Football: Leeds buy old boy Sellars

LEEDS UNITED, who open the defence of their title as English champions six weeks today, made their first close-season capture yesterday when they re-signed Scott Sellars from Blackburn Rovers in a deal likely to cost them pounds 600,000.

The 26-year-old midfielder was out of contract at Blackburn, whom he helped gain promotion to the Premier League. 'I'm delighted to be coming back to Leeds,' Sellars said. 'The club have a great future, although I accept I will have to work hard to establish myself in the team.'

Leeds originally signed him as an apprentice 10 years ago, and allowed him to leave in 1986 during Billy Bremner's reign. An independent tribunal rated his transfer value then at pounds 20,000. A clause giving Leeds 25 per cent of any sell-on fee means Howard Wilkinson may have to pay 'only' 30 times that amount to buy back the pounds 800,000- rated Sellars.

After Sellars had signed a four- year contract in preference to improved terms from Blackburn, Leeds's managing director, Bill Fotherby, said he was confident agreement could be reached without recourse to a tribunal.

What might prove more problematic is where Sellars, a slightly built touch-player, will fit into the Leeds set-up. His position, left midfield, is normally occupied by Gary Speed. Wilkinson named the Welshman as 'player of the year' during Leeds's championship campaign.

The unsuccessful attempt to recruit Chris Waddle reflected concern at Elland Road over the condition of Gordon Strachan, who struggled with sciatic-nerve problems last season. Speed may well replace the veteran captain on the right, with the newcomer assuming his role.

Meanwhile, the Danes continue to laugh in the face of European federalism, a further three members of the victorious European Championship squad taking up fresh employment in EC heartland. Torben Frank, an attacking midfielder who had been due to join Brondby from Lyngby, instead signed for Olympique Lyonnais. The two Copenhagen clubs will split the pounds 265,000 fee.

Kim Christofte, the Brondby defender, cost Cologne pounds 70,000 a month before his 32nd birthday, while the midfield player Johnny Molby switched from Vejle to Borussia Monchengladbach for an undisclosed sum.

Gheorghe Hagi, once dubbed 'the Maradona of the Carpathians', will play next season in the shadow of the Dolomites. The 27- year-old Romanian schemer, available at pounds 4m from Real Madrid, yesterday agreed terms with Brescia, newly promoted to Italy's Serie A.

Port Vale joined Leeds in giving the dormant domestic market a prod by paying pounds 200,000 for Paul Kerr, the ex-Aston Villa and Middlesbrough midfielder who scored 13 goals for Millwall last season.

South Africa, expelled from FIFA in 1976, were yesterday re-admitted and will play in the World Cup qualifying campaign in place of Burkina Faso, who have withdrawn. Cameroon, who had cancelled a three-match series in South Africa next week, are to go ahead after the intervention of Nelson Mandela. The SAFA announced yesterday that Liverpool, Milan, Real Madrid and Brazil are to be invited to the Republic.