Sommeil capture signals start of City spending

Manchester City's manager, Kevin Keegan, is expected to complete the £3.5m signing of Bordeaux's David Sommeil today after the defender flew in for talks yesterday.

Sommeil arrived with his agent, Pape Diouf, to finalise a three-and-a-half-year contract after City agreed a lower fee for him with Bordeaux, but with instalments that suit the French outfit. The rugged centre-half will sign in time to be considered for City immediately. Keegan will now turn his attention to adding to his strike force, with Pierre van Hooijdonk at the top of his list.

City's negotiators beat Bordeaux down from their original £5m valuation and will pay enough up front for the French club to find a replacement.

With that deal all but done, Keegan has opened talks with Van Hooijdonk's club, Feyenoord. He is willing to spend £1m on the former Forest striker and if the price demanded is higher than that, he will turn his attention elsewhere.

The Brazilian club Palmeiras have confirmed that Arsenal have made an offer for their World Cup-winning goalkeeper Marcos. But the recently relegated side said no transfer deal had been agreed for the 29-year-old, contrary to reports in South America.

Marcos was reported to be ready to fly to London last night to finalise a £2.4m move to Highbury if the clubs reached agreement during the day. Carlos Raimundo, a spokesman for Palmeiras, said that Arsenal had made an offer for Marcos, but there was no immediate agreement. He said that Arsenal had a representative in São Paulo, and he hoped that further discussions would take place.

Arsenal have started with two Brazilians, the World Cup winner Gilberto Silva and Edu, in recent Premiership matches.

Marcos was praised for his performances for Brazil at the World Cup, but he had a disappointing time in the Campeonato Brasileiro after returning from the Far East.

Birmingham City are close to signing the Arsenal central defender Matthew Upson for £3m after talks yesterday. The Blues manager, Steve Bruce, has also completed the signing of the Polish international midfielder Piotr Swierczewski from Marseilles. The 30-year-old, who has been capped more than 60 times for his country, has joined the Blues on loan until June with a view to a permanent deal.