TRANSFER RUMOURS

Reports that Blackburn Rovers have signed Ecuadro midfielder Segundo Castillo have been demied by a club spokesman, who would only say: "He's a player we are interested in." - BBC Sport

Fulham are on the verge of signing West Ham striker Bobby Zamora, which will but but rule them out of a bid for Rangers forward Daniel Cousin. - The Sun

Celtic have come to an amicable agreement with defender Bobo Balde which is allowing him to leave the Glasgow club a year before the end of his contract. - Daily Record

FA Cup winning goalscorer Kanu is set to agree a new one-year contract at Portsmouth, with manager Harry Redknapp saying: "As far as I know he's going to sign for another year and I want to keep him here." - Various

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani and Barcelona president Joan Laporta have met at the Via Veneto Restaurant near the Nou Camp to discuss the transfer of Manchester City target Ronaldinho. - Channel Four

Juande Ramos's assistant at White Hart Lane Gus Poyet says he has no intention of leaving Tottenham after he was linked with a similar role at Manchester United. - Tottenham website

Martin O'Neill has confirmed that Arsenal have made enquiries about Aston Villa's wantaway captain Gareth Barry, who is still hopeful of securing his transfer to Liverpool. - The Sun

The agent of Russia and Zenit St Petersburg forward Andrei Arshavin says Arsenal would be the ideal destination for the atacking midfielder because of the influence of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. - The Sun

Brazil midfielder Gilberto Da Silva has rejected the chance to stay in the Premier League with Everton and will sign for Panathinaikos when he returns to Arsenal from his summer break this week. - Daily Star

Meanwhile Everton manager David Moyes has turned his attention to Galatasaray midfielder Topal and hopes to bring the 22-year-old to Goodison Paark for about £2.5m. - Daily Mail

Manchester United's hopes of securing the signature of Dimitar Berbatov have been dealt a blow after Tottenham said they would only accept £30m for the Bulgarian captain, this after the champions put their limit at £24m. - The Sun

Brazilian forward Robinho is set to join Chelsea from Real Madrid for a fee in the region of £48m after he said it would be a dream to work with fellow countryman Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge. - Daily Mirror

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will be offered a new deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge for the remainder of his career as new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is desperate to retain the services of the Ivory Coast striker. - The Sun

But reports claim Chelsea have put in a late offer for Barcelona's Ronaldinho as both AC Milan, who are looking at an £18m deal, and Manchester City try to secure his signature. - The Sun

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is closing in on the £5m signing of Chelsea and England left-back Wayne Bridge. - Daily Mirror

In a bid to resolve their strike-force problems, Sunderland boss Roy Keane looks set to go back to his former club Manchester United in a bid to sign ex-team-mate Louis Saha on loan with a view to a £3m permanent deal. - Daily Star

Roy Keane is close to completing his first signing of the summer, with Romania defender Dorin Goian expected to join Sunderland from Steaua Bucharest for about £3.8m. - Various

New Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is ready to make an audacious bid to sign West Ham duo Lucas Neill and Craig Bellamy as he builds his first squad at Eastlands. - The Sun

Liverpool have accepted offers of around £4m for goalkeeper Scott Carson from newly-promoted Premier League clubs Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion. - Various

Blackburn Rovers are close to a deal to sign Paul Robinson from Tottenham Hotspur if, as seems increasingly likely, Brad Friedel departs for Aston Villa. - The Times

Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz has told new Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince he wants to leave Ewood Park for a bigger club, which has alerted North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham. - The Guardian

Paul Ince is planning for life at Blackburn Rovers without David Bentley and is set to make a £5m bid for Liverpool's former Birmngham City winger Jermaine Pennant. - Daily Mirror

Relegated Birmingham City have put Olivier Kapo on the transfer list with a £3m price tag, and the French midfielder now expects to once more link up with former Blues boss Steve Bruce at Wigan. - The Sun

Switzerland defender Stephan Lichtsteiner wants to buy out his contract at French club Lille so he can move to the Premier League and join Everton. - The Sun

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has made a £1.5m bid for 23-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson. - The Sun

The boss of Championship side Sheffield United, Kevin Blackwell, plans to make an offer for Oldham striker Deane Smalley. - The Sun

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will sell Georgios Samaras to Celtic for £1m after the striker ended last season on loan at Parkhead. - Daily Mirror

Celtic also look set to bolster their defensive line with Romanian defender Gabriel Tamas edging closer to a £3.5m move to the Glasgow giants. - Daily Record

Ipswich Town are set to clinch the £600,000 signing of Colchester striker Kevin Lisbie, but the Tractor Boys look like missing out on Greece striker Angelos Charisteas. - Daily Mirror

Charlton Athletic manager Alan Pardew is set to make a £1.25m bid for Bolton striker Heidar Helguson this week. - Various

Watford defender Danny Shittu has said he is still desperate to join Rangers - despite insisting the club caused the collapse of his proposed switch to Glasgow. - Daily Record

Championship side Bristol City are set to pay a club record £1.5m for Emal Meteb. The Egyptian striker's club Al-Ahly are understood to have accepted the offer for the 25-year-old. - Daily Star

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood is unsure whether the Pittodrie club will sign long-term target Tommy Wright with Darlington said to be holding out for a higher fee for the striker. - Various

Former Aberdeen goalkeeper Ryan Esson is poised to sign for Inverness Caledonian Thistle from Hereford. - Various


FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Manchester United are planning to land Sporting Lisbon coach Paulo Bento, Cristiano Ronaldo's friend and former team-mate, as manager Sir Alex Ferguson's new assistant. - The Sun

Cristiano Ronaldo is on a fresh collision course with Sir Alex Ferguson over the date of his return to Manchester United after his recuperation from recent ankle surgery. The Portugal winger wants to return a week later than expected. - Daily Mirror

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock fears owner Simon Jordan is ready to walk out of football after losing young midfielder John Bostock to Tottenham for £700,000 when he was after £5m. - Various

Clubs could face limits on the amount they spend on players' salaries under proposals outlined to European ministers by Uefa president Michel Platini. - The Times


AND THE REST

England midfielder David Beckham has said he wants to coach youngsters in Madrid when his playing career ends. "To work with the kids at Madrid would be an honour for me," said the former Bernabeu player. - Daily Telegraph