Brazilian star Denilson is to become soccer's most expensive player after Spanish side Betis agreed to pay Sao Paulo £20 million for him.

The 20-year-old winger is due to sign the 10-year contract with Seville-based Betis, worth around £18 million, this afternoon when he arrives at the club.

A huge £290 million transfer clause will protect Betis' investment from over-eager competitors looking to steal him away.

"We worked very hard to get it but now we can give all the Betis fans something to celebrate," said club president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.

The sum Betis will dish out for the left-footed winger surpasses the £18 million Inter Milan gave Brazilian ace Ronaldo to buy himself out of his eightyear contract with Barcelona.

But one of Sao Paolo's conditions is that Denilson will not play with the Spanish club until the 1998-99 season so that he can continue in Brazil until the World Cup finals in France next year.

Barcelona had also shown interest in signing Denilson but apparently considered Sao Paolo's demand too high.

Scotland and Celtic striker Darren Jackson will be out of football for at least three months after being diagnosed as having a neurological problem.

Parkhead general manager Jock Brown said last night that the player is not suffering from a brain tumour, but did admit that Jackson's illness could be career-threatening.

The illness first came to light on Tuesday.