PARMA SWOOP FOR NAKATA

Reports from Italy say the 24-year-old has agreed a five-year deal with the Gialloblu and will pay Roma a fee of around £18.5 million for the creative midfielder.

Nakata is set to be formally unveiled as a Parma player on Friday lunchtime after completing his medical.

The signing is an about-turn for Parma after the likes of Lilian Thuram, Gianluigi Buffon, Marcio Amoroso and Sergio Conceicao all walked away from the Ennio Tardini Stadium during this close season.

Despite helping Roma to the Serie A championship, Nakata has long had to play second fiddle to the inspirational Francesco Totti, and has had enough of warming the substitutes' bench at the Olympic Stadium.

The Japan international has proved his ability in Italy while at Perugia and he now wants the chance to prove that he is good enough to have a starting place in a leading Serie A side.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Lazio have all been linked with moves for Nakata, but Parma boss Renzo Ulivieri, who had earlier expressed his interest in the player, has swooped in to sign him.

The two clubs did not discuss the possible transfer of Fabio Cannavaro, who had been linked with a move in the opposite direction.