Fulham manage to Sikora an own goal

FULHAM were kicking themselves yesterday after missing out on number one transfer target Victor Sikora because of their insistence on paying his £3million-plus fee in instalments.

The flying Dutchman, a revelation on the left wing for Vitesse Arnhem last season, is now expected to sign for Holland's champions Ajax a club he originally snubbed because he wanted to try his luck in the Premiership.

The 24-year-old Deventer-born midfielder arrived in London for talks and a medical at the start of this week. Fulham had hoped to announce his signing on Friday when they also confirmed the arrival of Junichi Inamoto and Martin Djetou.