West Ham United were in talks last night to sell Matthew Etherington to Stoke City and are considering Manchester City’s revised offer for Scott Parker, which includes Michael Johnson moving in the opposite direction.

City have offered about £4 million plus the England Under-21 midfield player, who signed a new five-year contract in September, when he was attracting interest from Everton and Arsenal. Johnson, 20, gained recognition for the form that he showed at the start of last season but a pelvic injury has restricted him to eight appearances this campaign. West Ham turned down City’s initial £15 million combined bid for Parker and Craig Bellamy last week.

Stoke have been looking for a left winger since they had a £6 million offer for Joe Ledley, the Cardiff City player, rejected in the summer. Etherington is expected to cost about £3.5 million.

West Ham are also in talks with Brescia, the Serie B club, to sign Savio Nsereko, 19, and Bartosz Salamon, a 17-year-old Polish midfield player. Nsereko, who was born in Uganda but has German citizenship, is one of the most promising forwards in Italy.

Decent bets

Blackburn Rovers have expressed an interest in Franco Semioli, a Fiorentina winger who has played three times for Italy. Aruna Dindane, the Lens forward, is being tracked by Stoke after he turned down a trial at Tottenham Hotspur, who have raised their offer for Stewart Downing, the Middlesbrough winger, to about £12.5 million.

Birmingham City, the Coca-Cola Championship club, are on the verge of sealing a £4 million deal for Kris Boyd, the Rangers forward.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have made a cash-plus-player offer to Watford for John-Joe O’Toole, the midfield player, who has scored eight goals this season. Watford have turned down the offer and want straight cash. O’Toole, 20, is also wanted by Reading. Wolves have also asked about the availability of Mat Sadler, the Watford left back.

Dead certs

Bolton Wanderers have given a trial to Denilson, once the most expensive player in the world when Real Betis signed him for £21.5 million from São Paulo in 1998. Now 31, the left winger was out of contract at Palmeiras.

Aston Villa have agreed a deal for Arsenio Halfhuid, the 17-year-old defender at Excelsior, the Dutch club.

Sidney Govou, the Lyons forward, has turned down an offer from Portsmouth. Ben Sahar, the Israel forward who was on loan at Portsmouth from Chelsea, has been loaned to De Graafschap, of the Eredivisie, until the summer. Chelsea have also allowed Birmingham to take Scott Sinclair, the winger, on loan for one month.

Graeme Murty, the Reading defender, has joined Charlton Athletic on a month-long loan.

Long shots

Zenit St Petersburg and Arsenal are holding talks about a possible transfer of Andrei Arshavin, but remain miles apart on a fee for the Russia forward.

West Bromwich Albion have asked to have Marlon Harewood on loan but Aston Villa are only willing to sell the forward, who has scored one goal in 29 league appearances for the club.

Tottenham have expressed an interest in Fred, the Lyons and Brazil forward, whom they tried to sign a year ago.