Portugal's Jorge Costa heads for Charlton

Charlton Athletic yesterday moved swiftly to plug their injury-hit defence with the Portuguese international Jorge Costa.

The 30-year-old centre-back has agreed a five-month loan deal from Porto, and his transfer to The Valley may be made permanent next summer.

Jorge Costa has been frozen out at Porto and arrives at Charlton desperate to secure his place in the Portugal squad for the 2002 World Cup. The defender said: "I want to do well for Charlton – and I hope our national team manager will pick me for the World Cup. The circumstances are not what I hoped they'd be – but I've come here and I'll do my best. I don't want to talk about Porto – I'm thinking about playing for Charlton and Charlton only. I'm here for five months, and then we'll make a decision about the future."

Charlton also announced the signing of Nottingham Forest midfielder Chris Bart-Williams on a month's loan.

Manchester United may lose out to the Spanish side Real Madrid in the chase for Milan's highly rated young centre-back Fabricio Coloccini.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, has put the young Argentinian at the head of his wanted list and wants to do a deal before the deadline for next year's Champions' League matches. However, Real Madrid – tipped off about United's interest – were in talks with Milan and the player's agent last night. Real want to sign Coloccini now for around £9m. United were hoping they could close a deal quickly after approaching Milan last week, but now the lure of Real Madrid and their willingness to spend could cost them the player.

The former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka is being offered to top Italian clubs as Sunderland wait on an answer from the Frenchman.

Anelka and his adviser brothers had a meeting with officials at his club, Paris St-Germain, at the weekend after he was dropped and permission was given to an agent to find him a new club.

Sunderland are interested in a loan arrangement – with a view to a permanent £10m deal – but Anelka and his camp want to find out if he can go to Serie A. Juventus – who may want a partner for David Trézéguet – will be contacted as Anelka seeks a new home before the World Cup finals.

Sunderland are holding on for Anelka's reaction to the chance of joining them and staying in a top-flight league before the French pick their squad for the finals next summer.

The Everton manger Walter Smith is giving the Argentinian striker Gonzalo Belloso the chance to solve his target-man shortage. The giant Belloso is joining Smith's squad this week for a short trial with a view to clinching a contract as Kevin Campbell and Duncan Ferguson both face lay-offs.

Belloso, 27, has been playing for Strasbourg in France for the past three seasons after a successful career in South America with Lanus and Cruz Azul.

Southampton will hope to complete the £1.75m transfer of Blackpool's Brett Ormerod today. The Second Division striker has scored 20 goals already this season.

Rochdale are in talks with experienced John Hollins about becoming their new manager. The former Swansea chief has met the Third Division outfit and is waiting on a decision on the job of replacing Steve Parkin. Andy Ritchie, the recently sacked Oldham manager, is the other main contender.