Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly agreed a deal to sign highly-rated Spanish striker Luis Garcia from Primera Liga outfit Espanyol.
Reports in Spain suggest Spurs have seen off interest from Benfica to land the Spain international.
Negotiations took place on Wednesday night in Spain with the player's agent Juanma Lopez, together with Espanyol's lawyer Vicente Montes.
Following a successful meeting, the player is set to finalise personal terms with the London club before flying to England next week to undergo a medical.
Boateng to join Hull next week
Hull will complete the signing of Dutch midfielder George Boateng next week after he undergoes a medical.
Tigers chairman Paul Duffen has revealed the Premier League newcomers have reached an agreement with Boateng to take him to the KC Stadium on a two-year contract.
"He's a player of real quality and real class with a fantastic track record and will be exactly the sort of character that we need in order to ensure we fight our second season in the Premier League a year hence," Duffen said.
Boateng will become Hull's third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Geovanni and Craig Fagan.
Betis agree to sign Turkey's Aurelio
Real Betis have agreed to sign Brazilian-born Turkey midfielder Mehmet Aurelio who was out of contract with Fenerbahce, the Primera Liga club said yesterday.
The 30-year-old, who represented Turkey at Euro 2008 and has 23 caps, will take a medical before completing the move.
Spanish media reported he would sign a three-year deal, and he will become the Seville-based club's first new recruit of the close season.
Aurelio joined Fenerbahce from Trabzonspor in 2003 and helped them to three league titles. In 2006 he gained Turkish citizenship and became the first non-Turkish born player to represent the national side.
Palermo eye Zigic as Amauri replacement
Palermo are lining up a bid for Serbian striker Nikola Zigic as a replacement for Brazilian Amauri who moved to Juventus last month.
Zigic has impressed the Palermo officials after his fine performances for Red Star and Racing Santander. Last season, he was on the books of Valencia, but the lanky forward wants to move on.
Reports claim that the three-time Serbian Player of the Year could be bought for under £8m and that Palermo have made an initial approach.
Marseille fans raise funds for Drogba
Marseille fans have launched a campaign in the hope of raising the £22 million needed to buy Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
New Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has insisted that Drogba is still "200 per cent in his plans" but the striker is reportedly keen on seeking pastures new.
Marseille fans have launched an audacious bid to bring the 30-year-old back to the club he left four years ago. A supporter called Kain has set up the collective on doodle.ch calling on fellow fans to pledge one, two or five euros to the club, writing: "Let's try to see if us supporters can pay for him by each donating one or two euros maximum to the club."
The campaign attracted immediate attention and, has already raised nearly €5,000 thanks in part to 800 fans each pledging the maximum five euros.
Luton Town handed tough penalty
English League Two side Luton Town will start the new season with a 30-point deduction.
The Hatters, who had 10 points deducted earlier in the summer after breaching Football Association regulations over agents' fees, have had an extra 20 taken away yesterday by the Football League.
Luton were hit with the latest penalty after applying to come out of administration, but the League have confirmed they will have to face the deduction before the campaign kicks off.
The Hatters went into administration in November last year and were deducted 10 points as a result, and eventually finished bottom of League One last season.
Interpol bet probe nets 1,300 arrests
Police across Asia have arrested more than 1,300 people in a major operation against illegal gambling on Euro 2008 and the climax of major leagues around the world, Interpol said yesterday.
The world police organisation coordinated the two-month investigation in which Asian law enforcement officers identified and raided 1,088 illegal gambling dens, many of which were controlled by organised crime gangs.
The operation seized more than $16 million and involved police and other agencies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and China, including Hong Kong and Macao, Interpol said in a statement.