Transfer news: Damien Duff will spend the weekend thinking over a move to Chelsea after his talks with the London club who have agreed a £17 million fee with Blackburn Rovers.
Privately, though, Chelsea acknowledge the player still needs some persuading to leave his Lancashire home and move to London, despite their reported offer of £70,000-a-week wages.
The talks are said to have gone smoothly, with Duff's demands presenting no problems for Chelsea, but it is becoming increasingly clear that, as rumoured, the player would favour a move to Manchester United.
It is a fact Chelsea also recognise, but there is still no official movement from Old Trafford, with Chelsea believing it to be unlikely that their offer for the player will be matched by their Premiership rivals.
United should, though, know the outcome of the exasperatingly protracted Ronaldinho transfer saga by today - if they fail to sign the Brazilian, leaving them without a single high-profile signing this summer (with respects to Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion and Tim Howard), they will have their opportunity to make a move for Duff, if they so desire.
Alex Ferguson flew to Paris to try to push forward the Ronaldinho transfer. United were keen to have the issue settled yesterday, but negotiations were continuing last night.
United have dismissed remarks made by PSG chairman Francis Graille claiming the club have breached FIFA regulations by negotiating directly with the player.
Meanwhile, Kleberson, who plays alongside Ronaldinho in midfield for Brazil, underwent a medical in Manchester yesterday and United will seek a work permit for the player before announcing the signing - and that could take at least a week.
Former Old Trafford hero David Beckham's first friendly matches for new club Real Madrid are to be televised live for his English fans, it was announced yesterday.
Beckham will be seen during the Spanish team's pre-season tour of Asia in August. ITV2 will screen the matches from China, Japan and Malaysia giving viewers their first glimpse of Beckham in Real's famous all-white strip.
Chelsea did, however, receive some positive news yesterday when Southampton accepted a bid for Wayne Bridge, believed to be £7 million plus Graeme Le Saux.
Former England left-back Le Saux flew home from holiday to talk to Southampton with Bridge permitted to move in the opposite direction after he handed in a transfer request.
"I regret to inform our supporters that we have today given Wayne Bridge permission to speak to Chelsea Football Club with a view to signing for them," the Southampton chairman, Rupert Lowe, said in a statement.
Southampton's had strongly resisted Chelsea's first two offers, believed to be £5 million and £6 million, but accepted a third offer after the 22-year-old made it clear he wanted to leave St Mary's Stadium.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is weighing up a move for the Finnish international goalkeeper Mikko Kaven. The 27-year-old is available for £500,000 from Tampere United.
Liverpool's new £3.5 million signing Steve Finnan is out of next week's Far East tour. The Republic of Ireland player is recovering from hernia surgery.
