UK Roundup

Reports: Neville brothers sign five-year deals at Man Utd

LONDON (Reuters) -- Manchester United brothers Gary and Phil Neville have agreed new five-year contracts with the premier league club, according to British media reports.

England internationals Gary, 29, and Phil, 27, signed the deals before flying out to join the rest of the squad on a pre-season tour of the United States.

The BBC said their father had negotiated the contracts worth an expected 50,000 pounds ($92,130) a week - the same as Everton are offering their striker Wayne Rooney.

The brothers came through the youth system at Old Trafford to establish themselves in a first team that became known as Fergie's Fledglings after United manager Alex Ferguson.

Gary joined on schoolboy terms in 1991, with Phil following his brother two years later. Gary made his first team debut in the UEFA Cup against Torpedo Moscow in September 1992 with Phil starting out away to Manchester City in February 1995.

Southgate: Arsenal, Man Utd to challenge for title

LONDON (AP) -- Arsenal and Manchester United will probably battle for the Premier League title while ever-changing Chelsea remains "an unknown," according to Middlesbrough defender Gareth Southgate.

The experienced England international centerback, who missed Euro 2004 because of injury, also thinks the chasing pack -- his team included -- will be more competitive in the new season, which begins Aug. 14.

Arsenal went undefeated in winning the league in 2003-04, finishing 11 points ahead of Chelsea and 15 better than United. The fourth-place team, Liverpool, was 30 points back. Southgate expects it to be closer, although he says it's difficult to look further than Arsenal and Man United as title contenders.

"Certainly in terms of the strengths of their squads and their experience in pushing for championships, United and Arsenal will take some beating," Southgate told The Associated Press on Friday.

Chelsea has spent more money in the offseason, signing strikers Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman, and Portuguese defender Paulo Ferreira. Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Czech 'keeper Petr Cech are also new faces signed before coach Jose Mourinho took over.

Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Dutch defender Mario Melchiot Danish winger Jesper Gronkjaer and Argentines Hernan Crespo and Juan Veron have left -- the last two on loan.

Mourinho, who guided FC Porto to the Champions League title last season, replaced the fired Claudio Ranieri in June.

"It's very much an unknown," Southgate said when asked about Chelsea's chances. "The manager who's just taken over, I know we know his background, but his way of working and the effect he'll have in this league remains to be seen.

"The same for the players they've brought in. Again, so many changes that's it's difficult to know until we're a few months into the season how they're going to shape up."

At one point last season, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Charlton, Birmingham, Fulham and Middlesbrough all challenged for the fourth and final Champions League spot. All six have made at least one major offseason signing, with 'Boro and Birmingham leading the way.

"I think the league is going to be a lot more competitive this year than it was last year," Southgate said. "Maybe not in terms of the teams who can win it, but below that."

He added that clubs such as Middlesbrough should aim higher.

"I feel over the last few years, people have been satisfied to aim for fourth place or satisfied to aim for a top-six finish. Clubs like us have to establish ourselves into those sort of positions. There was almost only three teams last year who were even aiming to win the league.

"If you don't aim that high, then it's never going to happen."

Middlesbrough, playing in the UEFA Cup after winning England's League Cup, has signed established strikers Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, along with Dutch international defender Michael Reiziger and former England midfielder Ray Parlour.

Parlour, who won three league titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners, completed his move Friday.

"He has a tremendous pedigree, and he is a winner," Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren said.

Southgate hopes for a better finish in the league in 2004-05 after mid-table placings the last five years.

"We've established ourselves in the league," Southgate said. "What we need to do now is push ourselves and become a top-six club.

"We're in Europe this year. What we aim to do is be in Europe every season. And if you can have that level of success, the whole thing rolls on. The revenue goes up for the club and they can attract better players. Everything becomes more positive."

Viduka and Hasselbaink have been positive so far, Southgate added. Both have had reputations for being difficult teammates.

"Preseason training is always very demanding, and they've both been right up for that," he said. "They've impressed me enormously, their attitude in the training games we've had. Both have settled very well in the dressing room."

Southgate hopes "something will be decided" in possibly the next week regarding a new contract.

"We're very close," he said.

Cahill in, Radzinski out at Goodison Park

LONDON (Reuters) -- Everton have sold Canadian international striker Tomasz Radzinski to Fulham and signed Australian midfielder Tim Cahill from Millwall, the premier league club said on Friday.

Radzinski, who scored 26 goals in 101 appearances for Everton agreed to a three-year deal with the London side subject to the 30-year-old passing a medical.

Polish-born Radzinski joined Everton from Belgium club Anderlecht for 4.5 million pounds ($8.29 million) in 2001.

He had formed a good partnership with England sensation Wayne Rooney but Radzinski wore out his welcome at Goodison Park after criticising David Moyes' management of the club.

Cahill, 24, joined Everton on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The Australian, described by Moyes as "one of the best midfield players in the first division last season," will miss the start of Everton's premier league campaign after being included in his country's squad for the Athens Olympics next month.

