Tottenham Hotspur are among the Barclays Premier League clubs to have expressed interest in Olivier Dacourt. The midfield player is available on a free transfer from Inter Milan, but at 34, he would likely be a short-term solution to Tottenham's requirement for a combative player. Dacourt played for Everton ten years ago and spent three years at Leeds United.

Tottenham are also looking at Stephen Hunt should their move for Stewart Downing, the Middlesbrough winger, fall through. The Reading and Ireland winger is also a target for Wigan Athletic with Luis Antonio Valencia possibly moving to Real Madrid. Hunt would not be a natural replacement for the Ecuador player - Hunt plays on the left - but he has sought a move since Reading were relegated from the Premier League in the summer when his £5million valuation was too high for Everton and Sunderland. Wigan have also considered a move for Jermaine Pennant, the Liverpool winger.

Decent bets

Club Deportivo Guadalajara, the Mexican club known as Chivas, have said that they have failed in their bid to sign Giovani dos Santos. The Mexico playmaker, 19, has been made available after starting just two league games since joining Tottenham Hotspur from Barcelona for £4.7million in the summer.

Dead certs

Sergio Peter has moved to Sparta Prague from Blackburn Rovers.

Queens Park Rangers have signed Heidar Helguson, the Iceland forward, for an undisclosed fee from Bolton Wanderers after a loan spell and Wayne Routledge, who turned down a permanent move to Cardiff City, where he had been on loan from Aston Villa. Bristol City have signed Peter Styvar, the Slovakian striker, from Zilina for an undisclosed fee. Brendan Rodgers, the Watford manager, has returned to Chelsea, where he was reserve-team mananger, to sign Jack Cork, themidfield player, on loan until the end of the season.

Milton Keynes Dons have signed Luke Chadwick, the winger, on a free transfer from Norwich City.

Wycombe Wanderers have signed T.J. Moncur, the Fulham defender, on loan for the season. Robin Shroot has signed a 2-year deal with Birmingham City. The midfield player had been on trial at the club.