Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is considering a £10m bid for Standard Liege’s Belgium international midfielder Steven Defour, who the former Fulham boss sees as a natural replacement for want-away Argentine Javier Mascherano.
Full story: Daily Mail

And Mascherano is set to be the subject of a £20m bid from Italy’s European champions Inter Milan, who are managed by former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
Full story: Daily Express

Manchester City are still struggling to agree a fee with Aston Villa to buy their midfielder James Milner. Villa want £30m for the 24-year-old, but City are only prepared to pay £24m. (The Sun)

West Ham have snubbed Stoke’s £9m bid for 26-year-old striker Carlton Cole.
Full story: the Sun

New Fulham manager Mark Hughes is close to persuading 31-year-old striker Craig Bellamy to join him at Craven Cottage, rather than leave Manchester City for Tottenham.
Full story: the Sun

Birmingham are lining up an improved £10m offer for Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia after seeing their initial £8m bid turned down by the Latics.
Full story: Daily Mail

Manchester United and Arsenal target Mesut Ozil has hinted that a move to Spanish side Real Madrid could be on the cards. The 21-year-old German midfielder has one year left on his contract with Werder Bremen who are ready to listen to offers.
Full story: IM Scouting

Barcelona’s former Arsenal midfielder Aleksandr Hleb could be on his way out of the Nou Camp. The 29-year-old Belarusian is attracting interest from Tottenham, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Sunderland and West Ham.
Full story: IM Scouting

Blackburn have invited Roma midfielder Ricardo Faty for a trial with a view to a £1m deal for the 23-year-old, who has spent the last two seasons on loan – first, at Bayer Leverkusen and, later, at Nantes.
Full story: Daily Mail

Arsenal youngsters Emmanuel Frimpong and Mark Randall, who both play in midfield, are loan targets for Southampton and Hull respectively.
Full story: Daily Mail

Ipswich striker Jon Stead’s proposed £250,000 move to Blackpool has fallen through after the former England Under-21 international failed to agree personal terms at Bloomfield Road.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Nottingham Forest have placed their 30-year-old reserve goalkeeper, Paul Smith, on the transfer list.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Mido is so angry that Middlesbrough are holding out for a £1m fee over his proposed move to Ajax that the striker is threatening to sit out the last year of his contract in protest.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Celtic may try to hijack Rangers’ bid to land 23-year-old St Etienne defender Yohan Benalouane. (Sun/Daily Record)

Rangers hope to sign Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic next week and will take Honduran forward Georgie Welcome on trial. (Daily Express)

Fulham and West Ham are tracking Dundee United goalkeeper Dusan Pernis. (Various)