Long shots

José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, is said to be preparing a £2.7 million move for Marko Pantelic, the Hertha Berlin and Serbia striker, to bolster an attack recently strengthened by the acquisition of Claudio Pizarro, the Peru forward, on a free transfer.

Claudio Ranieri, the new Juventus coach, will pull out all the stops to try to lure Frank Lampard, the man he signed for Chelsea, to Italy, even though the England midfield player would seemingly favour a move to Spain in the event that he fails to agree a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

FC Porto have told would-be suitors that the club have no need to sell Bruno Alves and José Bonsigwa, the defenders, after Anderson’s move to Manchester United, which could be worth as much as £20.4 million.

Alves is wanted by Aston Villa, while Middlesbrough have been linked with Bonsigwa. Middlesbrough are also likely to be thwarted in any attempt to sign Luke Moore from Villa.

Harry Kewell and Craig Bellamy could be on their way to Villa as part of a £12 million double deal, even though Rafael BenÍtez, the Liverpool manager, wants that amount alone for the Wales forward.

Decent bets

Arsenal are favourites to sign Florent Malouda after he is believed to have turned down a move to Liverpool last night. The arrival of the midfield player, who will cost about £8 million, at Arsenal would allow Tomas Rosicky to play in the centre.

Franck Ribéry will join Bayern Munich on a four-year contract today. Bayern are thought to have agreed a deal worth about £17 million, which would make the Marseilles winger the most expensive player in the German club’s history. Marseilles will use the money to try to sign Djibril Cissé, the £8 million-rated France striker, and Ludovic Giuly, the Barcelona winger.

Aston Villa will have to increase their £7 million bid for Nigel Reo-Coker if they want to land the West Ham United midfield player, but Yossi Benayoun’s agent has insisted that the Israel playmaker will not be leaving Upton Park, even though he has yet to accept the offer of a new five-year deal. Seol Ki Hyeon, the South Korea midfield player, could quit Reading.

Wigan Athletic will step up their interest in Mario Melchiot this week. Chris Hutchings, the manager, is also chasing Chris Brunt, the Sheffield Wednesday winger, and Gavin McCann, the Villa midfield player. Wayne Routledge wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur in search of regular first-team football, at Fulham.

Dead certs

Eggert Magnússon, the West Ham United chairman, has insisted that the club will not be trying to raid Everton – at least not this summer – for Andrew Johnson, Mikel Arteta or Tim Cahill. He said: “I can confirm that West Ham have not and are not bidding for any Everton player at this time.”

Luis Figo, the Inter Milan winger, has dismissed rumours that he could join Tottenham Hotspur or any other English club this summer, with a move to Saudi Arabia most likely.

Lawrie Sanchez, the Fulham manager, will make a renewed bid for Chris Baird after Southampton turned down a £2.5 million offer for the Northern Ireland defender. Sanchez wants David Healy and Steve Davis, two of his other former Northern Ireland charges, as well. A deal for Healy, at £1 million, will have to wait until July while Leeds United are in administration and barred from transfers.

Charlton Athletic have signed Paddy McCarthy from Leicester City for £650,000 on a four-year deal.