The Independent from London, Greater London, England • 74

THE INDEPENDENT FRIDAY JULY 2Q05 FOOTBALL 77 Ljdam)gbeirg dleaiD birimigs joy aft last to Arsenal i i il i ii mi iii i i riM i i i England can win their first European age-group title for 12 years when they face France today In the final of the Uefa Under-19 Championship. The side, coached by Martin Hunter, play France at Windsor Park, Belfast, having drawn their earlier encounter in the competition. After that game, England were held 1-1 by Armenia but went on to beat Norway 3-2, securing a place in the last four. A Matthew Fryatt hat-trick secured a semi-final victory over Serbia and Montenegro. The squad can take inspiration from 1993, England's last European triumph.

Then, England Under-18s beat Turkey 1-0 at the City Ground, Nottingham thanks to a penalty from the Spurs midfielder Darren Caskey. The full 1993 team was: Chris Day (Tottenham); Gary Neville (Man Utd), Kevin Sharp (Leeds United), Caskey (Tottenham), Chris Casper (Man Utd), Sol Campbell (Tottenham), Mark Tinkler Leeds United), Julian Joachim (Leicester City), Paul Sc holes (Man Utd), Robbie Fowler and Kevin Gallen (QPR). Also in the squad were SchoJes's team-mate Nicky Butt and former colleague David Beckham. Europe move looms as Schalkejoin Villa in race to sign Baros By Andy Hunter TlieSumfessideSchalkB. are the latest club to register an interest in Milan Baros as Liverpool await an in-Creased offer from Aston Villa for their unwanted Czech Republic striker.

Liverpool, who bought the forward Peter Crouch last week, have given permission to the 23-year-old striker's agent to explore interest abroad, with De-portivo La Coruna providing hopeof amove to Spain after Valencia failed earlier this summer. Baros refuses to be rushed into a decision, but his agent, Pavel Paska, said: "I have had a meeting with Schalke manager Rudi As-sauenThe name Baros has beennoted Schalke are one of the interested dubs," Aston Villa remain in the running for Euro 2004's leading goalscorerhut have been told to improve their 5m offer by 2m, Villa's influential defensive midfielder Gavin Mc-Cann yesterday signed a contralto keep him at the club untU 2008, Their manager, David QTieary, heaped praise on the 27-year-old: "I know that any time I go in to see opposing managers after games, they're always talking about him and I know there's plenty of admirers out there" "He's alovely lad and he's low maintenance, Youbring him into a club and it's like hesbeenherefor years. Hes great with everybody and he's a revelation to have around a football dub," The Spanish Liverpool midfielder Antonio Nunez has wnfirmed that he will sign a three-year deal to join newly promoted Primera Liga side Celta Vigo. Nunez, 26, joined liver-pool from Real Madrid in August last year as a make-Weight in the 8m deal that took the striker Michael Owen in the other direction but has made little impact. months before then.

I'm going to be in the same po sition as Dennis Bergkamp has been in for some yearsT Olivier Dacourtfs agents Bruno Satin, yesterday downplayed the possibility ofthe midfielder moving to Arsenal and suggested ttiat Lyon was a more likely destination for the Frenchman. The former Leeds United and Evert on midfielder had been touted as a replacement for Patrick Vieira at Highbury, if only on a short-term basis. According to Satin, however, if he leaves the Series club Roma this summer, France is a more likely destination. Were Michael Essien to leave Lyon for Chelsea a deal which remains on aknife-edge as the clubs dispute their valuation of the player then Dacourt could join the dominant team in France for the past four seasons. Wenger last night declared that Arsenal had been unable to make any further progress in their pursuit of the Seville striker Julio Baptista.

Having giving himself a 50-50 chance last week of bringing the Brazilian to Highbury, Wenger admitted that remained the position. "It's st the same'said Wenger, "It has not moved at all, not on one side not on the otheK The manager said Arsenal would have to consider deploying new tactics this season, after Vieira's departure to Juventus. "lean-not replace Patrick because everyone expects me to sign another Patrick said Wenger; "We have to find a different system to play and not expect well find another Patrick Vieira." By Chris Maume Freddie Ljungberg yesterday committed his long-term future to Arsenal by extending his contract until the summer of 2009. With Patrick Vieira departing this summer and Robert Pires waiting until January before deciding on Ms future after reaching deadlock in contract talks, the news that ljungberg is Staying with the Gunners will be warmly received. The Swedish international, 28, whose existing deal had been due to expire next Summer, said; "I've been at Arsenal nearly seven years now and am really happy to have signed a new contract with the ljungberg cost 3m when he arrived from the Swedish side Halmstad in September 1998, and has matured into one of manager ArseneWenger's most astute signings, with 265 appearances and 68 goals.

