Pompey chimes sound for Prosinecki deal

Portsmouth's director of football, Harry Redknapp, yesterday described the First Division club's signing of Robert Prosinecki as "massive" after the Croat World Cup veteran completed an unexpected move to Fratton Park.

The 32-year-old former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Red Star Belgrade midfielder, who has won 40 caps for his country, will move to Portsmouth subject to gaining a work permit after leaving the Belgian club Standard Liège. The deal was set up by Pompey's owner, Milan Mandaric, who said: "Once you lure a major target like this it opens the eyes of others with regard to the intentions of the club."

The midfielder has signed a one-year deal worth £600,000 and Redknapp, who was in charge of Prosinecki's international team-mates Igor Stimac and Davor Suker at West Ham, said: "Robert is up there with the best players in the world. This is a massive signing."

Swindon Town, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Second Division last season, have announced they "wish to part company" with their manager, Andy King, who took over at the club just nine months ago. As revealed in The Independent last month, Roy Evans is now poised for a return to the game as manager at the County Ground.

The Bolton Wanderers manager, Sam Allardyce, has made a £2.5m offer for Strasbourg's highly-rated striker Pegguy Luyindula.

Everton have priced the goalkeeper Steve Simonsen out of a move to Wigan by valuing him at £1m. The Latics are willing to pay only half that sum.

The Northern Ireland manager, Sammy McIlroy, will be offered a new two-year deal next week, overseeing the qualifying campaign for Euro 2004.