Liverpool leave on their pre-season tour of the Far East today without the injured Harry Kewell but relieved to hear the Australian should be fit for the beginning of the Premiership season.
Kewell made his first start for the Merseysiders at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday since his £5 million move from Leeds United but hobbled off two minutes from the interval having injured his left ankle. Although the 24-year-old was able to walk away from Gresty Road, boss Gerard Houllier had feared the worst before a scan yesterday revealed lateral ligament damage.
The Australian will spend the next 10 days restricted to general fitness work at Melwood, but should be available for Liverpool's opening League game against Chelsea at Anfield on August 17th.
While Kewell's absence will not affect Liverpool's marketing agenda in the Far East - their tour to Thailand and Hong Kong was sold out long before the midfielder completed his transfer from Leeds - his lack of match practice in new surroundings will be a worry for Houllier.
Before his injury the Frenchman was impressed by the Australian's display against First Division opposition when he operated behind Milan Baros and Michael Owen, who scored Liverpool's equaliser in the 1-1 draw, and struck the crossbar.
But now the midfielder will only have the game against Galatasaray in Holland on August 3rd and friendlies with Valencia and Aberdeen to become accustomed to his new team-mates before the Chelsea game.
Chelsea will continue to pay £1 million per year of Graeme le Saux's wages in order to seal their £7 million purchase of Southampton's Wayne Bridge today.
The offer came last week after Southampton's initially unenthusiastic response to the offer to take the 34-year-old as a makeweight in the Bridge sale. The Saints were wary of breaking their wage structure - in which Bridge and Beattie are the highest earners on £10,000 per week - with Le Saux, whose weekly salary is £30,000.
Portsmouth inquired about Le Saux last week but Chelsea opted not to jeopardise their discussions with Southampton. Only after the London club consented to making up the difference would Southampton grant permission to speak to their England left-back on Friday.
Bridge is expected today to settle on a five-year contract with personal terms of £30,000 per week. The move will end Le Saux's six-year spell at Stamford Bridge following his £7 million return from Blackburn in 1997.
The former England international has spent 12 seasons at Chelsea since moving from St Paul's in Jersey in 1987. However, following encouraging feedback from negotiations with Damien Duff, Chelsea deem Le Saux superfluous. Duff is still mulling over a £17 million move to Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Rangers still hope to sign Kevin Phillips from Sunderland but Alex McLeish yesterday admitted he would have to sell at least one player before paying £4 million for the striker.