Blackburn finally secure Yorke's services for £2m

Dwight Yorke says he is desperate to re-establish himself as one of the best strikers in the Premiership following his move to Blackburn Rovers. Yorke finally ended his turbulent spell at Manchester United when he joined Rovers for a reduced fee of £2m yesterday to reform his old United striking partnership with Andy Cole.

The former Trinidad and Tobago international had fallen out of favour with manager Sir Alex Ferguson after his refusal to join Middlesbrough in January scuppered United's move for Paolo di Canio.

Yorke, who scored 66 goals in 152 appearances for United, had been restricted to just two substitute appearances this year and is overjoyed by the prospect of playing regular first-team football again.

"I can't tell you how delighted I am to sign for Blackburn and to get this great opportunity," he said. "I'm desperate to re-establish myself in the Premiership and there's a passion and hunger to do well."

Yorke, 30, has agreed a three-year deal with Blackburn and the fee could rise to £2.6m depending on appearances.

Graeme Souness, the Rovers manager, has been after Yorke for months, but the deal had stalled on United's refusal to lower their asking price for the striker that cost them a then club record £12.6m from Aston Villa in August 1998. "Dwight is a player of the highest quality with a proven record, who I have targeted for some time," Souness said. "He can only be an asset for us as we look to move forward."

Juninho is set to return to Teesside after Middlesbrough agreed a four-year deal with the 29-year-old, following protracted negotiations, after settling on a £6m fee with his Spanish club Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

The Brazilian is due to link up with his new team-mates early next month and it is hoped that he will make his debut in the pre-season friendly against Alaves on 7 August although the deal remains subject to a medical and the obtaining of a work permit.

Juninho was a roaring success during his previous two spells at the Riverside. He first arrived in England from São Paulo for £4.75m in 1995. Although the club reached the FA Cup and League Cup finals in 1997, he could not prevent them from being relegated.

He was then sold to Atletico Madrid for £12m, but returned to Middlesbrough on loan in 1999. Juninho was then loaned out to Brazilian sides Flamengo and Vasco da Gama before catching the eye at this summer's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of the Uruguayan international goalkeeper Fabian Carini on a year's loan from Juventus.

The 22-year-old, who played in all three of Uruguay's matches at the World Cup finals in the Far East, found his chances in Turin limited behind Gianluigi Buffon. Carini will replace Richard Wright, who joined Everton in the week, as David Seaman's understudy in the Arsenal goal.

Liverpool's England striker Emile Heskey has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Liverpool until 2005. The former Leicester City forward was signed by Gérard Houllier for £11m in March 2000.

Vladimir Smicer and Patrik Berger, Liverpool's Czech midfielders, have also agreed in principle to new deals.