Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager, hopes to confirm the arrival of Yossi Benayoun to Anfield as soon as Craig Bellamy completes his transfer to West Ham United.

Bellamy, the Wales international forward, is close to sealing a move to Upton Park for a fee in the region of around £7.5 million. Benitez, who invested a club record £21m on Fernando Torres earlier this week, is eager to use some of the money from Bellamy's transfer to bring West Ham's Benayoun to Merseyside.

Djibril Cisse, who is also surplus to requirements at Liverpool, has also been interesting West Ham but the forward has set his sights on moving to Marseille.

Carlos Tevez is due to undergo a medical in Venezuela as Manchester United close in on a deal for the West Ham striker which could eventually be worth in excess of £30m.

Nicolas Anelka, the Bolton Wanderers forward, has admitted he is tempted by the possibility of a move to Valencia.

Anelka had been linked with a move to Arsenal but that now appears unlikely following the arrival of Eduardo da Silva, the Croatia international. "The interest from the Spaniards is really touching," said Anelka.

"Valencia are a great club. Going over there to try to win La Liga and help the club qualify for the Champions League is very tempting."

Sven Goran Eriksson, who was this afternoon confirmed as Manchester City's new manager, will begin the daunting task of solving the club's chronic goalscoring problems by testing Toulouse's determination to hold onto Johan Elmander, the Sweden forward.

The French club recently rejected a £7m offer for the player from Lyon but, with a £50m transfer budget at his disposal, Eriksson is expected to post a bid closer to Toulouse's £10m asking price for a player who scored 11 goals in 32 games last season. "I think the Premier League would fit my game superbly," said Elmander, 26.

Eriksson wants to bring in at least three forwards, is considering a move for Roque Santa Cruz, the Bayern Munich striker, currently on Copa America duty with Paraguay.

Middlesbrough will have to improve their offer to goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer if they want the Australian to stay at the club.

The 34-year-old's agent, Shep Messing, has warned that his client will look to further his career elsewhere if the club fails to come up with a better deal.

Stoke City have confirmed they are in talks to sign Trevor Sinclair, the former England and Manchester City player.

Leeds United hope to reduce their outstanding £7.7m tax bill by selling David Healy to Fulham for £2 million. If the deal goes through, Healy would become the third Northern Ireland international to be reunited with Lawrie Sanchez, the former national coach.

Leicester City have signed Hossain Kaabi, 21, the Iran World Cup player, who has agreed a two-year contract. The Championship club hope to continue their recruitment drive after offering Birmingham City £2m for DJ Campbell and Stephen Clemence.

Billy Davies, the Derby County manager, has been reunited with Claude Davies, the Jamaica centre-back he sold from Preston North End to Sheffield United for £3m last year.

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