Decent bets

Daniel Levy was attempting to persuade Tiago to sign for Tottenham Hotspur after flying to Turin to hold talks with the Portugal midfield player last night. The Tottenham chairman was accompanied by Damien Comolli, the sporting director, after the London club agreed last week to pay Juventus £9.7 million. The transfer had appeared to be unlikely because Tottenham have been unwilling to meet Tiago’s wage demands of more than £50,000 a week.

Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Everton are monitoring Paul Robinson, the Tottenham goalkeeper, who has said that he wants to leave. Tottenham’s move for Stewart Downing has been held up because Middlesbrough want a further £1 million and the clubs cannot agree on a payment schedule for the winger. Tottenham have offered about £9 million.

Fulham have tried to resurrect the deal to sign Marlon King after the forward’s move to Craven Cottage collapsed last week. Fulham had agreed to pay Watford £5 million, but King failed a medical because of a knee problem. Portsmouth are among the clubs to have expressed an interest since. “We are still talking to Fulham,” Adrian Boothroyd, the Watford manager, said. “Since the weekend, I have had one or two inquiries from two other Premier League clubs — which from our point of view is good.”

Sunderland have made a third and final offer of about £5 million for Stephen Hunt, the Reading midfield player. The Ireland player signed a three-year contract at the Madejski Stadium in the summer. Leeds United’s offer of £250,000 for Jason Puncheon has been turned down by Barnet. The attacking player is valued at about £400,000.

Dead certs

Sunderland have signed Rade Prica from AaB Aalborg for £2 million. He was top scorer in the Danish league in the 2006-07 season. The 27-year-old Sweden forward is the fourth arrival at Sunderland this month. “Rade is an experienced striker with a good goalscoring record,” Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, said. “He’s hungry to play in the Premier League.”

Fulham have signed Eddie Johnson from the Kansas City Wizards for about £2.5 million. The United States forward has signed a 3½year deal.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have failed in their attempt to sign Erlend Hanstveit, the left back, after a fee could not be agreed with Brann Bergen, the Norwegian club.

Leeds have agreed a deal to sign Enoch Showunmi from Bristol City. The forward has scored 13 goals in 44 appearances for the Coca-Cola Championship club since joining them from Luton Town two years ago.

Long shots

Elfsborg have turned down an offer from Manchester City for Abbas Hassan, the goalkeeper, who had a trial with City this month. “We are not trying to sell our ’keeper. It’s all up to the buyer if they want to change the offer,” Stefan Andreasson, the Elfsborg sporting director, said.