Liverpool could have raised some of the cash to finance a move for Gareth Barry with the sale of Dirk Kuyt - but the Reds scared off Hamburg with their £16m valuation of the Dutch striker. (Daily Mail)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is set to test Blackburn boss Paul Ince's resolve with a £7m bid for Ewood Park striker Benni McCarthy. (Various)

Aston Villa are close to securing the signature of Middlesbrough right-back Luke Young for about £5m and Reading left-back Nicky Shorey for £4m. (Various)

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan insists Alan Smith still has a future at the club, despite reports linking the striker with a move to Everton. (Daily Star)

Deportivo La Coruna claim they have agreed to sell centre-back Fabricio Coloccini to the Magpies. (The Times)

Tottenham are lining up a bid for Rangers' £12m-rated defender Carlos Cuellar. (Scottish Sun)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has been told he needs to sell players to raise the funds to buy Tottenham centre-back Younes Kaboul. (Daily Mail)

West Ham will bring in defender Gael Givet from Marseille for £1.75m. (Various)

Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson will hold showdown talks over his future with the club next week. (Mirror)

Crystal Palace are weighing up whether to sign midfielder John Oster after his summer release by Reading. (Various)