Dacourt set for Italy as Liverpool agree on fee for Bowyer

Lee Bowyer and Olivier Dacourt are on the verge of leaving Elland Road as Terry Venables, the new Leeds United manager, tries to fulfil his pledge of bringing some money back into the club.

Venables took over on Wednesday and was handed the task of recouping £15m to ease the financial constraints on one of the Premiership's big spenders. Within days, he is close to completing his initial brief as Leeds have agreed a fee with Liverpool, thought to be £9m, for Bowyer while Dacourt's £15m transfer to the Italian club Juventus has moved a step closer.

That would eliminate the need to sell Rio Ferdinand, their top-rated defender, although Venables, who is determined to keep hold of one of his most influential players, still has to talk to the England international.

The former England and Tottenham manager did attempt to persuade the 25-year-old Bowyer to reconsider, but to no avail. Bowyer's representatives will open talks with Liverpool early next week in an attempt to secure a transfer which became increasingly inevitable after he rejected the offer of a new contract and was placed on the transfer list.

"We've given Lee permission to talk to Liverpool," the Leeds chairman, Peter Ridsdale, said. "Terry Venables did have a chat with Lee, but his agent called to say nothing has changed. Liverpool have made an offer that's acceptable to us and the rest is now in Lee's hands."

A Liverpool spokesman, Ian Cotton, confirmed that the bid had been accepted, saying: "We have agreed a fee with Leeds for Lee Bowyer. They have given us permission to talk with the player and that will happen next week."

Dacourt's protracted move could also go through sooner rather than later. Giorgio de Giorgis, who has been working with Dacourt's representative, Bruno Satin, on behalf of Juventus, said: "Negotiations are very advanced. There is already an agreement between both clubs."

However, Dacourt, a £7.2m signing from Lens in July 2000, may be part of a chain as Juventus are unwilling to commit themselves until they have completed the transfer of their Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids to either Roma or Lazio.

The sale of both Bowyer and Dacourt would leave Venables with money left over to fund his own spending plans. With interest having been expressed in other members of his squad, including the defender Gary Kelly and the centre-forward Robbie Keane, he could yet add to that kitty.

Youri Djorkaeff, the veteran French international midfielder, yesterday signed a two-year deal with Bolton Wanderers following last season's short-term spell at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton's assistant manager, Phil Brown, said: "Youri is a good influence at the club and he gives us a lift – both the players and the coaching staff. He brings a smile to the camp and gives us quality that we didn't have."

Djorkaeff put his decision to – in all probability – end his playing days with Bolton down to the atmosphere at the club. "It makes me proud and happy to be at Bolton," the World Cup winner said. "I have been at many other clubs, but have never known an atmosphere like this. It is such a friendly place and that is important."

The former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been in talks with Washington DC United about moving to the United States to join the Major League Soccer club.

According to reports in the American capital yesterday, Gascoigne is seeking an MLS contract having failed to secure a deal to stay with Burnley. But a deal with DC United is a long way from agreement.

The Washington club's coach, Ray Hudson, is, like Gascoigne, a former Newcastle United player and tried to recruit the midfielder for his former club, Miami Fusion.

Manchester United's Fabien Barthez has been fined £2,174 by Uefa, European football's governing body. After a 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany in April, which eliminated United from the European Cup on away goals, Barthez reacted by punching and damaging the players' tunnel.