Liverpool Echo: Radz sale to Fulham "imminent"

[MikeD]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/tm_objectid=14451379&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=fergie-barred-from-usa-name_page.html

Fergie barred from USA Jul 22 2004

By Scott Mcleod, Liverpool Echo

EVERTON will be without Duncan Ferguson for their pre-season tour of Texas.

The Scottish striker (left) is believed to have been refused entry to the United States because of his criminal conviction in 1995.

The Blues could apply for a special visa for Ferguson, but there would be no chance of that being approved even before the club returns to the UK on Sunday week.

Ferguson served six weeks of a three-month jail sentence in Glasgow's notorious Barlinnie jail during the winter of 1995 after being found guilty of assault on Raith Rovers John McStay during a Glasgow Rangers match.

With Tomasz Radzinski today tying up a move to Fulham for £1.75m it leaves manager David Moyes with just three strikers ahead of the Copa De Tejas at Houston's Reliant Stadium.

The Blues take on Mexican sides Pachuca and Club America at the end of next week.

The imminent departure of Radzinski will bolster the manager's modest transfer kitty however.

On Tuesday night Moyes admitted that he will only consider selling players if he had new signings lined up.

And with Tobias Linderoth also expected to join FC Copenhagen in a £1m deal in the next few days it is clear the manager's rebuilding plans are taking shape.

However, reports that Australian defender Eddy Bosnar has completed a move to Goodison are wide of the mark.

The Sturm Graz defender impressed during a week-long trial at the club's Austrian training camp last week. He would be available on a free transfer, but his lack of international experience would present work permit problems.

Everton may be willing to have a longer look at the player before the start of the new season.

Meanwhile, Moyes and chairman Bill Kenwright met with Wayne Rooney's representatives yesterday but were unable to secure the player's signature on the record-breaking £50,000 a week five-year contract.

Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, is believed to be stalling in order to gauge interest in the player from elsewhere and to see how the Goodison boardroom power struggle turns out.

But Moyes remains confident of keeping Rooney.

He said: "Of course I am optimistic. I said we are going to be positive at Everton and I am. We have made Wayne a tremendous offer and I would expect that to be accepted.

"We are waiting for a reply and I would have hoped we would have had an answer by now. Hopefully we will get that very soon."

Moyes takes his small squad to Burnley tonight for the club's third pre-season friendly, before jetting to Texas tomorrow.

[MikeD]

from the BBC

***

Radzinski set for Fulham

Unsettled Everton striker Tomas Radzinski is undergoing a medical at Fulham ahead of his proposed move to Craven Cottage.

The 30-year-old is expected to sign for the Cottagers at the weekend after the clubs agreed around a £1.75m fee.

Radzinski, who has 12 months to run on his contract, rejected a new three-year deal at Everton and publicly criticised manager David Moyes.

The forward joined Everton from Anderlecht three years ago.

The Merseyside club were furious with Radzinski for refusing a deal he had originally demanded, then urging England striker Wayne Rooney to quit the club.

And his fierce criticism of Moyes and the lack of new signings at the club make his swift departure almost inevitable.

Coleman is keen to seal the deal now he is armed with the £3m he received from Tottenham for Sean Davis.

Radzinski scored eight goals in 34 appearances last season and was a useful foil for Rooney.

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/3805949.stm

Published: 2004/07/22 14:28:28 GMT

© BBC MMIV