Football: Villa sign pounds 4.8m Thompson

ALAN THOMPSON is set to complete a pounds 4.8m transfer to Aston Villa from Bolton Wanderers today.

The midfielder will meet Villa's chairman, Doug Ellis, this afternoon and should tie up a five-year deal worth around pounds 1m a season. Thompson has already had preliminary talks with Villa, whose bid has beaten off Leeds, Everton and Manchester United.

Kenny Dalglish expects to make Wayne Quinn his next signing for Newcastle United in a pounds 2m deal today. Sheffield United's England under-21 international is expected on Tyneside today for talks after a fee was agreed between the clubs last night.

As West Ham's Welsh striker John Hartson, who is believed to want pounds 20,000 a week to sign a new deal, has been stalling over signing a three-year extension to his current extension, and last week was the subject of a bid from Blackburn.

West Ham put a pounds 10m price tag on their top scorer, before saying he was not for sale and Blackburn Rovers manager Roy Hodgson splashed out pounds 7.5m on Southampton's Kevin Davies instead. Hartson has been in fine form for the Hammers and scored the second goal in Wales's 3-0 win in Malta on Wednesday.

Coventry are hoping to complete the pounds 700,000 signing of Jean Guy Wallemme from French champions Lens while newly-promoted Bristol City have signed Fulham striker Tony Thorpe for pounds 1m.

Joseph Blatter, the Fifa presidential hopeful, emphasised his intention to award the 2006 World Cup to African when he went to Liberia yesterday. Blatter, who met local football officials and the Liberian international George Weah, promised to increase funding to the West African country.

Celtic yesterday dismissed their assistant head coach Murdo MacLeod, who was Wim Jansen's No 2.