SOCCER SHORTS:EVERTON manager David Moyes secured the signature of Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth yesterday then revealed he was closing in on a second defender.

Distin, 31, is expected to make his debut tomorrow against Wigan at Goodison Park.

However, Moyes wants more options at the back, with Joleon Lescott having left for Manchester City and Phil Jagielka a long-term injury absentee.

“I’m very close to bringing in another centre half as well,” said the Everton boss, without releasing any further details.

Moyes believes Distin will settle in quickly as he has played in the top flight for Newcastle and City as well as Portsmouth.

Moyes is looking for the Frenchman to galvanise the side in the way Alan Stubbs and David Weir did in past seasons.

He said: “With Joleon leaving we needed a left-side player and I wanted someone who knew the Premier League. Sylvain fitted the bill.

“I have always admired him from his days at Manchester City and Newcastle and he did a great job at Portsmouth.

“If he does as well as the experienced players in the past like David Weir and Alan Stubbs then he will do a good job for us.

Sneijder seals his Inter deal

NETHERLANDS midfielder Wesley Sneijder completed his move to Inter Milan from Real Madrid yesterday to end coach Jose Mourinho’s search for a playmaker.

The Italian champions said in a statement that Sneijder had signed a four-year contract after passing a medical.

Real had earlier confirmed a deal had been agreed but neither club have released any financial details.

Mourinho had again repeated his desire for a playmaker after Inters unimaginative 1-1 draw at home to Bari in last Sunday’s Serie A opener.

Diamanti signs for West Ham

WEST Ham United have signed striker Alessandro Diamanti from Italian Serie A side Livorno for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said yesterday.

Diamanti, 26, scored 18 goals from 37 matches last season and will boost manager Gianfranco Zolas striking options alongside Carlton Cole

* STOKECity have signed Turkey international forward Tuncay Sanli from Middlesbrough for €5.7 million, the club confirmed yesterday

Tuncay is Stokes second signing in successive days from Championship club Middlesbrough following the arrival of Germany defender Robert Huth on Thursday for an initial €5.7 million.

“Tuncay is an exciting player with his pace and skill who will certainly get the crowd going, Stoke manager Tony Pulis said.

* SUNDERLANDhave signed Olympique Lyon centre back John Mensah on a season-long loan, the Premier League club said yesterday.

The 26-year-old, who joined Lyon in July 2008 from French rivals Stade Rennes, has won almost 60 caps for Ghana. Sunderland have the option to buy Mensah at the end of the loan spell.

Robben may debut today

NEW Bayern Munich signing Arjen Robben could make his debut in today’s Bundesliga clash with Wolfsburg after completing a move from Real Madrid to the record German champions yesterday.

The Dutch winger was given the number 10 shirt last worn at Bayern by his compatriot Roy Makaay after he passed a medical and signed a four-year contract in Munich.

The two clubs have agreed an undisclosed fee for the 25-year-old who could figure in Louis van Gaals side immediately.

* SOUTHKorean midfielder Ki Sung-yong will join Scottish club Celtic in January in a deal FC Seoul described as "win-win" for both clubs. Celtic had been keen to take the promising 20-year-old to Glasgow immediately but FC Seoul, sitting top of the Korean league midway through the season, were reluctant to let him go.

However, after further negotiations Seoul agreed Ki could leave in January, with South Korean media putting the transfer fee at around €2.2 million.

Specifics and details of the deal had yet to be worked out and Celtic had asked for the transfer fee not to be disclosed, the South Korean club said in a statement yesterday.

Dindane fourth man in for Pompey

IVORY Coast striker Aruna Dindane was one of four players to join Premier League strugglers Portsmouth yesterday.

The 28-year-old moved on a season-long loan from Racing Lens while Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie OHara, who signed a new Spurs contract to 2013 yesterday, also joined on loan until January.

Former England under-21 international O’Hara, who made his debut at Portsmouth in December 2007, has made 56 Spurs appearances and scored seven goals.

Another Spurs midfielder, Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Wigan Athletic midfielder Michael Brown also signed for the south coast club on a permanent basis.

Boateng, 22, agreed a three-year deal after spending the second half of last season on loan to Borussia Dortmund.

Former Fulham and Spurs player Brown, 32, signed a two-year deal with the Fratton Park club.

No transfer fees were disclosed by Portsmouth.