Briefs 3-Panathinaikos closing in on Arsenal's Gilberto

July 10 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world:

Soccer - Panathinaikos hope to sign Arsenal's Brazilian World Cup-winning midfielder Gilberto on Friday.

The Greek club's president Nikos Pateras held negotiations with the 31-year-old's representatives in Athens on Thursday. A club spokesman said if Arsenal accepted the 1.5 million euros ($2.36 million) offered then a deal may be concluded on Friday.

"All is well," Pateras told reporters after the meeting, "further talks are expected to take place on Friday".

Soccer - Aston Villa have signed Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell after he passed a medical and agreed a three-year deal.

"I'm absolutely delighted to join. It has taken a while but now it's done I'm excited and looking forward to meeting my new team mates and getting on the pitch and playing football," the 25-year-old told Villa's website (www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk).

Soccer - Dimitar Penev, who led Bulgaria to the 1994 World Cup semi-finals, has been appointed for a third spell as coach of cash-strapped Bulgarian champions CSKA Sofia, the club said on Thursday.