Bowyer takes final steps to new home at Liverpool

LEE BOWYER took another step towards becoming a Liverpool player when he arrived on Merseyside yesterday to discuss personal terms and have a medical.

Liverpool and Leeds agreed a fee for Bowyer last week, believed to be stg£9million, and the midfielder drove into the Reds' Melwood training-ground yesterday morning in a silver Porsche to begin the last stages of the transfer.

He talked over personal terms with Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier and underwent a medical in the afternoon.

Liverpool are unsure when the deal might be completed, but if all goes well he should be unveiled at an Anfield press conference later this week.

He could make his debut in the club's first pre-season game against Le Havre on Friday before the team move on to their Swiss training camp.

A Liverpool spokesman said yesterday: ''He has been in talks with the club and underwent a medical.

It is understood Leeds and Liverpool have agreed an initial stg£7m fee for the controversial 25-year-old, who moved to Elland Road from Charlton in a stg£2.6m deal six years ago, rising to stg£9m depending on appearances and England caps.

Leeds reluctantly decided to cash in on Bowyer, who has just one year left on his current Elland Road contract, because he rejected their offer of a new deal earlier this summer.

Meanwhile Holland winger Victor Sikora is poised to become Fulham's second signing of the week when he jets into London to undergo the medical for his stg£3m switch from Vitesse Arnhem.

The ink was still drying on Junichi Inamoto's 12-month loan contract with a three-year permanent extension option as Jean Tigana's ambitious club began the chore of tying up the loose ends of their swoop for the flying Dutchman.

Japan's 23-year-old midfielder Inamoto flopped at Arsenal before becoming one of the World Cup stars and Tigana has no doubts over his ability to cut the mustard in the top flight.

Now Sikora, a gifted 24-year-old who is prepared to snub Dutch champions Ajax to have a crack at the Premiership, will also join after completing the formalities of Fulham's medical checks which will take place in the next few days.

The Cottagers are finalising his fee and personal terms and Sikora revealed that his Dutch colleagues based in England persuaded him to choose a move to the Premiership.

Fulham's three summer signings so far are Inamoto and an Argentinian duo, stg£2m striker Facundo Sava and goalkeeper Martin Herrera.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger decided Inamoto was not good enough to merit a single league appearance in their Double-winning campaign and finally released him last month.

But the playmaker was an inspiration as Japan stormed through their World Cup first-round group before losing 1-0 to eventual semi-finalists Turkey.