Bolton Wanderers yesterday strengthened their chances of avoiding another swift return to Division One when they added a former and a current international to their ranks.
Peter Beardsley finally moved from Newcastle for £450,000, while the Bolton manager Colin Todd pulled off another coup in agreeing terms with Lazio's £2 million-rated South African defender Mark Fish. "The deal is 99 per cent complete," said Todd. "We are just waiting for the Italians to send through his international clearance."
Bolton hope both signings will help them stay in the Premiership longer than the one season they managed after last gaining promotion in 1994-95.
Fish, a 6ft 4in central defender who has power, pace and is commanding in the air, is understood to have a agreed a £2 million four-year deal. He was being chased by Manchester United towards the end of the 1995-96 season, but chose to move to Italy. However, he does not figure in the plans of the club's new manager Sven Goran Eriksson despite helping his country qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time this weekend. "Four Italian clubs wanted to take him," said Todd, "and I'm delighted that he is going to be with us."
Both Fish and Beardsley are due to make their Bolton debuts at Coventry on Saturday, with the former England player finally joining the Lancashire club after the original deal fell through two weeks ago. Newcastle pulled out when the sale of Les Ferdidnand and the injury to Alan Shearer left them short of forward cover.
But Kenny Dalglish's recent signings of two of Beardsley's former Liverpool team-mates, John Barnes and Ian Rush, has now allowed the 36-year-old to complete the move pending a routine medical. "He's got great ability and a keen football brain," said Todd. "He will excite the Bolton fans."
Paul McGrath is looking to secure a permanent deal from new Sheffield United manager Nigel Spackman after signing an initial one-month contract.
"It was a very worrying summer. After Derby let me go I waited for the phone to ring and it didn't for ages and ages," said McGrath yesterday. "Then Harry Redknapp (West Ham manager) rang me and wanted to take me for the whole of the season. He was brilliant and I wouldn't say anything against him.
"But he said his chairman and board of directors were worried about why Derby had let me go and they wanted to see me play. They wanted me to go away with them and play a couple of games which I thought was a bit of an insult."
McGrath, who impressed against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday, said: "I've got a month and I've got to try and get through that and then hope I get a season out of Sheffield. Everything is against me at the moment. Because I'd had my holiday, I've not done any fitness work and the heat doesn't help."
Nottingham Forest's Wales striker Dean Saunders, 33, is expected to become an Everton player this week. Howard Kendall is set to sign him for about £800,000 to partner Duncan Ferguson.
Tottenham's move for the Polish midfielder Peter Nowak has hit trouble. the player is reported to have agreed personal terms with Spurs, but insists he is due a free transfer. However, his club, 1860 Munich, says his contract runs until 1999 and they want £1.2 million.
The Barnsley manager Danny Wilson is due to disccuss personal terms with West Ham's Northern Ireland international striker Iain Dowie today prior to a £500,000 move.
The Arsenal captain Tony Adams will make his first appearance of the season in a reserve match against Portsmouth today. The England defender' summer ankle surgery forced him to miss five internationals. He also missed Arsenal's first two Premiership games through suspension.
Manchester United have admitted they are in discussions with Eric Cantona's lawyer over a final pay-off demand, reported to be as high as £750,000, to reward him for money made on replica shirts bearing his name.
Leeds United's troubled Swedish star Tomas Brolin will be disciplined by the club after accusing the manager George Graham of trying to kick him out Elland Road.
