Bakayoko bound for Istres

FC Istres

Scottish Premier League strugglers Livingston FC have signed three Hungarian players for the remainder of the 2004/05 campaign. Hungarian internationals Ferenc Horváth, a 31-year-old forward, and Attilla Kriston, a 29-year-old midfielder, arrive from Videoton FCF, while Gábor Vincze, 28 and also a midfielder, joins from Györi ETO FC. Livingston will have the option of extending their contracts at season's end. The signings follow the loan capture of midfielder Jamie Hand from English side Watford FC.

Also in Scotland, Dundee FC have signed out-of-favour Hibernian FC striker Tom McManus. The 23-year-old had been told he could leave Easter Road after returning from a loan spell with English team Boston United FC and is likely to make his debut tomorrow against Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC.

Just two days after landing Brazilian striker Mota, Danish club Viborg FF have further strengthened their squad with left-back Christopher Poulsen joining from Silkeborg IF. "I wanted to try something new, and Viborg is a club where things are done very professionally," said the 23-year-old. Coach Ove Christensen, who has taken the side to fourth place in the Superliga, was delighted with the acquisition. "Poulsen is a very talented player," he said.

Brazilian forward Júlio César has left Gil Vicente FC to join AEK Athens FC, who have a Portuguese coach in Fernando Santos. The player, whose full name is Júlio César da Silva e Souza, signed for Gil Vicente at the start of the Portuguese season, but a clause in his contract allowed him to move on swiftly to the Greek club. The transfer fee has not been disclosed. Júlio César said: "I am happy because I am going to a great club. It was easy to reach an agreement." The 24-year-old played 16 games for Gil Vicente, scoring two goals.

Northern Irish international striker James Quinn has signed for English third-tier side Sheffield Wednesday FC until the end of the season. The 30-year-old was released by Dutch outfit Willem II last week, two years into his four-year contract, after scoring just eleven goals in 48 Eredivisie matches. "He has not met our expectations," technical manager Gerard Wielaert said, "and with his high salary, we decided to allow him to leave."

German side 1. FC Kaiserslautern have handed a professional contract to 18-year-old goalkeeper Florian Fromlowitz. The German Under-20 international has signed a deal tying him to the club until summer 2008. The highly-rated Fromlowitz was previously under contract as an amateur.