DIGEST: Everton have agreed loan deals for United States international striker Brian McBride and Egypt defender Ibrahim Said, subject to work permits. McBride was part of the US squad which exceeded all expectations at the World Cup to reach the quarter-finals and has now moved to Goodison Park on a three-month loan deal. He has previous experience of working with Toffees boss David Moyes at Preston, where he had a loan spell in 2001.
Said, who trained with the club in the summer and even played in part of the club's pre-season programme, is set to complete a deal to keep him on Merseyside until the end of the season. Both players are expected to be available for their debuts, barring any work permit hold-ups, against Tottenham on January 12th.
Bowyer slow to tackle question
Leeds boss Terry Venables is still frustratingly waiting for Lee Bowyer to make a decision on his future. With just six months remaining on his current contract, the midfielder has yet to give any indication whether he will remain at Elland Road or move on.
A reported £32,000-per-week, five-year deal has been on the table for Bowyer to sign for a year now, although he has so far showed no intention of picking up a pen to do so.
At least with the transfer window reopening, Bowyer is now free to discuss a proposed move with any overseas club. Despite Jonathan Woodgate being linked with Newcastle, Robbie Fowler with Manchester City and Michael Duberry with Birmingham, the club insist there have been no bids or approaches for any of their players from any club.
Good break for Ranieri
Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri breathed a massive sigh of relief yesterday after discovering Gianfranco Zola's shin injury is nowhere near as bad as first feared. The Italian striker was felled by Lauren in the 80th minute of Arsenal's 3-2 victory at Highbury, tumbling to the floor, screaming and clutching the top of his right shin. The 36-year-old will soon be back in action, possibly even in tomorrow's FA Cup third-round tie with Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge.
"Franco never stays down," Ranieri said. "When he takes a hit, he just stands up. So I was very worried as he never fakes injury."
More bad news for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough will have to do without Ugo Ehiogu for up to two months after the England defender fractured ribs and suffered a punctured lung in the New Year's Day defeat by Blackburn.
"It looks like we have lost Ugo for a period of six to eight weeks as he recovers from what is a very serious injury," Boro assistant manager Bill Beswick said.
Middlesbrough have already had to deal with serious injuries to Juninho, Joseph-Desire Job and George Boateng this season, but Ehiogu is arguably more important to the Premiership club than any of them.
"The loss of a senior player and such an influential figure is going to be hard to deal with," Beswick admitted.
Rebrov still wanted
Fenerbahce have enquired about out-of-favour Tottenham striker Sergei Rebrov with a view to securing a loan until the end of the season. Rebrov, a club record £11 million signing from Dynamo Kiev by George Graham in May 2000, was not even on the Spurs bench at Southampton on Wednesday.
"I haven't signed anything yet, we are only negotiating," Rebrov said. "I am thankful to Fenerbahce that they want to sign me despite having been sidelined for so long."
Pires off to cross-examine Wenger
Robert Pires has said he would be seeking an explanation from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after being substituted in the second half of Wednesday's 3-2 defeat of Chelsea.
Pires said in his column for L'Equipe newspaper being substituted was part and parcel of a footballer's life, but sometimes it was necessary to ask the manager why he had been taken off.
"The manager took me off just before the hour mark,"he wrote. "That surprised me and didn't please me very much.This is part of a footballer's career, but sometimes it requires an explanation from the manager and I will be seeking one."
Real Madrid's a selling club too
Real Madrid have placed Argentine international Santiago Solari on the transfer list, it was reported yesterday, and he can leave for a fee of between €10 million and €15 million with Inter Milan leading the chase.
Spanish media reports suggest that Manchester United, Arsenal, AC Milan, Paris Saint Germain, Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in the 26-year-old.
Getting hot at the top
Real Madrid brushed aside Sevilla to claim an easy 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu last night and move up to second spot in the Spanish first division. Raul put Real ahead on nine minutes with a near-post header from Luis Figo's cross and Flavio Conceicao doubled the advantage on the half-hour with a cracking first-time shot from the edge of the box.
Sevilla centre back Javi Navarro was sent off early in the second half for stepping on Ronaldo and a Zinedine Zidane strike on 74 minutes made it four successive wins for Vicente del Bosque's side and turned up the heat on leaders Real Sociedad.
After 15 games, Real Sociedad lead the standings on 35 points, with Real Madrid now five points behind in second place.
Valencia, who take on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Sunday, slip to third on 28 points.
