Manchester United will resist the temptation to sell Wes Brown before the January 31 transfer deadline, despite the growing danger of losing him on a free transfer at the end of the season. Brown has reached an impasse with the club, who have refused his demands for a contract extension worth £55,000 a week, but, despite firm interest from Everton, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, will not sell.

“We did turn down an offer from Newcastle a couple of weeks ago,” David Gill, the United chief executive, said. “But it’s unlikely that a team would come in and offer something substantial for him when he is out of contract in the summer.”

Dead certs

Dan Gosling, 17, the Plymouth Argyle midfield player, has joined Everton for an initial £1 million, with a further £1 million based on the number of appearances he makes for club and country.

Gretar Steinsson, the Iceland right back, is to join Bolton Wanderers from AZ Alkmaar for a fee reported to be about £3 million, five years after an unsuccessful trial with the Lancashire club. “Five years ago, I wasn’t good enough,” he said. “Now I am.”

Decent bets

Middlesbrough are trying to agree a price lower than Heerenveen’s valuation of £14.9 million for Afonso Alves, the 26-year-old Brazil forward.

Long shots

Tottenham have been linked with Carlos Kameni, the 23-year-old Espanyol and Cameroon goalkeeper, who is on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, and Andrei Arshavin, the Zenit St Petersburg and Russia forward. Leaving White Hart Lane on loan could be Paul Stalteri and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who are wanted by Portsmouth.

Nicola Zigic, the 6ft 7in Valencia and Serbia forward, is expected to reject a move to Fulham, but Manchester City and Bolton could also make offers with a view to tempting him from Spain.

Bolton are also reported to be interested in Dudu Aouate, the Israel goalkeeper, who is no longer wanted by Deportivo La Coruña.

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