Portsmouth hoping to lure Sheringham

The former England striker Teddy Sheringham is on the verge of joining the Premiership newcomers Portsmouth. Sheringham had been looking for a new club since leaving Tottenham at the end of last season.

The 37-year-old is abroad on holiday but Portsmouth yesterday announced that they expect a deal to be concluded later in the week. Sheringham became a free agent when Spurs decided against renewing his contract this summer.

A Portsmouth club spokesman said: "We hope to have an agreement with Teddy in place soon, but can't do anything further until he returns from his holiday."

Fulham have held talks with Pierre van Hooijdonk over a £600,000 move from Feyenoord. The west London club are willing to pay the Dutch striker around £25,000-a-week for the next two seasons. Van Hooijdonk will make his decision by the end of the week.

Leeds United have told Aston Villa to increase their offer for Paul Robinson if they are to have any chance of signing the England goalkeeper.

Villa, with the former Leeds manager David O'Leary at the helm, have made a bid thought to be around £3m for the 23-year-old Robinson but the Leeds chairman Professor John McKenzie said: "We want to keep Paul but that depends on him and it may be that Aston Villa will put in a higher offer or someone else will. Arsenal have also expressed an interest but we are happy for him to stay because he is a very good goalkeeper."

The Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is on the verge of sealing a £750,000 deal for the Lyon central defender Florent Laville. It is understood Laville will sign a two-year contract, possibly tomorrow when Allardyce returns from holiday.