Giovanni van Bronckhorst has left Arsenal for Barcelona on a season's loan, with a view to a longer-term deal.
Van Bronckhorst has failed to hold a regular place at Highbury since his move from Rangers just over two years ago but is highly regarded by Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard, who included him in Holland's Euro 2000 team. The move was welcomed by the 28-year-old, who has been told by Holland's current coach Dick Advocaat that he needs to be playing "every week at the highest level" to stand a chance of going to Euro 2004.
Van Bronckhorst can operate at left-back or in midfield but has struggled to make an impact at Arsenal in either position. He has not been helped by a knee injury which kept him out for nine months.
Arsene Wenger said yesterday: "There were a few clubs interested but the real interest came from Barcelona. There is such competition (at Arsenal) in midfield that I have eight or nine players who all want to play and there is a line between having too much and the right amount of competition for places. Giovanni also wants to play at left-back and I have Ashley Cole, who is an England international, there."
Carlisle player charged
Carlisle United's Irish midfielder William McDonagh has been charged with assaulting a police officer following a late-night brawl.
McDonagh, 20, was arrested in the Cumbrian city in the early hours of yesterday morning following reports of a fight outside a takeaway.
Less than 12-hours earlier, the Dublin-born midfielder had played in his team's 1-0 defeat away to Boston Rovers, which left Carlisle bottom of the Football League without a single point from four games.
A spokesman for Cumbria Police yesterday confirmed that McDonagh, of Warwick Road, Carlisle, had been charged with one count of assaulting a police officer and one of being drunk and disorderly.
He is due to appear before magistrates tomorrow.
In Brief
Caretaker West Ham boss Trevor Brooking does not want to become Glenn Roeder's permanent successor. Meanwhile, Oldham director Sean Jarvis claims manager Iain Dowie "will remain committed" to Oldham despite being the favourite to take over at Upton Park.
Fulham hope to sign Claudio Reyna from Sunderland in the next 48 hours, even though Sean Davis will stay at the London club after his move to Everton collapsed and Middlesbrough's interest cooled.
The FA is still awaiting Glenn Hoddle's observations on his comments about the referee Rob Styles after Tottenham's defeat at Birmingham on August 16th. Hoddle may be charged after saying that he knew "from the first minute" that decisions would go against his team and that Styles was trying to "balance things up" after sending off a Birmingham player in a pre-season match.
Blackburn Rovers' protracted attempt to take Markus Babbel on a long-term loan from Liverpool should be resolved by the end of the week. Graeme Souness is confident the 30-year-old defender will complete the move and be available for Saturday's daunting trip to Chelsea. Souness will meet the former Italy international Dino Baggio's representative Andrea D'Amico today with a view to completing the Lazio midfielder's free transfer to Ewood Park.
Leeds are poised to sign the Cameroon and Marseille defender Salomon Olembe.
