Howard's passport to Old Trafford

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign the American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who suffers from Tourette's syndrome, in the first of what could be a total of four transfers involving keepers this summer.

The 23-year-old plays for New York-New Jersey MetroStars, but his contract and registration belong to Major League Soccer, which has sent a delegation to Manchester to discuss the terms for a £2m transfer for Howard.

Howard was voted Humanitarian of the Year by a charity, New York Life, after coping with the effects of Tourette's syndrome. People with the syndrome suffer from involuntary movements and at times cannot control what they are saying. Howard has learnt to cope with it and his team-mates say they have not found it a problem.

United have established that Howard has a Hungarian passport through his mother and they will argue that qualifies him as a European citizen. Howard has played only once for the United States and has no chance of a work permit, so the only way into Britain is through the passport route.

Howard is being signed to compete for the first-choice position, but his lack of experience may cast doubts about whether he can be a No 1 straight away. United may sign a more seasoned goalkeeper, while selling Fabien Barthez and Roy Carroll after both had mixed times over the past couple of seasons.

Ivan Campo has turned down Bolton Wanderers' offer of a £1 million-a-year contract. The Spanish defensive midfielder was a success when he signed from Real Madrid on loan this season, but now he is a free agent and his demands could be too great for Bolton. He was hoping for wages of about £30,000-a-week but Bolton have rejected that request, though negotiations are still proceeding.

The Everton manager David Moyes has made a £3.3m bid for Bastia's Ghanaian midfielder Mickaël Essien as he competes with Liverpool for the player. The Anfield club want to sign Essien and loan him back to a French club. However, Liverpool could bring Essien into their squad immediately if that clinches the deal.

Chelsea officials want urgent contract talks with Eidur Gudjohnsen, amid fears that the Icelandic international striker is looking for a move away from Stamford Bridge.