Berkovic agrees to join City

Manchester City have completed the signing of Celtic's Eyal Berkovic for a fee of around £1.5 million. The Israel international midfielder has agreed a four-year contract at Maine Road and the move is now subject only to his passing a medical and securing a work permit.

Kevin Keegan learned more about the task facing him at City yesterday, after his return to club management in a friendly at Halifax Town. It was an unconvincing performance and only a Kevin Horlock free-kick three minutes from time gave City a 2-1 win.

Mark Roberts had given Halifax the lead after 75 minutes, but Darren Huckerby equalised soon after.

Sunderland suffered an embarrassment in their pre-season preparations as a side including six first-team regulars lost 3-1 to Third Division Mansfield at Field Mill. The only high point for the Wearsiders was a successful return from injury for Niall Quinn.

Goals from Liam Lawrence, Chris Greenacre and Andy White emphasised Mansfield's domination. Don Hutchison's injury-time free-kick came too late for Sunderland.

Southampton eased to a 3-0 win at Swindon with goals from Claus Lundekvam, Kevin Davies and Matt Le Tissier.

Celtic have signed the 24-year-old French defender Bobo Balde from Toulouse for a reported fee of £900,000.

The Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli has turned down a proposed move to Derby County and will remain at Lazio for another season.

Senegal yesterday qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time, beating Namibia 5-0 to join South Africa, Tunisia and Cameroon in the 2002 tournament.