiership games.

Chelsea's captain, Dennis Wise, has received a two-match ban from the Football Association for collecting 11 bookings this season. He will miss the Premiership games at West Ham and Derby.

Everton's Croatian international defender Slaven Bilic has been given a three-match suspension. Bilic was sent off during the 2-1 defeat at South- ampton last weekend.

Neville Southall, Everton's long-serving goalkeeper, is set to become the player-coach at Stoke City. The Welshman will leave Goodison Park on a free transfer after 16 years.

West Bromwich Albion are hoping to complete the signing of Manchester City's Australian defender, Jason van Blerk, for pounds 250,000.

The Wales coach, Bobby Gould, has appointed Graham Williams as his assistant. Williams has had a 25-year coaching career in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Lincoln City are expected to name their new manager today, following John Beck's sacking this week. Beck is planning to take the club to court, claiming unfair dismissal.