DARREN BENT is set to finally end his transfer saga at Charlton Athletic with a £17m move across London to Tottenham.

The England international forward is expected to complete his switch to White Hart Lane in the next 24 hours after Martin Jol, the Tottenham manager, caved in to the Addicks’ strict asking price.

Jol is also close to completing the £8m signing of France under-21 international Younes Kaboul, according to the Auxerre defender’s agent.

Auxerre and Spurs have held discussions over a move for Kaboul and he is expected to join former team-mate Abel Taarabt at White Hart Lane.

Jose Mourinho is still waiting to discover if his £12m bid for Lyon winger Florent Malouda will be accepted as he prepares to step up his summer recruitment drive at Stamford Bridge.

Lyon are understood to want £14m for Malouda but the French international has made it clear that he wants to make the move to the Premiership with Chelsea.

Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle manager, has conceded that Obafemi Martins could be on his way out of St. James’ Park to Arsenal.

Martins has a £13m escape clause in his contract and Allardyce is bracing himself for a bid from Arsene Wenger, who is scratching around to replace Thierry Henry.

Freddie Ljungberg’s agent, meanwhile, has dismissed speculation that the Swedish midfielder will quit Arsenal in the summer, with Manchester City, West Ham and Portsmouth all keen to end his spell at the Emirates.

Everton are waiting for the green light to continue their bid to sign Sheffield United defender Phil Jagielka. David Moyes will press ahead with the deal once the Premier League decides on United’s plea to be reinstated to the top flight.

Despite allegedly being one of the players criticised by Roy Keane in his infamous interview that never was on MUTV, Kieran Richardson could be set for an unlikely reunion with his former team-mate at Sunderland.

Nigel Reo-Coker will undergo further talks with Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill today over an £8m move. The England under-21 captain is also on Sven-Goran Eriksson’s radar at Manchester City and O’Neill is now attempting to wrap up the deal before the weekend.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez is ready to complete a £4m deal for Villa midfielder Steven Davis. The Northern Ireland international is admired by Sanchez and will leave Villa Park after struggling to force his way into O’Neill’s plans.

And Sanchez will be returning to the West Midlands again, following the £1m swoop for Aston Villa defender Aaron Hughes, with another bid for West Bromwich Albion’s Diomansy Kamara.

Sanchez is ready to up the ante in the chase for Senegal forward Kamara with a £4.5m bid. Kamara has submitted a transfer request at the Hawthorns.

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