Chelsea agree fee with Real Madrid for Makelele

CHELSEA have moved a step closer to signing Claude Makelele after agreeing personal terms with the French midfielder.

The France international will undergo a medical at Stamford Bridge over the weekend after also settling on a fee with Real Madrid.

Real were demanding £13.8m for Makelele, who has been involved in a protracted dispute with the Spanish giants. The eventual fee Real agreed with Chelsea was undisclosed.

Blackburn last night completed their £7.5m move for Scotland midfielder Barry Ferguson.

Ferguson has signed a four-year contract at Ewood Park after requesting a move away from Scottish champions Rangers.

Ferguson joins Lorenzo Amoruso, Brett Emerton, Steven Reid and Markus Babbel at Blackburn the latter signing on a season-long loan from Liverpool.

Rovers manager Graeme Souness firmly believes Ferguson will prove he is one of the best midfielders in the game.

He said: "I see him being an outstanding player for this club. I think over the next five, six to seven years, he will be regarded as one of the best central midfield players around in the Premier League.

"But he is a young fella who will come here with a lot to prove. There's a feeling in England that the Scottish league is not that competitive."

Arsenal last night announced the signings of Danny Karbassiyoon and Michal Papadopoulos.

United States Under-19 striker Karbassiyoon joins the Gunners on a permanent basis having previously played for Roanoke in his homeland.

Czech Republic Under-19 striker Papadopoulos has moved to Highbury on a one-year loan from Banik Ostrava.

Mark Viduka's short-term future with Leeds looks secure after club yesterday revealed turning down an offer for the striker from Inter Milan.

Viduka has long been linked with a move away from Elland Road, primarily as agent Andrea D'Amico has hawked the Australia international across Europe in the past few months.

Serie A giants Inter have made no secret of their admiration for Viduka, who was Leeds' leading scorer last season with 22 goals, and decided to make their move following Hernan Crespo's transfer to Chelsea this week.

Steve McManaman will return to England by signing a two-year contract with Manchester City providing he passes a medical.

The former England midfielder reached an agreement with Real Madrid earlier yesterday to release him from his contract a year early.

Shamrock Rovers' Richie Byrne has agreed personal terms with Scottish Premier League side Dunfermline after the eircom League Premier Division had agreed an undisclosed fee for the defender.

Byrne completed the deal yesterday and links up with former team-mate Noel Hunt at the Pars.