Decent bets

West Ham United are expected to complete the transfer of Darren Bent, the Charlton Athletic and England striker, this weekend. They will pay £16 million with Hayden Mullins, the midfield player, heading to The Valley as part of the package. Bent is believed to have agreed personal terms on a five-year contract worth about £75,000 a week and would be reunited with Alan Curbishley, his former manager at Charlton.

Alan Pardew, the present Charlton manager, had wanted Marlon Harewood included in the transfer deal but the West Ham striker wants to remain in the top flight and would not accept the move.

That is encouraging news for Fulham, who had an offer of about £3 million for Harewood turned down, but West Ham are willing to do a deal if the offer is raised by £750,000. Birmingham City and Portsmouth have also inquired about Harewood.

Portsmouth have emerged as strong rivals to Sunderland and Everton for David Nugent. The Preston North End forward has confirmed that he will not make a decision on his future until he returns from playing for England in the European Under21 Championship. Portsmouth have renewed their interest in Yakubu Ayegbeni, their former striker who is at Middlesbrough.

Tottenham are considering offering Anthony Gardner or Wayne Routledge in addition to cash for Curtis Davies, the West Bromwich Albion defender. Davies is expected to put in a transfer request this week because he feels that his career will stagnate outside the Premiership. Tottenham agreed to sell Gardner to Charlton for up to £3 million two years ago, but he failed a medical.

Dead certs

Nedum Onuoha is close to agreeing a new four-year deal with Manchester City. The England Under-21 defender has attracted interest from Liverpool.

West Bromwich Albion have rejected a £4 million bid from Wigan Athletic for Jason Koumas. It is the second bid they have turned down for the midfield player this week, after Birmingham City offered a joint deal to sign him and Diomansy Kamara for £5 million. Koumas is among four players who have informed West Bromwich that they want to leave after the club failed to return to the top flight.

Martin Cranie will leave Southampton after the defender rejected the offer of a new contract to replace his present deal, which expires this month. Southampton are entitled to a fee from his next club to compensate for their part in the 20-year-old’s development, but the amount may need to be settled by a tribunal.

Gary Borrowdale is expected to leave Crystal Palace to join Coventry City this week. The left back rejected the offer of a new contract.

Long shots

Fulham have held talks about signing Mido. Tottenham Hotspur are keen to sell the forward, whom they bought from AS Roma for £3.5 million last summer after he had spent 18 months on loan at White Hart Lane. Tottenham wavered before signing him because there were question marks about his form and fluctuating weight. Mido turned down a move to Manchester City in January.

AS Monaco have inquired about signing Benoît Assou-Ekotto. Tottenham are willing to sell one of their left backs, after signing Gareth Bale from Southampton, but that is more likely to be Lee Young Pyo, who was close to joining AS Roma last summer. Jermain Defoe is unlikely to be interested in a move to West Ham United, who made an inquiry for the Tottenham forward.

Middlesbrough have been monitoring Grétar Steinsson, who has played at right back and on the wing for AZ Alkmaar. West Bromwich Albion are linked with Craig Beattie, the Celtic forward who would cost about £700,000, and Jonas Borring, the Odense winger.

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