Juan Veron will undergo a medical today before completing his British record £23.5 million transfer from Lazio to Manchester United.

Veron has just returned from holiday in the United States while the United players began their official pre-season training on Monday.

Alex Ferguson has told new signing Ruud van Nistelrooy he will be United's number one striker next season.

Despite missing most of last season with a cruciate injury, Ferguson has put his faith in the 24-year-old ahead of the likes of Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Dutch striker's first taste of action will be during United's Far East tour which begins in two weeks.

Toulouse defender Bobo Balde's transfer to Celtic has been put on hold as the financially-stricken club have still not found new owners to save them from bankruptcy. The 25-year-old was expected to sign a five-year deal yesterday with the Scottish Treble winners after protracting negotiations.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard's ankle injury appears more serious than first thought and could keep him out of action for six weeks, manager Gerard Houllier said yesterday.

The 21-year-old, injury-plagued England international damaged ligaments at the club's pre-season training camp in Switzerland on Monday and seems certain to miss the early weeks of the English season.

Feyenoord goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has been offered to Liverpool, according to current Anfield number one Sander Westerveld.

The Polish star, the goalkeeper Arsenal courted before signing Richard Wright of Ipswich, is desperately searching for a chance to prove himself in the Premiership.

But Westerveld, who has had his critics at Anfield since his £4 million move from Vitesse Amhem, has revealed that he has received assurances that Liverpool are not interested in the Pole - nor Juventus goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar - and that he would remain number one next season.

Liverpool have been linked with a number of goalkeepers, including Coventry City's Chris Kirkland.

A delegation from Australia's Brisbane Strikers club will travel to England this month for talks which could lead to Leeds United buying a major share in the club.

The deal with the Premiership side could be worth up to 10 million Australian dollars for the Strikers, who were booted out of the National Soccer League last month only to be readmitted a week ago.

Ronaldo is set to make his long-awaited comeback for Inter Milan in a friendly against Gianluca Vialli's Watford. Ronaldo has not been fully fit since breaking down during the France '98 World Cup, and has suffered several setbacks after attempting early returns.

He missed the whole of last season with the knee injury, which required extensive surgery, but he has targeted the Watford friendly in Lecce on July 31st as a comeback date.

David James is holding talks with West Ham after Aston Villa accepted an offer for the England goalkeeper.

The possibility of James quitting Villa Park comes hot on the heels of yesterday's revelation that Villa had agreed a deal with Middlesbrough for wantaway England defender Gareth Southgate, subject to him passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.