Bolton sign Armstrong on low-wage deal

Chris Armstrong has agreed to take a low wage at Bolton Wanderers until he proves his first-team fitness.

The former Tottenham striker is thought to be about two months away from being match fit, but he signed a deal yesterday that gives him a salary of around £1,000 a week until he makes the first team.

Once Armstrong forces his way into contention new terms will take effect, taking him up to a more lucrative package with further cash based on appearances and achievement. The deal means Bolton do not lose out too badly if Armstrong fails to reach the level of fitness that they want.

Bolton are happy to go along with it as they were keen to sign a striker before the deadline this weekend. The Turkish midfielder Akin Bulent is under a similar arrangement at the Reebok.

Chelsea are set to make the French youngster Abdoulay Konko their first cash signing in a year. Genoa's 18-year-old midfielder has been training at the club for the past few days and has done enough to impress the coaching staff. Blackburn have also been chasing the talented teenager, but he may prefer to go to London to join Ranieri's multi-national squad, where he is tipped to go straight into the first-team plans.

Chelsea will get a financial windfall if the Leicester City midfielder Muzzy Izzet completes a £3.5m move to Aston Villa. The London club inserted a sell-on clause when Izzet moved from Stamford Bridge to join the Foxes six years ago. They will receive 25 per cent of any fee Leicester receive for Izzet.

The Villa manager Graham Taylor is understood to be interested in signing Izzet after failing to land the Ipswich Town captain Matt Holland.

The Australian midfielder Brett Emerton's hopes of playing in the Premiership were dealt a blow when talks over a move to Newcastle fell through.

The Feyenoord player had been set for a move to St James' Park but the 23-year-old saw the deal collapse after the Magpies insisted on paying the £8.6m transfer fee in instalments.

Feyenoord claim they would not allow the transfer because Newcastle would not provide a bank guarantee. Emerton has also been linked with Leeds, who have had a bid turned down by the Dutch club.

Liverpool's Czech international midfielder Patrick Berger says he will stay at the club for now despite struggling to break into the first team.

"The transfer deadline comes on 31 August and I do not intend to go anywhere before that date," he said. "But on 1 January, I will become a free agent. If the situation at Liverpool is still the same by then, I would start to think about moving."

His team-mate Jari Litmanen has rejected a move away from Anfield, his agent said. The Finnish striker had been given permission to speak with Galatasaray, but his agent Harri Kampman said he would prefer to stay in Liverpool.

Galatasaray have ended Hakan Unsal's short stint in England by re-signing the defender from Blackburn. Coventry's David Thompson looks set to join Rovers after the two clubs agreed a fee of around £2.5m for the midfielder.

West Bromwich have moved a step closer to completing the signing of Tranmere Rovers' midfielder Jason Koumas. The two clubs have agreed terms on a fee which could reach £2.5m depending on appearances, and would make the 22-year-old the Baggies' record signing.

West Bromwich will pay £1.125m immediately, a further £1.125m in 12 months' time and another £250,000 when the player makes his 75th appearance. The Welsh international will head to The Hawthorns this morning for a medical and to discus personal terms.