Roeder's ability persuades Breen to join West Ham

Gary Breen, who played a leading role for the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup, joined West Ham United yesterday. The 28-year-old centre-back was released by Coventry before the tournament and responded immediately with several impressive displays.

Breen revealed he snubbed a string of "fantastic offers" to link up again with his friend, the West Ham manager Glenn Roeder. Breen was a raw 19-year-old at Gillingham when Roeder signed for the club on a non-contract basis to finish his playing career.

Roeder made only six appearances for the Kent club, but left such a strong impression on the young defender that he opted for Upton Park yesterday over other more glamourous locations.

"The main factor was certainly Glenn," Breen said. "I've worked with Glenn, who played in my position, before – and hope to learn even more now I have signed for West Ham.

"I know he's a good coach and a couple of the lads here speak highly of him. I had a lot of offers from abroad, but I thought it was best to stay in the Premiership to consolidate my position with Ireland."

Middlesbrough yesterday confirmed they have agreed an undisclosed fee with Aston Villa for the midfielder George Boateng. The 26-year-old Dutchman, who is expected to cost them around £5m, will now discuss personal terms with Boro.

Gilberto Silva's transfer to Arsenal is apparently in jeopardy because his club are slow in paying their debts. Silva's Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro agreed last week to sell the midfielder for around £4.5m, but now, according to reports in Brazil, Mineiro have been ordered by a judge in Belo Horizonte to pay money owed to their former players Valdir and Fabio Augusto before Silva's transfer.

The Leeds striker Robbie Fowler will visit a surgeon today about the hip injury, sustained at the end of last season, that has forced him to return home early from the club's tour of Australia and the Far East. The Leeds manager, Terry Venables, said: "It's better that he goes back for an assessment rather than wait here when we know he wouldn't be involved in the final game of the tour."

The players' union could step in to help resolve the pay and bonuses dispute which is already threatening to spoil West Bromwich Albion's Premiership season. The players have criticised the club's proposed revised bonus scheme and the Professional Footballers' Association chief executive, Gordon Taylor, has declared that he is willing to help resolve the matter.

Under the previous chairman, Paul Thompson, the players had agreed a bonus worth £15,000 – payable to every one of the starting XI – for every win in the Premiership. Those figures have been slashed by the new regime, who feel they have come up with a plan which is more economically viable for the future of the club. Seven players now have different contracts to the remainder of the squad, effectively "a two-tier system" as Taylor put it.