JAMES BEATTIE, THE Southampton forward, is expected to become the most expensive player in Everton’s history today by completing a £6 million transfer that the Merseyside club hope will ultimately finance itself by helping them to secure a windfall through qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Beattie, 26, will arrive at Everton’s training ground this morning for a medical examination, having agreed personal terms over the weekend. He and his representatives also held talks with Aston Villa yesterday, but Everton were confident that he would move to Goodison Park, having been assured that Beattie was meeting Villa officials only “out of courtesy” after they also had an offer accepted by Southampton.

The deal means that Harry Redknapp, the Southampton manager, will have about £4 million to spend during this month’s transfer window. Abel Xavier and Alex Nyarko may become Redknapp’s first signings after the pair were invited to train with the relegation-threatened club. Blackburn Rovers have turned down an opportunity to sign Xavier, the former Portugal defender, while Nyarko briefly linked up with Middlesbrough last week. Neither would cost Redknapp a fee, although Nyarko, 31, the Ghana midfield player, would be required to seek a work permit, an issue that complicated his controversial spell at Everton. “They are going to Southampton,” Barry Silkman, who represents the pair, confirmed.

Villa, it seems, are the only losers. Everton sign a player with the goalscoring ability to propel them into the Champions League; Beattie gets the chance to play for a team at the top end of the table; Redknapp has money to spend reinforcing a struggling team; even Blackburn are happy, earning a share of the fee thanks to a sell-on clause they insisted upon when they sold him to Southampton in 1998.

It was always the intention of David Moyes, the Everton manager, to sign Beattie once it became clear that Wayne Rooney was leaving for Manchester United at the start of the season. The protracted nature of that deal meant that it was too late to do anything before the transfer window closed on August 31, but Everton made a firm bid early last week, encouraged by Redknapp’s indication that he would consider sacrificing Beattie in order to raise funds to strengthen other areas of the squad.

Redknapp is already working towards that aim, having taken Xavier and Nyarko, the former Everton players, on trial. He has also targeted Stéphane Henchoz and Igor Biscan, whom Liverpool will sell for reduced fees as their contracts are due to expire at the end of the season. A new centre forward is now another priority, even if Beattie’s return of three goals in 11 Barclays Premiership matches this season is considerably less than he has delivered in previous campaigns.

Moyes, having seen his side endure back-to-back defeats in the Premiership for the first time this season, will hope that Beattie, who won the last of his five England caps 14 months ago, can provide the fresh impetus Everton need if they are to sustain their improbable challenge for a Champions League place. Moyes has also been linked with a move for Yakubu Ayegbeni, the Portsmouth forward, but Dean Ashton, of Crewe Alexandra, may be a more realistic target.

Everton’s delight at securing the services of Beattie was tempered last night by fresh anxiety over the future of Thomas Gravesen. The Denmark midfield player will be out of contract in the summer and, according to reports in Spain, he is attracting interest from Real Madrid, who are said to be prepared to offer £2 million to sign him in the transfer window or, failing that, to take him on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Les Ferdinand, 38, the former England striker, will make an emotional return to Queens Park Rangers, where he started his professional career, after being released by Bolton Wanderers. Steve Howey will also join Ian Holloway’s side from the Reebok Stadium.

Rumour mill

WITH THE TRANSFER WINDOW open, the silly season for football gossip and tittle-tattle has become even sillier. Here is a sample of the fever of the January sales . . .

Robbie Savage heads the PROBABLE category. The Birmingham City midfield player claims that he knows little about a switch to Blackburn Rovers, but it appears that he doth protest too much. Birmingham say that Blackburn have made an illegal approach, but an increased offer of more than £2.5 million should settle the acrimony.

Norwich City require extra firepower and James Scowcroft, of Leicester City, falls into the right bracket and will be out of contract in the summer. Norwich want him now and have had an offer of £500,000 rejected.

Top of the POSSIBLE transfers remains Jermain Defoe, despite negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur to improve his £15,000-a-week 4½-year contract.

With Norwich having to bolster their transfer kitty, Robert Green, the goalkeeper, could be allowed to join Arsenal. “If the club needs a sacrificial lamb, that’s fine,” Green said.

Arsenal may decide that Antti Niemi, of Southampton, is a better option than Green and it was alleged at the weekend that the Finn has had a row with Rupert Lowe, his chairman, over broken promises.

Manchester United could also do with a more consistent goalkeeper and Mark Schwarzer, of Middlesbrough, has attracted their attention.

Among the PREPOSTEROUS suggestions yesterday, the return of Barry Ferguson from Blackburn to Rangers seems a non-starter.

RUSSELL KEMPSON

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football