Football: Everton offer pounds 3m and players for Ravanelli
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fabrizio Ravanelli got a call from Italy yesterday telling him to report for World Cup duty - and he can expect another one from Everton should Middlesbrough decide that pounds 3m, plus two players, is fair exchange for the striker's services.
Howard Kendall is willing to part with the forward Graham Stuart and the versatile Earl Barrett - both valued at pounds 2m - despite the breakdown of a pounds 7.5m cash-only move to Goodison in the summer when Everton balked at paying the Italian pounds 50,000 a week.
The Everton manager still sees Ravanelli, who has been called into Italy's squad for the World Cup trip to Georgia on 10 September, as the ideal partner for Duncan Ferguson.
"You don't change your opinions on the player," said Kendall as he prepared his team for tonight's home game against Manchester United. "He is a top- class striker and scored plenty of goals in the Premier League last season."
Although Stuart scored the winner for Everton against West Ham on Saturday, his first-team place is not guaranteed, while Barrett's position is under threat from the recently-arrived Tony Thomas from Tranmere Rovers.
Bryan Robson, the Middlesbrough manager, would ideally like the Everton captain Gary Speed as part of the package, but he is not for sale. Should the Ravanelli deal go ahead Robson is expected to use the money to finance a pounds 1.5m move for the Birmingham City striker, Paul Devlin.
Kevin Kilbane, the 20-year-old West Bromwich Albion winger, has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Iceland and Lithuania.
Wimbledon's financial affairs are to be merged with those of the Norwegian team, Molde, according to reports from Oslo. The new company, valued at pounds 51m, will be listed on the London and Oslo stock exchanges.
The Norwegian entrepreneurs Kjell Inge Roekke and Bjorn Rune Gjelsten paid pounds 25m in June for a majority stake in the Dons. The partners are also major shareholders in Molde.
England will again receive an extra place in the Uefa Cup next season after finishing top of the Fair Play table established by European football's ruling body. However, it will still mean only four Premiership sides gaining automatic entry to the competition, as Uefa has confirmed that it has ended the agreement with the FA that gave the Coca-Cola Cup winners direct access to Europe.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments