Pair to sign Rovers deals

FORMER Athletic pair Jean-Yves Mvoto and Dean Furman are on the verge of linking up again with Paul Dickov at Doncaster Rovers.

After newly-promoted Rovers had won their first pre-season friendly fixture at Frickley last night, ex-Athletic boss Dickov revealed that deals had been “agreed in principle” with Mvoto and Furman, whose Latics contracts expired this summer.

Twenty-four-year-old Frenchman Mvoto made 49 appearances for Athletic last season, but has since been strongly linked with a switch to Championship-bound Rovers, who are now managed by Dickov.

The giant defender made 123 outings for Athletic after signing from Sunderland two years ago.

South African Furman, aged 25, is an ex-Athletic skipper who joined Doncaster on loan in March and made eight appearances as the club secured their return to the second tier of English football.

The former Chelsea trainee made 148 appearances for Athletic since joining as a free agent in 2009.

Meanwhile, Athletic utility man Carl Winchester has signed a contract extension and will remain at Boundary Park for the 2013-14 season.

Manager Lee Johnson aims to play the 20-year-old Northern Ireland international more next term as he has only made 22 starts and nine substitute appearances since making his first-team debut in November, 2010.

ATHLETIC are running the rule over 25-year-old Senegalese international striker Momar N’Diaye, who has previously played for clubs in China, France and Germany.

An unnamed Latvian under-21 international defender is another player on trial this week.