Liverpool reportedly failed in an attempt to sign Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko on transfer deadline day.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson was keen to bring in Pavlyuchenko in order to strengthen his attack, but Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was not ready to let the Russian international leave the club.

Hodgson wanted Pavlyuchenko to partner with Fernando Torres in the Liverpool attack, but failed with his move.

Hodgson was desperate to bring in another striker before the transfer window closed and also failed with a move to West Ham striker Carlton Cole.

The Reds were ready to include Ryan Babel in a deal for Cole, but the Dutchman has declared that he does not want to leave Liverpool.

[Source: talkSport]

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has admitted that he would like to sign David James, as the Black Cats are in search for a new goalkeeper.

Sunderland first-choice keeper Craig Gordon will be out of action for the foreseeable future due to a broken arm.

“James could be somebody that we’re interested in because of the problem with Gordon,” said the Black Cats boss.

“We had had a conversation with David’s representatives and I’ll make my mind up in the next week or so.

“It’s something I didn’t want to happen because I was very happy with Craig Gordon and how he did last year.

“David James has talked to Celtic, which we always knew he was going to do.

“I don’t think he is trying to play one off against the other. He is just keeping his options open at the moment, but we’re still hopeful something will happen.”

[Source: The Sun]

Scottish giants Celtic are still interested in signing Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, according to manager Neil Lennon’s new assistant Johan Mjallby.

But Mjallby admits they will only try to bring the striker back to Parkhead in a loan deal as they can not afford to buy the former Liverpool star.

Mjallby told the Daily Record: “Has Neil been speaking to Robbie? Definitely.

“I don’t know Tottenham’s thinking when it comes to Robbie. He is out of our reach when it comes to buying him. But a loan would be perfect for us.”

He added: “To buy someone at Robbie’s level would be impossible. We don’t have that kind of money.

“The only way we could get that kind of player would be to ride our luck and maybe find someone on loan and make sure it’s a quality player who is going to give us goals.

“But we have the lure of European football at Celtic. From my own memories it’s very important as a player. It’s a great opportunity to play against the best and develop.”

[Source: The Daily Record]

Internazionale consider selling Mario Balotelli as they would rather lose him than Douglas Maicon this summer, acoording to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Balotelli’s future at Inter becomes more uncertain every day as transfer rumours are increasing.

The Nerazzurri are reluctant to sell Maicon even if Real Madrid meet their €35 million asking price.

La Gazzetta understands the reigning Serie A champions believe that selling the Brazilian full-back would cause more damage than offloading Balotelli because the former is the best in his position in the world while the latter wasn’t even a starter up towards the end of last season.

Inter are well aware of Manchester City’s interest in Balotelli. Roberto Mancini’s side have already had an offer said to be worth €30m turned down.

However, it’s thought Inter president Massimo Moratti would accept a slightly increased bid because recouping something around €40m would allow his club to pursue both of their transfer targets this summer: Javier Mascherano and Edinson Cavani.

Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas is reportedly still keen on a move to Barcelona and the Spanish giants’ new president Sandro Rosell has spoken to the midfielder’s family.

Rosell spoke to the 23-year-old’s family at a MotoGP bike race on Sunday, according to the Daily Star.

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has also made a secret visit to South Africa in order to persuade Fabregas into joining the club.

A source close to Fabregas said last night to the Daily Star: “Sandro Rosell is a good friend of the family and things have not changed from earlier in the summer.

“Cesc wants to return to Barcelona where he grew up and the club are trying to make that happen.”

[Source: The Daily Star]

New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is keen on signing England international Joe Cole this summer.

Hodgson is looking to talks the 28-year-old out of a move to Spurs, who he has long been linked with a move to.

Cole is available on a free transfer after his contract at Chelsea expired earlier this summer.

A Liverpool source told The Sun: “Roy knows he faces a tough job in persuading Joe to move north.

“But he sees him as the ideal playmaker to shape a new era at Anfield and hopes the player will be excited by this new challenge.”

[Source: The Sun]

Ecuadorian starlet Jefferson Montero has revealed he would be keen on a move to Manchester United.

The 20-year-old has admitted he would like to link up with Antonio Valencia at Old Trafford.

Montero impressed for Villarreal’s ‘B’ team last season and has already made nine caps for Ecuador.

“I hope to play in the same team with him,” revealed Montero. “Me on one side and him on the other.

“It would be amazing.

“It is what most people ask me – they want Antonio on the right and me on the left for United.

“Antonio deserves everything he gets as he’s done very well.

“He started from not very much – like me.

“I would love to follow in his footsteps and play for Manchester United, if that opportunity arises.

“Who knows what will happen in the future?

“For the moment, I am at Villarreal and have great respect for the team.”

Rio Ferdinand believes England can quiet Franz Beckenbauer when they meet Germany in the second round of the World Cup on Sunday. Beckenbauer had said England were “stupid” for not winning Group C, accusing the English of playing “kick and rush” football.

But the England defender, who was ruled out of the World Cup, claims Beckenbauer failed to unsettle the English squad, claiming that he is happy that England will play Germany.

Ferdinand told The Sun: “I think those comments will come back to bite Beckenbauer. Perhaps he wasn’t expecting Germany and England to meet this early in the competition.”

“It has unsettled him and he has got a bit rattled, so he’s looking for ways to get under our skin.

“But he hasn’t. He has just made the lads more determined. The team that wins a World Cup doesn’t necessarily start great. It’s the way you finish that counts.”

“I know some of the lads think it would have been better to play Ghana and it would have been an easier route for us.

“But I prefer Germany, because you know what you’re getting with them. Ghana can be unpredictable. Germany are more straightforward.

“We start again at the knockout stage and facing Germany will spur us on. We are going to have to play well and have a bit of luck. Yet we see ourselves as a lot better team than one which goes out in the last 16.”

Mirko Vucinic admits he’s flattered by Roberto Mancini’s interest in signing him from Roma.

The Italian manager rates Vucinic and is keen to bring him to Manchester City this summer.

“It’s nice to know that a Coach such as Roberto Mancini wants me,” Vucinic told SkySport24.

“But for now I am focused on Roma only and do not want to join any other side.”

Benfica winger Angel Di Maria hopes his move to Real Madrid will be confirmed soon.

Benfica are locked in talks with Real over the sale of the Argentina international and Di Maria admits he’s sweating on an agreement over his move to Los Blancos.

After starring in his nation’s thumping of Korea Republic yesterday, the 22-year-old was asked about his Madrid move: “No-one has called me to tell me anything new.

“But hopefully my move to Real Madrid will be confirmed.”

Real are understood to have agreed a €25 million deal with Benfica for Di Maria, who will move to Real on a contract worth €2 million-a-year.