Football: Work permit problem for United's Brazilian

Manchester United will sign the Brazilian centre-half Celio Silva for pounds 2.2m, providing they can overcome complications with their application for a work permit.

United sent a two-man delegation to Brazil last week to thrash out terms with Silva's club, Corinthians, and he flew in last night to begin talks about his personal terms. However, the 29-year-old defender may not have the necessary caps from recognised internationals to qualify for a work permit.

The shaven-headed Silva is a late developer and only made the Brazilian national side in the past few months. He played in Le Tournoi against England and also in the Copa America.

However, as Brazil have not had any World Cup qualifiers because they automatically qualify as holders, their other fixtures may not be regarded as serious internationals for work permit purposes.

Everton have made a pounds 1.5m bid for the Welsh winger John Oster from Grimsby. Oster, who can play on either wing, has attracted interest from Manchester United and Newcastle since arriving on the international scene.

Henrik Larsson, the Swedish international, is poised to join Darren Jackson in a new Celtic strike force. Celtic, who paid Hibernian pounds 1.25m to make Jackson the first signing of Wim Jansen's managerial reign, have offered Feyenoord pounds 1m for the left-sided attacker.

Israel's international keeper Raffi Cohen has arrived in Bradford to discuss a pounds 200,000 move while fellow countryman David Amsalem has joined West Ham on a free transfer as a possible replacement for their injured captain Julian Dicks. Back in Israel, the defender has been under investigation along with his Beitar Jerusalem team-mates as part of a tax probe into illegal payments.

The Swiss international goalkeeper Marco Pascolo is set to join Nottingham Forest this week in a pounds 1m deal. The 31-year-old had a clause in his contract with Cagliari that he could be released if they were relegated, which last season they duly were.

David Ginola, Newcastle's unwanted Frenchman, met the Tottenham chairman Alan Sugar last night to discuss terms for his move to the capital.