Pires hasbeen finked with moves to Juventus and Galatasaray after failing to agree fresh terms with the Gunners, but he remains in north London and seems likely to begin theseason an Arsenal player. The 32-year-old French winger has been offered a one-year extension to his contract but he wants two years. "We'll talk again in January. There is nothing new about my contract situation and things are not going to change now;" he said. "Pm going to play through the last year of my contract and I will meet with Arsfcne Wenger early in the new yeahThatwinbe the Source of motivation for me in the Raul Sc holes playing for England during the Uefa Under-18s European Championship final against Turkey in 1993.

England won the match 1-0 getty images Abramovich set to seal Essien deal Lyon also confirmed they want to take one of Chelsea first-team squad as part-payment in any deal It remained a mystery which player they were lining up, although Aulas hinted they would seek a direct replacement. Aulas also accused Chelsea boss Jose Mourin-ho of "unceasingly" telephoning Essien, suggesting the former Rjrtoboss would be better off callinghim and directly negotiating with Lyon.They should not take French clubs for fools Aulas added, left for the United States to join his team ''Jean-Michel Aulas has accepted the principle of a rendezvous with Roman Abramovich at the start of the next week in the south ofFrancebutLyon are worried about Chelsea's repeated efforts to get the agreement of Michael Essien by all means." Yesterday, Aulas said he would accept no less than 3lm for the 22-year-old Ghanaian midfielder and said he would offer the player a "golden contract" to keep him at the club. Reports last night also claimed that Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge is a target for free-spending Tottenham Hotspur, who are today expected to complete the signing of Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids. Bridge, who has an ankle injury, could be available in the January transfer window for about 6m One Tottenham player who could be leaving the club is Mali striker Frederic Kanoiite, who was last night linked with a move back to his former club, West Ham United, Bowyer future in fresh doubt Lee Bowyer, the Newcastle Unitedmidfielder, cast doubt over his future at the club last night with an outspoken blast at chairman Freddy Shepherd. Referring to Shepherd's apparent desire to drive him out ofthe dub, revealed in Sir Bobby Robson's autobiography, Bowyer said; "I want to play for a team that wants me m.

there have been things said that I was not wanted. It is down to the chairman," Chelsea last nightmoveda step closer to the signing of Michael Essien when Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas agreed to meet his counterpart Boman Abramoyich next week. The French champions issued a statement in which they revealed they had studied a new offer from Chelsea The statement said: "Even if the distance between what Lyon would like and what Chelsea are offering has diminished, the two parties are not in agreement and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has 7T7 22 Mbesuma: Permit appeal Despite this, he was turned down for an automatic work permit two weeks ago after agreeing a three-year deal with Portsmouth who are understood to have paid MM? Rhyl secure rare European victory Rhyl became only the second Welsh Premier League club ever to win a European tie losing 3-2 (4r4 on aggregate) to Atlantas but qualifying for the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup on away goals by Greg Stones and Gary Powell Barry Town are the Only other Welsh Premier League club to win a two-legged European tie, beating the Azerbaijan champions, FG Shamkir, in200L Southampton in double signing Southampton yesterday signed Ricardo Fuller and Tomasz Hajto. The 25-year-old Fuller has signed a two-year deal and will cost an initial 90,000, with an additional 250,000 due to Pompey if Southampton secure promotion, The Polish defender Hajto, 32, joins on a free transfer after spells with Duis-burg, Schalke and Nuremberg, The 62-cap centre-back has signed a one-year deal. Claridge cited as 'relegation risk' The former Mill wall chairman Theo Paphitis last night claimed that Mill wall wouldhave been risking relegation with Steve Claridge in charge.

He said: "There was a very big chance we could get relegated." Paphitis, still on the MiDwall board was the man who told Claridge the bad news. Paphitis added: "It became apparentit was not in the best interests of the dub to have Steve as manager," Mbesuma clear to join Pompey Portsmouth have made the Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma their seventh signing of the summer after a Home Office panel yesterday granted him a work permit after a successful appeal. It means Pompey can complete the deal to take the 21-year-old from South African champions Kaizer Chiefs, for whom he scored 35 goals last season. Leading European clubs were Said to be chasing.