Football: Padovano deal collapses but Merson remains at Riverside

The Juventus striker Michele Padovano has turned down a move to Middlesbrough. Undeterred by the unhappy experience of taking Juve's Fabrizio Ravanelli to the Riverside, Bryan Robson, the Boro manager, negotiated a pounds 1.6m fee but could not agree personal terms with the 30-year-old. Perhaps news travels fast in Italy...

Paul Merson will stay at the club, however, even if Middlesbrough fail to win promotion back to the Premiership. The pounds 4.5m summer signing from Arsenal, who has been linked with clubs in the south, said: "It's flattering that clubs want me but Middlesbrough bought me and that's it."

John McGinlay has returned to the First Division. The Bolton striker yesterday became Bradford City's record signing in pounds 625,000 deal. The Scottish international signed a two-and-a-half year contract, and will make his debut at Swindon tomorrow.

His new boss, the Bradford manager Chris Kamara, can be considered doubly fortunate since he has avoided punishment from the Football Association, despite being found guilty of misconduct after he was sent from the dug- out at Portsmouth last month.

Bournemouth's hopes of signing permanently their Norwegian Under-21 international, Andreas Lundt, on loan from FK Molde rest with Wimbledon.

The Cherries have agreed terms with Molde for Lundt but the final decision lies with Molde's owners, who have a financial stake in Wimbledon. The Premiership club have first refusal on the Norwegian club's players.

- Andrew Martin