West Ham United were in negotiations last night to complete a loan deal for Mancini, the Inter Milan and Brazil attacking player, who has been likened to Cristiano Ronaldo by Sven-Göran Eriksson.

The East London club are confident of securing Luis Jiménez, the Chile forward, on the same terms from Inter, with an option to buy both players, valued at a combined £22million.

Mancini, 28, gained a reputation as a creative and quick winger at Roma, for whom he scored a spectacular goal against Lyons two years ago that followed six step-overs and has become a YouTube hit. However, he did not reproduce his form for

Inter after an £11million transfer last summer. Mancini attracted interest from Liverpool last summer and Manchester City, who tried to sign him when Eriksson was manager.

Scott Duxbury, the West Ham chief executive, took control of the talks for Mancini and Jiménez in Milan at the weekend, alongside Gianluca Nani, the club's Italian technical director.

Decent bets

Manchester City were in talks last night to sign Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers, who will not accept less than £17million for the Paraguay forward whose release clause is £20million. City have made six previous bids for the player in the past 18 months and hope to agree a fee of about £15million.

Chelsea are prepared to challenge Barcelona and Real Madrid for the signature of Franck Ribéry. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Bayern Munich chairman, appeared to be posturing when he suggested that the France winger, who has two years left on his contract, would not leave, yet admitted that they had a transfer fee in mind.

Chelsea are unlikely to accept Inter's offer of cash plus Nicolás Burdisso in exchange for Deco and Ricardo Carvalho. Alexandre Pato has committed his future to AC Milan after interest from Chelsea. “I have a contract with Milan that I will respect,” the Brazil forward said.

Chelsea are considering Zlatan Ibrahimovic in addition to renewed interest in Carlos Tévez, the Manchester United striker.

Galatasaray have inquired about Ryan Babel, who cost Liverpool £11.5million two years ago. Stéphane M'Bia, the Rennes midfield player, has claimed that he is wanted by Everton, who have had a bid of up to £5million for Kyle Naughton, the full back, turned down by Sheffield United.

Aston Villa have offered Real Madrid £4million for the services of Royston Drenthe, the Holland midfield player.

West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough and Lille have expressed an interest in Dorian Dervite, the Tottenham Hotspur defender, who has one year left on his contract.

Emmanuel Eboué claims that he could leave Arsenal this summer, with Atlético Madrid and Espanyol interested in the midfield player, who was booed by his own fans last season. “It would be hard to experience another season like this one,” he said. “If I leave Arsenal, it would be for another league because it is out of the question that I develop elsewhere in England.”

Dead certs

Stephen Kelly has moved to Fulham from Birmingham City on a three-year contract.

Long shots

Vincent Enyeama's representative has claimed that the Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Nigeria goalkeeper was close to joining Arsenal. “Hapoel demanded €2million [£1.7million] and Arsenal pulled out,” Tony Martich said.