Reyna move frees up Davis

Fulham's game of musical midfielders will finally end next week when Claudio Reyna joins from Sunderland.

But the song and dance being made over striker Steve Marlet's future at Loftus Road shows no sign of fading away.

Reyna's arrival will prompt the club into offloading Sean Davis for around £5million - with tomorrow's opponents, Everton, understood to be his preferred destination.

Marlet, on the other hand, is going nowhere at the moment, according to Fulham manager Chris Coleman, despite reports linking the Frenchman with a cutprice move to Marseille.

After a quiet summer, the transfer activity has been building at Loftus Road ever since Davis, who misses the trip to Goodison Park with a knee injury, demanded a move two weeks ago.

Coleman refused to grant Davis's transfer request until he had found a replacement, but with £2.5m-rated Reyna now imminent, the 23-year-old looks to be on his way to Merseyside, or possibly Middlesbrough.

"We are pretty close now with Claudio Reyna, we should get him through the door very shortly," said Coleman. "Almost everything is agreed." Marlet's situation is less clear-cut. The 29-year-old, who has so far failed to justify his club record £11.5m price tag, claims he is out of favour at Fulham and could leave before the end of August transfer window.

He said: "If Fulham want me to leave, I will. I'll respect their decision."

Marseille coach Alain Perrin has confirmed his interest in Marlet, but said a deal is still in the early stages.

But Coleman today hit back, denying an approach from the French club.

Meanwhile, Fulham defender Andy Melville has suffered a setback in his recovery from a foot injury. The Wales international is likely to miss his country's crucial Euro 2004 qualifier against Italy in Milan on 6 September.

He said: "I've got no real idea when I will be back in action." However, midfielder Steed Malbranque has recovered from a slight knock and should play at Everton.