West Ham United were considering Manchester City’s revised offer for Scott Parker last night after an initial joint £15 million bid for the midfield player and Craig Bellamy was turned down.

City are thought to have offered about £8 million for Parker, who has returned to fitness and form during this campaign after being sidelined on three separate occasions for extended periods with a knee injury last season. City are also waiting to hear whether Wayne Bridge is willing to join them after it was confirmed last night that talks were taking place over a £10 million deal for the Chelsea left back. Bridge, who earns £88,000 a week at Chelsea, will have to take a pay cut if he is to join City.

Parker, who has made 19 appearances in all competitions this season, has not been angling for a move, but his £75,000-a-week wages are problematic for West Ham, who are trying to cut costs.

He moved to Upton Park for £7 million from Newcastle United 18 months ago to be reunited with Alan Curbishley, his former manager at Charlton Athletic.

Gianfranco Zola, Parker’s present manager, has suggested that the player is worthy of a recall to the England squad, despite not having featured for the national team since the 2-0 defeat away to Croatia in a European Championship qualifying match in October 2006.

Decent bets

Hull City have confirmed that they are interested in signing Jermaine Pennant, the Liverpool winger, who is out of contract this summer. Wigan Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City have also inquired about the player, who joined from Birmingham City for £6.7 million in 2006. Hull are also expected to sign Kamil Zayatte on a permanent deal after a loan spell from Young Boys, the Swiss club.

Liverpool are close to signing Victor Palsson, an 18-year-old midfield player from Iceland, who plays for Aarhus, of Denmark, after having a trial in October.

Dead certs

Sam Allardyce, the Blackburn Rovers manager, hopes to re-sign Tal Ben-Haim and El-Hadji Diouf for a combined cost of £4 million. Allardyce signed both players during his time as Bolton Wanderers manager. Diouf has not scored in 12 league matches for Sunderland, after moving from Bolton in the summer, while Ben-Haim has been dropped from Manchester City’s team since the middle of December.

Plymouth Argyle are expected to complete the signing of David Gray, the Manchester United midfield player, on loan until the end of the season. Burnley are close to signing Tony McMahon, the defender, on loan from Middlesbrough. Bolton have had a £3 million bid for James Morrison, the midfield player, turned down by West Bromwich Albion.

Long shots

Sidney Govou’s representatives are trying to secure a move for the forward to Portsmouth. The France player has 18 months left on his contract at Lyons. The 29-year-old would cost about £3 million, but his demands for a four-year contract could be a problem.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified two left wingers should a deal to sign Stewart Downing, the Middlesbrough player, fall through. They are Cristian Rodríguez, of Porto, and Juan Arango, who has said that he does not want to leave Real Mallorca. Rodríguez moved from Benfica for about £4.8 million in the summer.

Everton are pondering a loan move for Giampaolo Pazzini, the Fiorentina forward, who scored a hat-trick for Italy Under-21 against England in the first game at the new Wembley. David Moyes, the manager, wants to strengthen his attack, but has limited funds available.