Chelsea will try to conclude a deal to sign Yuri Zhirkov to end a frustrating start to the transfer window. The club have failed to secure some targets because of an unwillingness to pay what they deem excessive transfer fees or wages.

Club officials will hold talks with CSKA Moscow in Russia to sign the versatile left back, who has been valued at £15 million. The Russia international, who was one of 30 players nominated for European Footballer of the Year last October, has been earmarked as a left winger capable of putting pressure on Florent Malouda.

Decent bets
Wolverhampton Wanderers have met Reading’s £6.5 million asking price for Kevin Doyle, the forward, who scored 18 goals last season. Gabriel Heinze, the Real Madrid defender, has said that he would return to the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur reported to be interested.

Pascal Chimbonda has been offered for sale to Marseilles, six months after the defender rejoined Spurs from Sunderland. Adel Taarabt, the attacking player, is close to a move to Málaga from White Hart Lane, probably on loan. Sebastián Leto has said that he is close to a move to Panathinaikos from Liverpool. The winger was on loan at Olympiacos last season.

Sunderland are monitoring Richard Dunne, of Manchester City, and Sylvain Distin, of Portsmouth, as they search for a centre half, but Titus Bramble, of Wigan Athletic, is not a target for Steve Bruce. The manager also wants a centre forward and is considering making a bid for Peter Crouch, of Portsmouth, or Darren Bent, of Tottenham.

Roberto Martínez, the Wigan manager, could return to Swansea City to sign Jason Scotland after expressing an interest in the forward. Steven Taylor, the England Under-21 defender, will reconsider his commitment to Newcastle United if Alan Shearer is not appointed manager.

Birmingham City were last night on the verge of agreeing deals to sign Barry Ferguson and Joe Hart. Ferguson, the midfield player, can leave Rangers with one year left on his contract after disciplinary problems, while Manchester City will allow Hart, the goalkeeper, to move on loan.

Dead certs
Everton’s offer for Steven Defour has been turned down by Standard Liège, who have valued the midfield player at £12.6 million. Andréa Mutombo, the forward, has signed a two-year contract at Liège after a loan spell from Portsmouth.

Long shots
Phil Brown said that Hull City want to sign Michael Owen but no offer has been made for the forward, who is out of contract after leaving Newcastle.

Karim Benzema’s agent, Karim Djaziri, has reiterated that the forward wants to stay at Lyons for another season to prepare for the World Cup, amid interest from Manchester United among others.

“I think that Sir Alex [Ferguson] knows this,” he said. “Perhaps he wants to make an offer to Lyons. Then Karim will think about it.”

Jaroslav Plasil, the Osasuna and Czech Republic left winger, has attracted interest from Portsmouth, Marseilles, Atlético Madrid and VfB Stuttgart. Stoke City and Tottenham have been offered Aruna Dindane, the Ivory Coast forward who has been made available for sale by Lens.

Baykal Kulaksizoglu has been linked with a move to Middlesbrough after leaving Young Boys Berne. The midfield player is out of contract.