Football: Tinkler joins the Barnsley party

Barnsley is rapidly becoming as cosmopolitan a football town as Middlesbrough and Glasgow, as the Premiership newcomers continue to strengthen their squad for the challenge that lies ahead next month.

Yesterday's arrival was the South African international midfielder, Eric Tinkler, who cost pounds 650,000 from the Italian side, Cagliari. The 26-year- old becomes Barnsley's third recruit of the summer, following the pounds 250,000 goalkeeper Lars Leese from Bayer Leverkusen and the pounds 1.5m club record signing, the Macedonian international striker Georgi Hristov.

Tinkler had a spell with Coventry at the age of 16 but moved on to Portugal and then Sardinia last summer. "I am very happy to be at Barnsley," he said. "The club is clearly ambitious." Barnsley also hope to complete the signing of the Slovenian international defender Ales Krizan for pounds 500,000 from Maribor Branik.

Despite Tottenham's pounds 11m offer, Juninho still seems set for Spain. The Middlesbrough forward is currently back home in Brazil, where his father and manager, Osvaldo Giroldo, said: "Juninho will play for Atletico Madrid. Next week we will go to Madrid to pass the necessary medical. Atletico and Middlesbrough reached agreement on Sunday with my approval. It is true that at the end a great offer came from Tottenham, but my son wants to play in Spain."

However, the Spurs chairman, Alan Sugar, insisted: "I have just spoken to Keith Lamb [Middlesbrough's chief executive] and he said [ours] is the only offer on the table."

The prolific striker Mike Sheron completed his pounds 2.5m move from Stoke to Queen's Park Rangers yesterday.

Bolton have sealed the club record pounds 2.5m signing of Robbie Elliott from Newcastle. Tottenham have made a pounds 2.7m bid for Danny Murphy of Crewe, but Newcastle and Liverpool are also keen on the England Under-20 international midfielder.

Paul Ince is due to meet Everton today to discuss the terms available as part of their pounds 5m bid for him, the best offer that Internazionale, the England midfielder's club, have on the table. Newcastle are also planning to talk to Ince.

Howard Kendall, Everton's new manager, has signed the Republic of Ireland midfielder Gareth Farrelly, who was out of contract at Aston Villa. "We may have to go to a tribunal to decide a fee," Kendall said. Another young Irish international, David Connolly, has moved to the Dutch club Feyenoord from Watford on a "Bosman ruling" free transfer at the end of his contract.

Middlesbrough are to give a three-week trial to Jose Maria Bakero, the 33-year-old former Spain and Barcelona midfielder who has just spent a season with the Mexican side, Vera Cruz.