Villarreal eye up swoop for Anelka

Spanish side Villarreal on Thursday became the latest club to indicate an interest in signing French international striker Nicolas Anelka from English Premiership outfit Bolton Wanderers according to sports daily Marca.

According to the paper the 2006 Champions League semi-finalists would swoop for the 29-year-old former Arsenal and Real Madrid star should they fail in their bid to sign another former Real and Gunners player Brazilian international Julio Baptista.

Bolton, whose manager Sammy Lee said last week were ready to accept offers from English or European clubs if they received a realistic offer, are prepared to negotiate with Villarreal should the Baptista chase fail.

Were Anelka to join he would line-up alongside two other former Arsenal players, central defender Pascal Cygan, former French international Robert Pires and French international midfielder Rio Mavuba.

Life looks Swede for Bolton

Bolton have agreed to sign Sweden winger Christian Wilhelmsson on loan from Nantes.

The 27-year-old is set to move to the Premiership club on a 12-month loan deal with a view to a permanent switch and will link up with his new team-mates as soon as he is given international clearance.

Wilhelmsson, who spent last season on loan with Italian club AS Roma, could make his Bolton debut in Saturday's friendly at Tranmere.

Wanderers boss Sammy Lee was delighted to get his man after a lengthy chase and said: "We've been working on this deal for some time and our patience has paid off.

"He has the potential to light up the Premiership with his pace and skill."

Eriksson brings Petrov to City

Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson vowed to carry on spending after signing Bulgarian international winger Martin Petrov for 4.7 million pounds from Atletico Madrid.

The 28-year-old passed a medical on Thursday and will become Eriksson's fourth signing since he took charge at Eastlands once he is granted a work permit.

Eriksson is certain Petrov won't be the last new arrival. He has been given substantial transfer funds by City's new Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra as he overhauls a squad that struggled in the Premiership last season.

The Swede has already brought in Rolando Bianchi, Geovanni and Gelson Fernandes and is lining up moves for Bayern Munich's Roque Santa Cruz and Racing Santander's Nikola Zigic.

Eriksson has no problem concentrating on non-English talent and said: "I don't think we are finished signing, there will be more new faces coming in different positions, whether they are English or not I can't say.

"I think that the new owner has shown that he means serious business when he says that he wants to build a strong team, which is not fighting at the bottom of the table but at the other end.

"This is one way in which he has shown that, and I'm very happy about it."

Petrov was also wanted by Tottenham and Eriksson praised City's directors for their efforts to land the star and his new team-mate Geovanni.

"I'm sure that a lot of clubs wanted both of them and I'm very happy that the board were able to get them. They will do very well for us, I'm sure about that."

McShane adds to Keane's Sunderland revamp

Sunderland boss Roy Keane on Thursday completed his sixth signing of the summer when he lured defender Paul McShane from West Brom.

The Midlands club will receive an initial 1.5 million pounds which could could ultimately rise to 2.5 million for the 21-year-old Republic of Ireland defender who joined the Baggies from Manchester United last summer and made 42 appearances, scoring three times.

McShane joins fellow new recuits Greg Halford, Russell Anderson, Michael Chopra, Kieran Richardson and Dickson Etuhu at the Stadium of Light.

Simao set for Atletico switch

Portuguese international striker Simao was expected to finalise his move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid later Thursday, the Spanish club announced.

Simao, who has been with the Portuguese giants since 2001, will cost Atletico 20 million euros.

The deal will also see two Atletico players heading in the opposite direction with Spanish sports daily Marca predicting the pair to be Costinha and de Ze Castro.

"I am very happy to be coming to Atletico Madrid," said 27-year-old Simao. "I hope to do great things here."

Simao is no stranger to Spain having played for Barcelona from 1999 to 2001.