Bolton on verge of takeover

BOLTON WANDERERS have told staff a takeover could go through within 48 hours, raising hopes the club’s financial turmoil could finally be at an end. The Championship club were handed a two-week stay of execution at the High Court last week, where they faced a winding-up petition. A lawyer acting on behalf of Bolton told the court a buyer had been found and that debts would be settled following the completion of a deal. Now staff have been told that a new regime could take over by the weekend, with a deal agreed in principle.

PHIL FODEN is determined to nail down a regular spot at Manchester City rather than be sent out on loan next season. A number of German clubs, including Champions League-chasing RB Leipzig, are circling with a view to a season-long loan move, but Foden, 18, is settled in Manchester. BAYERN MUNICH have signed France defender Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid for a club record £68million. The 23-year-old, part of the France team who won the 2018 World Cup, will join Bayern on July 1 on a five-year contract.

GABBY AGBONLAHOR has announced his retirement. The striker, 32, left Aston Villa last summer as their leading Premier League scorer with 75 goals, and had been without a club.

ARSENAL midfielder Granit Xhaka is a doubt for Monday’s game against Newcastle after injuring his thigh in Switzerland’s 3-3 draw with Denmark on Tuesday.