Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson yesterday admitted he is on the trail of £7 million-rated Wolves striker Robbie Keane.

Robson is determined not to show his hand as he attempts to add to his squad for the new season but he revealed he has been following the progress of the Republic of Ireland international for some time.

Boro are among a posse of clubs chasing the Irishman, who is 19 next month, and with Wolves boss Colin Lee admitting he is resigned to losing one of his star turns as the battle for his signature is sure to intensify.

Recently appointed Shamrock Rovers manager Damien Richardson confirmed yesterday that he has re-signed three of the club's out of contract players with Richie Purdy, Derek Tracey and Mark O'Neill all committing their futures to the Dubliners, writes Emmet Malone.

The signings are Richardson's first since arriving at Rovers and, given that most of the first team squad was out of contract when he took over a few weeks ago, he hopes to add several more over the course of the next 10 days or so.

He has appointed his own people to the backroom team at Rovers with Mick Cooke, currently the manager of the Irish women's team, coming in as reserve team manager and Alan Kinsella, formerly with Richardson at Shelbourne, taking over as physio. Alan Byrne also makes the switch from Tolka Park while Richard Maguire as been appointed as coaching co-ordinator at the club.

David James yesterday joined Aston Villa for £1.8million to bring an end to seven troubled years at Liverpool.

James signed a four-year deal and will be a replacement for Mark Bosnich, who has moved to Manchester United on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling.

Arsenal were last night said to have launched a £7million bid for Newcastle midfielder Dietmar Hamann as talks continued with Lazio over the possible sale of striker Nicolas Anelka.

Transfer talks lasting more than four hours took place on Wednesday in north London between Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, Lazio director Massimo Cragnotti - the son of club owner Sergio Cragnotti - and licensed FIFA agent Vicenzo Morabito.

Arsenal are understood to have initially asked Lazio to almost match the £31 million fee - £24 million in instalments as well as £7 million-rated Diego Simeone - which the Italians recently received from Inter Milan for centre forward Christian Vieri.