North Korean international striker Jong Tae-Se is to join one of South Korea’s top football clubs next week, a team official said yesterday.

Jong, 28, who currently plays for FC Koln in the second division of the German Bundesliga, is being transferred to Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the K-League, Suwon’s General Manager Lee Ho-Seung said.

Jong, born in Japan to a South Korean father and a North Korean mother, has a North Korean passport.

Zabaleta: We can deal with Toure loss

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has urged all his team-mates to step up to compensate for the loss of Yaya Toure.

Toure, the champions’ midfield driving force, might not be seen again in a City shirt for seven weeks as he prepares to leave for the African Nations Cup.

The Argentina international said: “It’s going to be a very tough time for us because we’re going to lose Kolo (Toure), Yaya and Abdul (Razak), three important players.

“Yaya has been a regular player for a long time.

“We know how important Yaya is to the team but there are other players who can do the same job.”

Wenger hopes for swift Walcott deal

Arsene Wenger insists “the desire is there” for Arsenal to secure Theo Walcott’s commitment to a new contract.

The 23-year-old will be out of contract in the summer but has been in excellent goalscoring form for the Gunners recently.

Wenger has spoken repeatedly of his intention to keep the England forward at the Emirates Stadium, and the Arsenal boss said at a press conference yesterday morning: “We are talking.

“It is very difficult to be predictable in these kinds of situations but our desire is there to do it as quickly as possible and ready to do it.”

Larrondo set to join Fiorentina

Siena striker Marcelo Larrondo is on the verge of joining Serie A high-flyers Fiorentina with Ruben Olivera going the other way, reports in Italy said yesterday.

According to the reports, Fiorentina are set to conclude negotiations for Argentine hitman Larrondo who could join in a co-ownership deal worth €1.5 million.

The price-tag could be further reduced by including midfielders Olivera and Francesco Della Rocca as part of the exchange.

Larrondo, 24, has just returned from a ban for failing to report a match-fixing approach to the authorities.

His original suspension was cut to three months and 20 days on appeal with a €30,000 fine.

Cole undergoes West Ham medical

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole had a medical at West Ham yesterday ahead of his proposed return to the club where he began his career, Press Association Sport reported.

Cole has started just nine Premier League games since he swapped Chelsea for Liverpool in the summer of 2010.

The midfielder has played the majority of his games with the Reds in cup competitions and was sent out on loan to Lille last term.

West Ham will not pay a transfer fee for the England international as Liverpool are prepared to cancel his contract.

The Merseyside club would also pay him a negotiated settlement in order to get his estimated £100,000-a-week salary off the wage bill.

Bocchetti message to Serie A suitors

Rubin Kazan defender Salvatore Bocchetti would only consider a return to Serie A if he receives an offer from a top Italian club.

“Bocchetti has a contract that runs out in December 2013,” agent Andrea D’Amico told Sky Sport Italia in an interview.

“He’s happy at Rubin, it has been an important experience for him, but his future path could be different.

“In order for him to return to Italy he would need an important club to sign him, one that could afford the weight of his market value and wage.”

The 26-year-old, who joined Rubin from Genoa in 2010 for a fee of around €15m, has been repeatedly linked with Juventus and Napoli in the past.

Ben Haim gets QPR chance

QPR boss Harry Redknapp has revealed that the Premier League strugglers are set to offer Tal Ben Haim a contract.

Ben Haim, a free agent, has been training with Rangers for the last few weeks after leaving Portsmouth last August.

Having been impressed by Ben Haim’s performances during training, Redknapp is now ready to sign the former Bolton and Chelsea defender on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

“Tal has worked hard and we will look to give him a contract until the end of the season,” said Redknapp.

“He may be added to the squad. He is keen to have a go with us.”