Football: Wenger's buy from Brazil

THE FAMED and feared Arsenal back four is looking unlikely to be a permanent fixture next season after Arsene Wenger signed the Brazilian defender Silvinho yesterday. The 25-year-old left-sided defender has moved from Corinthians for an undisclosed fee.

Tony Pulis has been sacked as Gillingham manager, with his chairman Paul Scally alleging gross misconduct. Pulis and Scally have been at loggerheads for several months, with the League Managers' Association acting as mediators.

Pulis took the Gills to Wembley for the first time last May, where they lost to Manchester City on penalties in the Second Division play-off final.

Premiership clubs will fight against the Football Association to retain a 20-club elite division. The FA's interim executive director David Davies has written of the need for a reduction from 20 to 18, but West Ham's secretary Graham Mackrell led the backlash yesterday.

"Reducing the Premier League to 18 clubs has only ever been supported by Manchester United and Arsenal," Mackrell said. "When you see the amount of money being generated in the Premiership you can't expect to see clubs voting to fall on their swords."

Everton or Tranmere risk being thrown out of cup competitions if Peter Johnson retains control of both clubs. David Davies said what could happen in a letter to the Liverpool Walton Labour MP, Peter Kilfoyle. It reads: "The FA and the Football League are considering excluding one of the clubs in question from the FA or Football League Cups next season."

Birmingham City have confirmed that they are interested in signing the Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore. The Blues have joined the Spanish side Celta Vigo and the Greek club Panathinaikos in making a move for the 28-year-old.

Kevin Campbell will to fight for his right to become an Everton player. The 29-year-old is at the centre of a transfer wrangle with Trabzonspor. The Turkish side have been given 24 hours to reconsider their decision to turn down Everton's pounds 3m bid.

Campbell said: "I have a clause in my contract that allows me to leave and it doesn't seem that they are honouring that contract. I will have to take it to a higher authority."

Dundee have signed the 19-year-old striker Michael Yates, who scored 19 goals for the UniBond League side Burscough last season after being released by Liverpool.

The captain of Thailand has earned a trial with Middlesbrough. The striker Kiatisak Senamuang, 23, led the Thai squad to victory over Arsenal last month in a friendly in Bangkok.

Blackburn hope to sell Martin Dahlin to Benfica. The Swedish striker is in talks with the Portuguese side.

Bradford City have completed the pounds 1.4m signing of the defender David Wetherall from Leeds on a five-year contract. Fulham have sealed the purchase of the goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann from Colorado Rapids for pounds 100,000.