Blackburn Rovers are reportedly trying to complete Roque Santa Cruz's transfer from Bayern Munich by this weekend. The Paraguay striker wants to quit the Bundesliga after failing to hold down a regular starting spot at Bayern.
Reports in the UK claim that manager Mark Hughes is ready to pay around £4.5 million for the 25-year-old, who is also being chased by FC Porto.
Any potential signing by Blackburn would not signal the departure of Benni McCarthy after the South African ace admitted he is happy to stay at Ewood Park for the time being.
Pazzini commits future to Viola
Giampaolo Pazzini has signed a new deal at Fiorentina until 2011. The 22-year-old has already become an icon in Florence and was expected to extend his contract, which previously expired in 2009.
This season, Pazzini is expected to fill the void left by Luca Toni's move to Bayern Munich.
"I am proud to have extended my deal with Fiorentina, the club showed faith in me and I have faith in them," said Pazzini.
"The agreement was quick because there weren't any problems, this was something I have always wanted," added the striker.
United firm on Heinze
David Gill, the Manchester United chief executive, said Liverpool's bid for Gabriel Heinze will never be accepted. Liverpool have met the £6.8m fee which would secure the Argentine's release, stated in a letter from United to Heinze's agent.
But Gill said: "He is a contracted player for two years and unless we receive an offer which is acceptable to us as a club, he will remain with us.
"We are very comfortable with that. Our position is very clear on Gabriel Heinze and it has not changed."
Heinze is keen to leave Old Trafford. Juventus and Real Madrid are also monitoring his situation.
Julio Baptista... a Milan target?
Milan's new signing on the transfer market could be Julio Baptista after vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed that the club will soon sign a non-EU player.
The European champions have yet to finalise an important capture during this summer's transfer market and have been linked with several strikers, including Andriy Shevchenko, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho.
"Those players are no longer on our list. We are planning a new signing, he is neither Italian nor an EU member, but could soon become one," Galliani said, fuelling the speculation over Baptista.
Pressure on Reds - Mourinho
Jose Mourinho reckons Liverpool will be under increased pressure to win the Premier League title next season. The Reds have spent around £40m on the likes of Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel to strengthen their squad this summer.
"The pressure is a bit higher on Liverpool this time," Mourinho said.
"Other years they could say 'these guys have spent a lot so they have to win' but now they have to talk differently. They have high expectations."
It is 17 years since Liverpool won the top flight championship.
Wilhelmsson joins Bolton
Sweden winger Christian Wilhelmsson signed for Bolton for £2.1 million. The 27-year-old, who had also been linked with Man. City and Tottenham, agreed a three-year deal with the Trotters on Tuesday night.
The Nantes ace, who has won more than 40 caps for his country, spent last season on loan at Roma but has previously stated his desire to play in the Premier League.
Manager Sammy Lee will be delighted to have landed an experienced international for a relatively small fee but has failed in his bid to snap up Rosenborg striker Daniel Braaten.
Young clears Boro medical
England defender Luke Young is set to complete a £2.5m move to Middlesbrough from Charlton after passing a medical. Young watched Middlesbrough win at Darlington in a friendly on Tuesday as he waited to complete the formalities of the deal.
The 28-year-old has made over 200 appearances for the Addicks since signing from Tottenham for £4m in 2001.
Charlton manager Alan Pardew said: "I've got a lot of respect for Luke and I appreciate he wants to play in the Premier League. If a decent club comes in and I thought the fee was right I'd let him go."
Real insist on Robben
Real Madrid are hoping they can complete the signing of Chelsea winger Arjen Robben "in the next few days". The Dutchman has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu in recent weeks, and the speculation was ramped up in the wake of the 23-year-old missing Chelsea's pre-season friendly with LA Galaxy.
Real boss Ramon Calderon is hopeful there will be developments soon.
"We are advancing and I hope the deal comes to fruition in the next few days," he said. "But Chelsea have to decide to sell first."
Chivu set for Inter - girlfriend
The saga surrounding Cristian Chivu's move to Inter seems to be near an end after the defender's girlfriend announced that he will join Inter for £10m. The Romanian has been on the verge of joining the champions for the past few weeks now.
"Cristian will join Massimo Moratti's club for £10m," Chivu's girlfriend Adelina Elisei said.
"His will was decisive, he even agreed to lower his wage demands. He will earn £3.2m rather than £3.9m per season, but he will sign a five-year deal rather than a four-year one."