Spurs secure Swiss defender Vega for pounds 3m

Football

Tottenham last night eased the suffering of their fans after the club's 7-1 defeat at Newcastle and exit from the FA Cup against Manchester United at Old Trafford by securing the Swiss international defender Ramon Vega from Cagliari for pounds 3m.

According to reports, Tottenham's chairman, Alan Sugar, agreed a deal with the Italian club at the weekend, leaving Vega to finalise personal terms and undergo a medical before signing. Gerry Francis, the Spurs manager, tried before to sign Vega, but at that stage Cagliari were reluctant to let the 26-year-old go before then end of the season.

Vega, whose first game could be Spurs' league game at Old Trafford on Sunday, will be Tottenham's third acquisition in a month, following the Norwegian striker Steffen Iversen and the defender John Scales.

Bolton's manager, Colin Todd, has made a pounds 1.5m bid to sign the versatile Paul Warhurst from Blackburn Rovers in the hope of heading off an offer by Manchester City. Warhurst was due to become Frank Clark's first signing for City on loan yesterday, but the move was blocked when Bolton offered to take him on a long-term deal.

Clark faces disappointment in his pursuit of Erland Johnsen, too. The Chelsea centre-back wants to go home to Norway.

Another Norwegian who could be on the move is Nottingham Forest's Alf Inge Haland, who can play in midfield or at the back. Everton's manager, Joe Royle, is willing to pay about pounds 2m for Haland, who has just rejected a new contract at Forest.

Marek Citko, who scored for Poland against England at Wembley, is expected to join Blackburn Rovers in a pounds 4m transfer. The Widzew Lodz striker will arrive at the weekend for two days of talks and training with Rovers and has agreed to sign, barring a late hitch. The 21-year-old striker, who Rovers' caretaker manager, Tony Parkes, has only seen on video, should have enough caps to gain a work permit.

Sunderland will complete the pounds 250,000 signing of the Swedish international Jan Eriksson today subject to a medical. The 29-year-old defender played in Helsingborg's Uefa Cup win over Aston Villa this season.

Gillingham have agreed to pay a club record pounds 250,000 for the Norwich striker Ade Akinbiyi, subject to agreement on personal terms and a medical.

Ray Wilkins has returned to England and agreed to join Millwall of the Second Division on a one-month playing contract a day after leaving Hibernian. Wilkins, 40, left Easter Road by mutual consent in the wake of Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Rangers.

The Aston Villa midfielder Mark Draper is expected to be out of action for several weeks with a groin problem. Draper will tomorrow see a specialist who is expected to confirm that he will require surgery to cure the injury.

Sam Allardyce, the former Blackpool manager, has emerged as favourite to take charge of Notts County until the end of the season. County, struggling in the Second Division, sacked their managerial team of Colin Murphy and Steve Thompson last month.

Bryan Robson, Middlesbrough's manager, has fined Craig Hignett for being sent off for using foul and abusive language when complaining about a penalty decision when Boro were 5-0 up in their 6-0 victory over Chester in Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie.

The Association has confirmed that Hugo Porfirio can play for West Ham in the FA Cup. Wrexham had questioned Porfirio's eligibility, believing he was on loan from Sporting Lisbon, after he scored in the 1-1 draw in the third round. He is under contract at Upton Park for the rest of the season.

Following his side's 1-0 defeat by Barcelona in the Spanish league on Saturday, John Toshack has announced he will resign as coach of Deportivo La Coruna at the end of the season.

Jurgen Klinsmann will stay with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga for the rest of the season despite his much-publicised problems at the club. He has until April to decide what he will do after that.