Southgate realistic about England future

LONDON (AP) -- Veteran centerback Gareth Southgate would welcome a return to England's national team but said Friday he knows that won't be easy.

Southgate, who plays for Middlesbrough, was ruled out of this summer's European Championships with a knee injury.

Ledley King, 23, was included by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and impressed in his lone start against France and a substitute appearance against Croatia. Sol Campbell and John Terry started in England's three other games.

Rio Ferdinand is due to return from an eight-month suspension before the year ends, and Jonathan Woodgate -- also kept out of the tournament through injury -- is expected to be a squad regular.

"I would always be delighted to put on an England shirt," the 33-year-old told The Associated Press on Friday. "To me, it's still the greatest honor you can have as a player in any sport, to represent your country. But I'm also aware of the fact that there are so many good young players coming through."

Southgate, who made his international debut in 1995, has earned 57 caps. The last came against Sweden in a friendly in late March.

"If the manager sees value in including me, then that's great and I'd be delighted to go," Southgate said. "I'm very relaxed about it. I've been involved in the international side for virtually 10 years now, but I enjoyed having the summer break.

"If I'm needed, then brilliant. And if not, I wish them good luck."

Southgate said England "did have a chance" to win Euro 2004. England was knocked out by host Portugal in the quarterfinals, with Portugal then losing to unheralded Greece in the final.

"I think given the way the tournament went and in the sides that got knocked out, and the fact Greece won it, you'd have to say we did have a chance," he said. "I think everybody would agree we didn't perform to the best of our ability."

England lost to Portugal in a penalty shootout.

Rebrov is a free agent, say Spurs

LONDON (Reuters) -- Tottenham Hotspur's record signing Ukraine striker Serhiy Rebrov is available on a free transfer after being released by the premier league club.

"The club can confirm that Rebrov is a free agent," Spurs said on their official website on Friday.

"Notification of this was forwarded to his legal advisors at the end of last week."

Rebrov, who has been training with second division West Ham United, joined Tottenham from Dynamo Kiev on a five-year contract for 11 million pounds ($20.27 million) in June 2000 and still had a year left on his deal at White Hart Lane.

The 30-year-old scored just 16 goals in all competitions before being offloaded to Turkish first division side Fenerbahce in an 18-month loan deal in January 2003.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew said this week: "He (Rebrov) has a feel for the club and certainly with his record and his history we have to give him that chance.

"It would be silly not to, so we are just having a look and taking it day by day."

Rebrov's former Tottenham strike partner Teddy Sheringham recently joined West Ham, who lost in the premier league promotion playoff final last season.

Ambitious Middlesbrough signs Parlour

LONDON (Reuters) -- Middlesbrough signed former England midfielder Ray Parlour from premier league champions Arsenal on a free transfer on Friday.

The 31-year-old, who had spent his entire career with Arsenal and had a year to run on his Highbury contract, signed a three-year deal with the ambitious Teesside club.

Parlour is Boro's fourth major new signing this month as they look to build on last season's League Cup final win over Bolton Wanderers, securing the club's first ever trophy.

Boro manager Steve McClaren told a news conference at the club's training ground: "He's a player I've admired throughout his career. He's a player of tremendous talent and ability, and he's got a great attitude.

"But above all...he's a winner. That's what we need to bring to this club -- more winners."

He added: "At times we very short in midfield last season, we were always searching for that one central midfielder who was flexible. Ray fits the bill ideally."

Known to the Highbury faithful as "the Romford Pele," Parlour was an Arsenal trainee before turning pro in 1991 and going on to help them win three premier league titles, four FA Cups and one League Cup.

"It was a wrench, Arsenal's been a fantastic club for me," Parlour said.

"But there's always a time when you have to leave and this was the time for me. I'm really looking forward to this season and trying to add to my collection of medals."

HECTIC SPELL

Parlour's signing completes a hectic spell for Middlesbrough. They have a new strike pairing in Dutchman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, offloaded by Chelsea, and Australia's Mark Viduka, in from relegated Leeds United, while another Dutchman, Michael Reiziger, will bolster the defence.

Only one transfer fee was paid -- 4.5 million pounds ($8.29 million) for Viduka -- as Boro prepare for their first ever appearance in Europe in September's UEFA Cup first round.

Wary of predicting how Boro will perform, McClaren said: "For me, the proof of the pudding is always at the end of the season and how good the signings are will be highlighted then."

But he added: "This is my fourth season and without a shadow of a doubt this is the strongest squad that we've assembled...training is a delight to watch."

Capped 10 times by England, Parlour had a mixed 2003-04 season, taking over the captaincy after an early injury to Patrick Vieira but then struggling to keep his place following a knee problem in February.

Parlour made headlines earlier this month when in an alimony battle his ex-wife Karen was awarded more than a third of his Arsenal contract, which was worth 1.2 million pounds a year.

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.