Frank Leboeuf's often tempestuous career in the Premiership is set to end after Chelsea agreed a £1.2 million sterling deal with Marseille for the central defender.
Leboeuf has become a controversial figure in his five years with Chelsea for his regular and public anti-English outbursts, but his reception at his new club is also likely to be mixed.
He was in Marseille last night to finalise the move to his hometown club, but on the last occasion he played at Stade VΘlodrome, for Chelsea in the Champions League two seasons ago, he was booed and spat at by the home fans.
After the match the 33-year-old international appeared on national television and vowed never to wear the white of France's best-supported club.
That promise now appears to have bitten the Gallic dust as Leboeuf, signed by Chelsea from Strasbourg for £2.5million, insists he is on his way home after a succession of aborted moves back to France.
"It has all happened very quickly," he said. "On Saturday in London, having just got back from a training camp in Italy, I received a telephone call from (Marseille's chairman) Bernard Tapie. His offer was very clear: 'We want you to come,' he said.
"Our conversation lasted 20 minutes and we quickly sorted out details of the transfer. I want to take Marseille back to where they belong, on the top. I know it will not be easy because the club is rebuilding, but I am looking forward to the challenge in the build-up to the World Cup and I don't think it is a bad decision to go."
Leboeuf's departure will bring to an end one of the most colourful careers in the Premiership. Using his website and a weekly newspaper column, he has often been critical of the English game, in particular the national side.
If Leboeuf finalises personal terms with Marseille in time, he could make his debut against Montpellier on Saturday in the first game of the new French season.
The determination of Leboeuf, a World Cup winner in 1998, to go to Marseille, where he will become club captain, is partly down to his desire to make the France squad for next year's finals. He would have faced strong competition for a regular Chelsea place after the emergence of John Terry and the arrival of the £6.2 million William Gallas, coincidentally from Marseille.
Everton remain hopeful of luring Paul Ince, a former Manchester United and Liverpool captain, back to Merseyside despite Middlesbrough's apparent reluctance to allow the midfielder to leave.
Ince, who won 53 England caps, made 65 league appearances for the Blues' rivals across Stanley Park before joining Boro for £1 million in 1999. The 33-year-old has a year to run on his current deal at the Riverside but his wage package - he earns £36,000-a-week on Teesside - could yet jeopardise a return to Merseyside, where he still owns a home.
Everton manager Walter Smith is also attempting to bring Coventry's Magnus Hedman to Goodison Park. Coventry, who yesterday signed the former Bari and Leeds striker Phil Masinga on a Bosman free, are looking for £3 million for the 28-year-old Sweden goalkeeper, while Everton have offered half that figure.
West Ham are running the rule over the Toulouse winger Lauren Cortois and Metz midfielder Ludovic Asuar with a view to adding the pair to their growing French contingent.
Gareth Farrelly, meanwhile, yesterday signed a three-year extension to his contract with Bolton Wanderers. The Dubliner, whose previous deal had been due to expire next summer, has now committed himself to the club until 2005.
And the Irish under-16 side in the European Youth Olympics in Spain have reached the final of the tournament after beating Croatia over two games. The Croats won 2-0 on Monday, but Brian Kerr's side bounced back with a 3-0 yesterday thanks to one goal from Peterborough's Rory Hutton and two from Manchester City's Paul Murphy. Ireland now play the host nation in tomorrow's final.
