Arsenal yesterday signed Robin van Persie in a £2.75 million deal from Feyenoord in what is only the start of Arsene Wenger's summer transfer business.
Having added Jose Antonio Reyes in January to a complement of strikers that will comprise Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Jeremie Aliadiere and van Persie, the Arsenal manager is still understood to be keen to enlist another striker and a goalkeeper.
With Bergkamp's career winding down, the left-sided van Persie is considered to be his long-term successor in the withdrawn striker's role. However, van Persie is unlikely to impose himself on the starting line-up immediately.
Following a breakdown in his relationship with the Feyenoord manager, Bert van Marwijk, that saw him miss out on the trip to the European Super Cup in 2002, van Persie has been on the fringes of the Dutch club's first team.
Nonetheless, with Ruud Gullit succeeding van Marwijk at Feyenoord next season, there had been hopes that van Persie might remain in Rotterdam, but they were dashed by his determination to move to Arsenal.
"I'm looking forward to meeting my new team-mates in the summer and helping the club to challenge for more honours," he said. "This is a dream come true for me."
The Holland manager Dick Advocaat has confirmed that van Persie will not be in contention for a place in the Euro 2004 squad.
However, Wenger does not believe the 20-year-old who, like Reyes, comes from a tough upbringing and is well suited to the physical side of the English game, will be out of place.
"Robin is a great young talent and a fantastic signing," he said. "He has shown great potential at club and under-21 level and will help strengthen our squad considerably.
"He has a great left foot and is a great passer of the ball, with excellent vision. He's a versatile player and comfortable playing as a striker or on the wing. So we're all looking forward to him joining us in July."
The transfer will be completed as soon as van Persie's Arsenal registration is lodged with FIFA, when the summer window opens on May 17th.
Dave Jones, meanwhile, was charged with "bringing the game into disrepute" with his comments about the referee Uriah Rennie, described as "arrogant" after he turned down two penalty appeals during the 2-1 defeat by Bolton.
"I look forward to being able to state my case before the FA and explaining why I said some of the things I did," said the Wolves manager, who has until May 13th to respond.
FC Porto president Nuno Pinto da Costa has warned Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich he will "go to war with Chelsea" if the Londoners attempt to poach coach Jose Mourinho.
Porto have already accused Chelsea of illegally approaching Mourinho about the prospect of taking over from Claudio Ranieri in the summer and da Costa has now insisted he will not sit back and watch his coach leave.
He said: "I want to make it clear that we will go to war with Chelsea over Mourinho. We will bring in UEFA, FIFA - whoever we need to.
"The attitude of the Russian (Abramovich) is the worst I have seen in the football world. He thinks that after buying Chelsea he can do what he wants and skip all the established rules."
Chelsea coach Ranieri has fuelled speculation that the London club could make a double summer swoop for Real Madrid stars Ronaldo and David Beckham.
Both players have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and Ranieri feels if anyone can pull off such an audacious coup it is Abramovich.
"Yes, Chelsea are thinking of Ronaldo and Beckham," Ranieri said in an interview with Turin newspaper Tuttosport.
"There is only one person in the world who can try to take them from (Real president) Florentino Perez and he is called Roman Abramovich."
However, Ranieri now appears resigned to the fact that he is unlikely to be at the club next season.
He added: "I've never spoken about it before, because of the respect towards those who pay me. Sure, it's difficult thinking I will stay with Chelsea, so I'm thinking about what I'll be doing next year."
Guardian Service
