Everton continue to make progress in their attempts to bring Italian full back Emiliano Moretti and Mali midfielder Mohamed Sissoko to Goodison Park from Valencia, though the Spanish club are exploring the possibility of including a buy-back clause in the 20-year-old African's contract.

"We would accept losing Moretti, but we would establish a clause with Sissoko whereby if Everton chose to sell him within two years we could buy him back for the same price we sold him," said the Valencia sporting director Javier Subirats.

"We know that Sissoko needs to play more matches, but we know he could end up being a great player."

Meanwhile, Portsmouth are believed to have made Norwich a final offer of £1.75 million for midfielder Damien Francis, having had a bid of £1.4 million rejected.

The Italy striker Christian Vieri, released by Internazionale last week, has joined their great rivals Milan, ending rumours of a move to England. The 31-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the rossoneri.

Real Madrid midfielder Santiago Solari is poised to sign a three-year deal with Inter Milan, Spanish sports daily Marca said yesterday.

The versatile Argentine, who agreed a new four-year contract with Real in January, will move for a nominal fee as a clause in his contract allowed him freedom to leave if he did not complete a set number of games with Real.

Another player to have played for Milan's two Serie A sides, the Nigeria defender Taribo West, has told how his love of English football, developed at Derby, convinced him to sign a one-year contract with Plymouth Argyle.

"I missed English football and the fact that Plymouth is an ambitious, family-orientated club appealed to me," he said.

"I am looking forward to playing in England again. Bobby (Williamson, the Plymouth manager) showed me around the club and the city and I liked what I saw."

Coventry manager Micky Adams has confirmed his contract offer to Steve Staunton has been withdrawn.

The 36-year-old Irishman failed to turn up for pre-season training last week and is the only one of 10 players out of contract who has not agreed new terms.

"We were hoping Stan would come back to us because he's a popular guy and a few of the lads left messages for him," said club captain Stephen Hughes. "I'll miss him because he's a fellow moaner."

South Korean international Park Ji-Sung has been cleared to join Manchester United.

A hearing in Sheffield yesterday attended by club manager Alex Ferguson granted the 24-year-old a work permit, leaving him free to link up for pre-season training with the Manchester club, probably next Monday.

Leeds captain Paul Butler is poised to sign a new deal that will keep him at Elland Road for another two years and 36-year-old Ipswich captain Jim Magilton is to stay at Portman Road after signing a new one-year contract.

Finally, Steve Watson has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with West Brom and joins Darren Carter and Chris Kirkland in moving to The Hawthorns.