FINNAN SET FOR POMPEY SWITCH

Sky Sports News understands Steve Finnan has agreed to join Portsmouth on a one-year deal and that the defender has passed a medical.

The full-back was released by Espanyol on Monday following an unsuccessful season in Spain and it was reported he was keen on a return to the Premier League.

Former Fulham and Liverpool full-back Finnan only moved to Espanyol last September, but he failed to settle with the Primera Liga club.

Pompey boss Paul Hart has made no secret of his interest in the 33-year-old and is now on the verge of completing a deal.

The Fratton Park manager will hope to secure Finnan's move before Pompey fly to Portugal on Wednesday as part of their pre-season training.

O'NEILL: HANDS OFF YOUNG

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has issued a hands-off warning over England international Ashley Young.

The pacey winger is attracting plenty of transfer speculation, with Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea, along with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, all thought to be interested in the PFA Young Player of the Year.

But O'Neill insists not even a bid of £50m would persuade him to sell the 24-year-old, who arrived at Villa from Watford back in 2007 for a then club-record £9.65m.

The Villa boss told The Sun: "There has been no thought about selling him.

"If somebody came in with £50m, I would not do it. It would be up to the chairman but the last time I spoke to Randy Lerner he was not entertaining anything, at any price.

"There are loads of teams who want him but he's at the right club.

"I could not be more strong on this. He's not going anywhere."

BOLTON IN DOUBLE SWOOP

Bolton have completed the signings of Aston Villa defender Zat Knight and Hull full-back Sam Ricketts on three-year deals.

Centre-back Knight, who has won two England caps, joined Villa in the summer of 2007 from Fulham in a £3.5million deal but struggled for regular first-team football, starting just 13 Premier League games last season.

Wales international Ricketts, who can play on the left or the right of a back four, started 27 of the Tigers' Premier League games in their debut season in the top flight.

They are Wanderers boss Gary Megson's third and fourth signings of the summer, with the club having brought in Sean Davis after his contract at Portsmouth expired and also defender Paul Robinson from West Brom.

Megson was delighted with the acquisition of Knight and Ricketts.

"We are really pleased that we could complete the deals. Both players had other offers to consider," the Bolton boss told the club's official website www.bwfc.co.uk.

"There was a huge amount of work done by the chairman (Phil Gartside), with the support of (owner) Eddie Davies, to make these to happen.

"I am sure that they will fit in to the squad and we are going to make sure that we help them with their new challenge.

"Zat has plenty of Premier League experience and has played at the highest level with England, while Sam personally had a successful debut Premier League campaign with Hull."