UK Roundup

Brazilian striker Jardel signs with Bolton

BOLTON, England (AP) -- Brazilian striker Mario Jardel joined Bolton on Wednesday, signing a two-year contract with the Premier League side.

If Jardel passes his medical, he could be in the lineup for the season opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Jardel, released by Sporting Lisbon this summer, is a two-time winner of the "Golden Boot" award as the leading goal scorer in Europe.

Before joining Sporting, he played for Porto and scored 150 goals in 146 games.

Even though he was born in Brazil, Jardel has a Portuguese passport and does not need a work permit to play in England.

Reports: Chelsea bids to sign Madrid's Makelele

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Chelsea has bid to add Real Madrid's French international midfielder Claude Makelele to its raft of summer signings, news reports said Wednesday.

The big-spending Premiership team has offered Madrid euro10 million (US$11.2 million) and will double Makelele's annual salary to a reported euro3 million (US$3.38 million) if he signs, the station Radio Marca said. It said Makelele, who currently earns a reported euro1.2 million (US$1.35 million), was keen to join Chelsea.

The midfielder's agent, Marc Roger, reportedly met Madrid's sports director Jorge Valdano at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday to present him with the London club's offer.

Makalele, who has three years of his contract to run, has given occasional hints that he is unhappy with his salary, which falls well below the Spanish powerhouse's star names such as David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.

Chelsea has revolutionized the summer transfer market under its new Russian owner Roman Abramovich. It has made eight signings -- forwards Adrian Mutu and Damien Duff, midfielders Juan Sebastian Veron, Geremi Ndjitap and Joe Cole, defenders Glen Johnson and Wayne Bridge as well as goalkeeper Marco Ambrosio.

Since joining Madrid from Celta de Vigo in 2000, Makelele has been a key member of the Madrid side which won the Champions League in 2002 as well as Spanish titles in 2001 and 2003. The 30-year-old midfielder has also played for Olympique Marseilles, Nantes and Brest.

Mutu attracted to Chelsea by "crazy" Abramovich

BUCHAREST (Reuters) -- Chelsea offers Adrian Mutu an incredibly exciting challenge and the Romanian striker says he is looking forward to playing for the English club's "crazy" new owner, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

The most expensive player in Romanian history returned home late Tuesday after signing a 15.8 million pounds (US$25.24 million) deal with the London club and ensuring an estimated personal income of US$15 million over the five-year contract.

"It's a dream to be able to join such good players as those at Chelsea," the former Parma player told Reuters.

"It's an incredibly exciting challenge."

Chelsea, which faces Slovakian champion Zilina in the final qualifying round for the Champions League on Wednesday, must wait for a work permit before the Mutu deal can be sealed.

Mutu started his professional career in 1996 earning US$6,000 a year with Romanian first division Arges Pitesti and moved to Dinamo Bucharest for an annual wage of US$10,000 in 1999.

Mutu's arrival takes Chelsea's spending on transfers to 74.3 million pounds since the club was bought by Abramovich at the start of July.

"Abramovich is a bit crazy as a president but I like such crazy people a lot," Mutu said, referring to the Russian's transfer splurge.

"It's not important that he has a lot of money... the most important thing is that he invests it in soccer."

Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has joined Chelsea from Manchester United for 15 million pounds, while manager Claudio Ranieri has also bought Ireland winger Damien Duff for 17 million.

"I'm happy because I broke (Cristian) Chivu's record of 18 million euro for his move (from Ajax Amsterdam to AS Roma) in Italy last month," Mutu said.

Mutu is waiting for a final court decision on his divorce from Romanian actress Alexandra Dinu. He has agreed on the financial care of their 11-month-old son, Mario, who will be staying with his mother.

"I am not afraid of the beautiful women in England who, I hear, chase after footballers," Mutu said.

"I won't take the risk of losing my position as a player for the sake of a pretty woman.

"I'm not afraid of being framed by the English media, either."

Former Tottenham Hotspur player Gheorghe Popescu has said a woman knocked at his door a few days after his arrival in England, but he soon realized it was a trap staged by paparazzi.

Former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu backed Mutu's decision to leave Italy for England.

"Mutu will do a good job at Chelsea because there is a coach who wants him and a competitive group around him," he said.

"It's difficult to score 18 goals in Italy, but I'm confident Adrian will be able to score more than 20 goals in England even during his first Premier League season."

Keeper Crossley signs for Fulham

LONDON (AP) -- Welsh international 'keeper Mark Crossley joined Fulham from Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old signed a two-year contract, Fulham said. The fee wasn't disclosed.

"I am pleased to have joined Fulham and the great squad of players that the club has," Crossley said on the Cottagers' Web site. "I have settled in easily, and everyone has been very welcoming."

Crossley played with Fulham manager Chris Coleman -- only 33 -- on the Welsh national team before he retired with a leg injury.

"I have known Chris for a long time because of the Welsh national team, and I am looking forward to the season ahead with Fulham, with him as manager," said Crossley.

The signing comes about a week after 'keeper Maik Taylor left the London club for Birmingham.

Norwich closes in on Fulham's Hammond

NORWICH, England (AP) -- First-division Norwich is close to signing promising Fulham striker Elvis Hammond on a one-month loan.

The 22-year-old will train with Norwich later this week and could be in the lineup when the Canaries face Rotherham this weekend, Norwich manager Nigel Worthington said Wednesday.

"He's very quick, very strong and has an eye for goal. These are qualities that will add to what we've got," Worthington said on the club's Web site.

Norwich didn't score in a 1-0 loss to third-division Northampton in the first round of the League Cup on Tuesday.

"Bringing him on a month's loan will help to buy us time while we continue to pursue a long-term striking option," said Worthington.

Hammond made 12 appearances for Fulham last season but didn't score.

Portsmouth interested in Leeds' Harte

PORTSMOUTH, England (AP) -- Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is interested in signing Leeds left-back Ian Harte.

The Irish international appears out-of-favor at Leeds -- he played in a reserve game on Tuesday night -- and Portsmouth will begin the season without regular left-back Matthew Taylor, who is injured.

"I do like Ian Harte, but at the moment, I don't know if anything is going to happen there," Redknapp was quoted as saying in the Yorkshire Post on Wednesday. "I am looking around at the moment for a left-back and seeing what comes up."

Harte, a free-kick specialist, scored three goals last season.

 

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Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.