Liverpool secure Biscan in £7m deal

Liverpool have agreed a deal with Dynamo Zagreb for the Croatian international Igor Biscan. The 22-year-old midfielder was impressive as a second-half substitute in the 1-1 draw with Scotland on Wednesday and the Anfield club's manager, Gÿrard Houllier, is delighted to have clinched a deal for the £7m-rated player.

Liverpool have agreed a deal with Dynamo Zagreb for the Croatian international Igor Biscan. The 22-year-old midfielder was impressive as a second-half substitute in the 1-1 draw with Scotland on Wednesday and the Anfield club's manager, Gÿrard Houllier, is delighted to have clinched a deal for the £7m-rated player.

Biscan will arrive at Anfield in December, during the mid-winter break in the Croatian season. Liverpool have beaten off several top European clubs to persuade Biscan to move to Anfield, and Houllier is pleased with his latest piece of transfer business.

"I am delighted to say things have now moved on significantly," Houllier said. "We've reached an agreement with his club. We now hope he will join us at the end of his current season with Zagreb which is in December. We will be delighted to have him, especially as so many other top European clubs were interested. We've been watching him for a long time.

"He is a versatile footballer as he showed against Scotland when he played on the right side of midfield. But I see him as a defensive midfielder."

Across Stanley Park, the former England Under-21 captain Michael Ball is ready to follow Richard Dunne out of Everton, with the Coventry manager, Gordon Strachan, attempting to sign him. Ball is out of favour at Goodison Park after a series of fall-outs with Walter Smith and Strachan is prepared to offer £2m.

Ball and Dunne upset Smith after the Worthington Cup defeat at Bristol Rovers, accusing them of "joking" on the coach after the match. Ball is out of Everton's plans with the Scotland left-back Gary Naysmith joining them from Hearts in a 1.7m deal. He underwent a medical yesterday.

Dunne is meanwhile being linked with a £3m move to Manchester City, although Charlton are also bidding. Dunne is keen to stay in the North-west but Charlton could yet offer him better personal terms. However, City remain confident of securing the deal.

Everton won the right to bring the Israeli winger Idan Tal into the Premiership when his work permit was finally granted yesterday.

Tal, from Maccabi Petah Tikva, had his first application for a work permit turned down after Everton's interest began six months ago. The incoming deals will send Smith's spending through the £50m mark - a considerable amount for a club who have been handicapped by financial crises throughout almost all of Smith's reign.

The Preston manager, Dave Moyes, is trying to rush through a deal for Paul Peschisolido with promotion rivals Fulham. Moyes is keen to take the striker on loan to help out his injury-hit squad and he could tie up the deal today.

Peschisolido is out of Jean Tigana's plans and Fulham are willing to let him go with a view to a permanent transfer. Moyes' side are in promotion contention despite a handful of injury problems among their strike force.

The Wolves manager, Colin Lee, is attempting to sign Blackburn's out-of-favour centre-half Darren Peacock. Lee has asked to take Peacock on loan and Rovers have given the transfer-listed defender the chance to speak to them.

Peacock wants a full-time move after turning down loan deals to QPR and Cardiff in the past few weeks.