Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, is ready to make his first major foray into the summer transfer market with an improved double bid for Florent Malouda, the Lyon midfielder, and Pascal Chimbonda, the Tottenham Hotspur full-back.

Malouda has already expressed his desire to move to Stamford Bridge and a Lyon spokesman confirmed Chelsea have improved their original £12 million offer: "Chelsea have come back with a strong offer and the chairman, Jean-Michel Aulas, could meet a Chelsea official in the next few days," he said.

Martin Jol, the Tottenham manager, is determined to hold onto Chimbonda but his resolve will be tested will the Premiership runners-up set to increase their initial £10 million bid.

David Nugent is close to agreeing to a £6.5 million move to Portsmouth. The Preston North End forward has been linked with a host of Premiership clubs but Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, appears to have won the race to sign the England international after, Everton, Nugent's preferred choice failed to follow up their interest with a firm bid.

With the £8.5 million signing of Nigel Reo-Coker, the West Ham United midfielder, all but complete, Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will turn his attention toward Jermain Defoe, the unsettled Tottenham Hotspur forward.

O'Neill, though, could be forced to fend of interest in John Carew, the Norway forward, from FC Porto. Carew has been a success at Villa Park since arriving from Lyon six months ago and his progress has been noted by the Portugese club.

Svetoslav Todorov, the Portsmouth forward, has ended his five-year association with the club and joined Charlton Athletic on a one-year deal.

Steve Bruce, the Birmingham City manager, is close to agreeing a £2.5 million deal with Lille for Raphael Schmitz, the Brazil centre-back. The player's work permit application could be a problem, however, as the 26-year-old has never been capped by his country.

Blackburn Rovers have renewed their interest in re-signing Craig Bellamy, the forward they sold to Liverpool last summer for £6 million.

Bellamy's first-team opportunities at Anfield are expected to be limited following the arrival of Fernando Torres, the Spain striker and the Merseyside club have indicated they will listen to offers for the player. Aston Villa and West Ham are also monitoring the situation.

Blackburn are adamant Jason Roberts will not be allowed to leave Ewood Park for less than £4 million after rejecting Fulham's offer of £2.5 million for the forward. Roberts impressed Mark Hughes, the Rovers manager, last season after overcoming injury problems but is believed to be interested in a move south.

Steven Davis, the midfielder, has been reunited with Lawrie Sanchez, his former Northern Ireland manager, after Fulham concluded the £4 million deal with Aston Villa for the midfielder. Davis, 22, has agreed a four-year contract with the London club.

Everton have given Gary Naysmith, the Scotland defender, permission to speak to Sheffield United after agreeing the £4 million transfer of Phil Jagielka from the relegated Yorkshire club. Naysmith, a left-back, is valued at around £750,000.

Idan Tal, the former Everton midfielder, is set to leave Bolton Wanderers after spending just one season at the Reebok Stadium. The Israel international is holding talks with Beitar Jerusalem.

Kevin Nicholls, the midfielder, has completed his protracted move from Leeds United to Preston North End for an undisclosed fee.

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football