Wanderers snap up Oman keeper

Bolton have eased their goalkeeping worries with the capture of Oman international Ali Al-Habsi from top Norwegian club SFK Lyn.

The highly-rated 23-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at the Reebok Stadium.

With doubts surrounding the future of Wanderers number one Jussi Jaaskelainen, Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was delighted with his new signing.

He told the club’s official website, www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk: “Ali has a massive presence in front of goal and will add much needed competition in a key area for us.

“He aspires to be a great keeper in the Premiership and we’ll certainly give him the platform he needs to become a respected player in the best league in the world.”

The 6ft 5in shot-stopper added: “The club is going places and I was impressed with Sam Allardyce's hopes for the future.”

Elsewhere on the goalkeeping front, there was a surprise on Teesside when it emerged that Middlesbrough had ‘reluctantly’ accepted Mark Schwarzer’s request to leave the club.

The 33-year-old Australian asked for a move just six months after signing a lucrative three-year contract, with his agent claiming he is looking for a fresh challenge.

Barry Silkman said: “He just feels it’s time to move on. He’s been there eight years. He would prefer to stay in England, but if the right move came up abroad - if a major club came in for him like AC Milan or one of those clubs – then obviously we’d sit and think about it.”

Middlesbrough could also be about to lose Ugo Ehiogu, with West Brom reportedly closing in on the signature of their former defender.

He is understood to have held further talks with Albion officials yesterday and sources close to the Baggies are optimistic the deal will go ahead over the weekend if 33-year-old Ehiogu can agree personal terms.

On the busiest day of the transfer window so far, Portsmouth yesterday broke their club record and Manchester United lined up a second defensive reinforcement of the month.

As new joint owner Alexandre Gaydamak was unveiled, Pompey confirmed they had splashed out £4.1m (€6m) to buy Zimbabwe international Benjani Mwaruwari from Auxerre.

Harry Redknapp is set to lose the player on African Nations Cup duty but the manager told BBC Radio Solent: “I spoke to Arsene Wenger about him last week. He told me: ‘If you can get him, get the next plane over there and bring him back’.”

United have beaten off competition from Inter Milan to sign Monaco full-back Patrice Evra.

“The deal is done, he will come on Monday,” said Alex Ferguson. “We have been looking at him for some time since Gabriel Heinze was injured in September.”

Fulham completed the signing of New Zealand midfielder Simon Elliott on a free transfer from Columbus Crew. The 31-year-old, with over 50 caps for his country, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal.

One player who may not be leaving his club, however, is Charlton midfielder Danny Murphy.

The Addicks star has been linked with Manchester City and Newcastle, with a swap deal involving Lee Bowyer being mooted.

However, Charlton boss Alan Curbishley told the club’s website: “It’s no secret that Lee Bowyer is desperate to come back to London and that keeps coming up, but at the moment there’s no way he’s going to be coming here in a swap for Danny Murphy.

“Some papers are saying that Manchester City are involved but I’ve spoken to Stuart Pearce and he doesn’t know where that has come from.”

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary also insisted unsettled trio Lee Hendrie, Ulises de la Cruz and Mark Delaney would not be allowed to leave this month.

Leeds extended Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller’s loan spell until the end of the season, while Old Trafford youngsters Chris Eagles and Mads Timm have joined Watford and Walsall respectively.