Liverpool had an offer of about £18.5 million for Glen Johnson accepted last night. The successful bid comes after they struggled to raise the money to buy him when he was valued at about £8.5 million in January.

The Portsmouth and England right back subsequently signed a new four-year contract, but his future club appears clearer with Chelsea unwilling to match the fee for a player they sold for £4 million two years ago. Manchester City expressed an interest, but have not matched the price, which will include add-ons.

Liverpool will raise funds from the potential sales of Álvaro Arbeloa and Andrea Dossena and from outstanding money that they are owed from the sale of Peter Crouch to Portsmouth for £11 million a year ago. The Anfield club have expressed an interest in Micah Richards, the Manchester City defender.

Decent bets

Ricardo Carvalho has criticised Chelsea for offering no support while he was sidelined with a knee injury last season. Chelsea have told Inter Milan that the defender and Deco, his Portugal team-mate also aged 31, will cost a combined £11 million.

Carvalho has three years left on his contract and plans to hold talks with Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, next week. “The club should have supported me more [while injured], which did not happen,” Carvalho said. “When a player plays, everything is beautiful, but when things do not run so well, there is no support.

“I believe my time at Chelsea has come to an end. The ideal would have been to leave earlier this year. I was a little disappointed. [José] Mourinho [the Inter coach and former Chelsea manager] knows me better than anybody. It would be good to return to working with him.”

Chelsea have revived their interest in Carlos Tévez, the Manchester United forward, who appears bound for Manchester City.

Fulham have approached Tottenham Hotspur about signing Jamie O'Hara, the midfield player, who is recovering from a knee operation. The West London club have inquired about Jô, the Manchester City striker, and Robert Acquafresca, the Inter forward. “Fulham called me, I might try to go abroad,” Acquafresca said.

Villarreal, Roma and Fiorentina are interested in signing Philippe Senderos, who has one year left on his contract at Arsenal.

Manchester United are monitoring Douglas Costa, the 18-year-old Grêmio attacking midfield player, who has a release clause in his contract of about £20 million. “They [United] have identified four or five possible replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo, and Douglas is one of them,” César Bottega, his agent, said.

Manchester City have told Sheffield United to double their £1.5 million bid for Ched Evans, the Wales striker, while Felipe Caicedo, City's Ecuador striker, has claimed that he is wanted by Sporting Lisbon.

Marc-Antoine Fortuné could be reunited with Tony Mowbray, the incoming Celtic manager, but will cost £3 million. The Nancy forward scored five goals on loan at West Bromwich Albion, managed by Mowbray, after he joined in January.

Long shots

Chelsea face competition from Tottenham for Moussa Dembele, the pacy 21-year-old Alkmaar attacking midfield player. He is valued at about £15 million and has attracted interest from Genoa.

Dead certs

Galatasaray are close to an agreement to buy Zurab Khizanishvili from Blackburn Rovers for £2 million. Nenad Milijas, the Serbia midfield player, has signed a four-year contract after joining Wolverhampton Wanderers from Red Star Belgrade.

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