Bocanegra to shore up Fulham's defence

Fulham's manager, Chris Coleman, is signing the United States international defender Carlos Bocanegra in an ambitious deal. The 24-year-old Chicago Fire defender joins at the end of his Major League Soccer (MLS) contract, when he is a free agent.

Bocanegra has been a regular in the American side and now has a work permit, making him eligible for a Premiership debut.

He was linked with Leeds and Manchester City, but Coleman stepped in to prop up a defence that has started to leak goals.

The Californian was rated the best defender in the MLS last season and can also play at left-back, a role that Coleman could try him in. Bocanegra appeared in the Confederations Cup in France last summer. He missed some matches with an old knee injury.

Coleman could throw him straight into the team against Everton, and he is also eligible when the clubs meet again in the FA Cup.

Arsène Wenger may yet haul Francis Jeffers back from his Everton loan to Arsenal at the end of the season. Wenger saw Jeffers come on as a late substitute at Goodison Park on Wednesday to create Everton's equaliser in a 1-1 Premiership draw.

The Arsenal manager hinted he may want Jeffers to return to London when his loan ends. Wenger said: "He will certainly come back to us at the end of the season. I cannot say what will happen then, though."

Everton's manager, David Moyes, must have been grateful Wenger did not ask that Jeffers be withdrawn from the match. Moyes confirmed: "We would only have not played Franny if we had been asked by Arsenal not to - and we were not asked."

Wenger said: "I am completely against that rule. That rule is immoral. If you take the rule to its extent it means the rich can give to the poor but then they cannot be allowed to harm us. The rule is immoral and should be illegal."

* The 72-year-old former Leeds and Juventus player John Charles is facing "critical days" in Milan's San Carlo hospital after undergoing vascular surgery but was reported to be in good spirits and asking his doctor for Serie A results.