Dead certs

Thomas Gravesen has returned to Everton from Celtic on a season-long loan. The midfield player left Goodison Park for Real Madrid for £2.5 million in January 2005. Everton also hope to sign Stephen Appiah, the midfield player, from Fenerbahçe.

Habib Beye has said that he is set to join Newcastle United from Marseilles. The defender said that he could not turn down the financial package offered.

Rachid Bouaouzan, the winger, has joined Wigan Athletic from Sparta Rotterdam.

Sam Sodje has moved to Charlton Athletic on loan from Reading. The defender’s brother, Akpo, the striker, has joined Sheffield Wednesday from Port Vale for an undisclosed fee.

Charlton have signed Danny Mills on loan until January from Manchester City. Fulham have signed Nathan Ashton, the defender, on a two-year contract from Charlton.

Nottingham Forest have signed John Hartson on loan. West Bromwich Albion said that they are willing to pay off the forward, who earns about £15,000 a week.

Crystal Palace have signed Besian Idrizaj, the striker, on loan from Liverpool.

Decent bets

Birmingham City are favourites to sign Amdy Faye, the Charlton Athletic midfield player who is also wanted by Portsmouth. Birmingham are hoping to sign Mohammed Kallon the forward who has been released by AS Monaco. Aston Villa should complete the signing of Curtis Davies on loan from West Bromwich Albion today, with a permanent deal to be completed at the end of the season. The final fee is likely to be £8 million rising to £10 million and a 15 per cent sell-on fee to West Bromwich.

Wigan Athletic are in talks with Marcus Bent, the Charlton forward. Queens Park Rangers are close to a deal for Mikele Leigertwood, the Sheffield United defender.

Long shots

Reading have rejected a £4 million offer from West Ham United for Nicky Shorey, the left back who is open to a move. “Given the price of players today, we thought it was nigh on a derisory offer,” Steve Coppell, the Reading manager, said.

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