Petrescu moves to Chelsea for pounds 2.3m

RUPERT METCALF

Dan Petrescu got his wish yesterday: a move from Sheffield Wednesday to Chelsea. The 27-year-old Romanian international full-back, brought to Hillsborough from Genoa by Trevor Francis for pounds 1.3m last summer, will cost his new club pounds 2.3m - subject to a new work permit being granted.

Petrescu upset David Pleat, who replaced Francis in the close season, when he reportedly said that he wanted to play alongside Ruud Gullit at Stamford Bridge. "It created an unhealthy situation," Pleat said yesterday. "His agent was looking to change a contract that was only 15 or 16 months old."

Blackburn Rovers completed two deals yesterday that will boost their midfield resources: Scotland's Billy McKinlay arrived from Dundee United for pounds 1.75m while Norway's Lars Bohinen finalised his cut-price pounds 750,000 move from Nottingham Forest. One midfielder is leaving Ewood Park: Lee Makel has joined Huddersfield for pounds 300,000.

Bolton have agreed a pounds 1m fee with Partizan Belgrade for the 23-year- old Yugoslav international, Sasa Curcic, and have taken another midfield man, Wayne Burnett, from Plymouth on loan with a view to a pounds 100,000 move. Bolton have also sold the striker Owen Coyle to Dundee United for pounds 400,00.

The Swiss Football Federation has agreed to let their coach, Roy Hodgson, join Internazionale - but only if he stays on as part-time coach of the Swiss national team, who are almost certain to qualify for the European Championship finals next summer.

David O'Leary, 37, the Leeds and former Republic of Ireland international, has been forced to retire as a player due to injury. O'Leary made 722 league and cup appearances for Arsenal before joining Leeds in 1993.