Liverpool successful in third bid for Newcastle's Andy Carroll
Liverpool have had a club-record bid for Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll accepted by the north-east club.
The figure is believed to be in the region of £35 million (Dh205m) after an earlier bid of £30m was turned down.
The news, confirmed by both clubs, seems to pave the way for the Liverpool striker Fernando Torres to make his move to Chelsea for a reported £50m.
Carroll is believed to be on his way to the north west to discuss personal terms with the Anfield club and undergo a medical.
"Liverpool FC confirmed this afternoon that Newcastle United had accepted a club-record offer for the transfer of Andy Carroll," the Anfield club in a statement.
Newcastle confirmed the development in a statement, too.
The statement said: "A British record transfer fee has been agreed between Newcastle United and Liverpool for Magpies striker Andy Carroll.
"The 22-year-old England international has this afternoon handed in a transfer request, which has reluctantly been accepted by the club, and Carroll is currently in talks with the Reds over a move to Anfield."
Birmingham confirm Martins capture
Birmingham City have completed the signing of the former Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins on loan for the remainder of the season, the club have confirmed.
The Nigeria international has completed his temporary move from Rubin Kazan after obtaining a work permit.
He becomes City's third signing of the transfer window after winger David Bentley joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and central defender Curtis Davies arrived from Aston Villa in a £3.5 million (Dh20.5m) deal.
City's acting chairman, Peter Pannu, told the club's official website: "We are thrilled to have secured the three players in this window.
"It represents a comprehensive strengthening and support for our back four in Curtis, rejuvenation of the midfield in Bentley and further strengthening of the attack line in Martins.
"I am certain these new additions will augment and supplement what we already have and create some competition within the team for places which benefits the whole squad."
Pannu is also hopeful that winger Sebastian Larsson will sign a new contract after failing to agree personal terms with Newcastle and Villa.
Larsson is out of contract in the summer and previous attempts to reach agreement over a new deal at St Andrew's have faltered.
Pannu said: "Regarding Seb, although his agent had failed to reach any agreement with Newcastle and Villa , their loss may be our gain.
"Hopefully closer to the [summer] window, we can sit down with Seb again and, with the market tested by his agent, we can come to a sensible agreement finally."
The addition of Martins should help the offset of Nikola Zigic, with the giant Serbian striker likely to rejoin former Spanish club Racing Santander before tonight's 11pm (GMT) deadline.
US midfielder Bradley jets in to tie up Villa loan move
The United States international midfielder Michael Bradley is undergoing a medical examination and is close to joining Premier League club Aston Villa on loan.
The 23-year-old son of the US coach Bob Bradley is set to join the English club until the end of the season from Germany's Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Bradley could then sign a permanent contract if he impresses manager Gerard Houllier during his time at Villa Park.
Houllier said Bradley "is 23 and a very hard working midfielder who can score goals".
Villa have already signed Darren Bent, Jean Makoun and on-loan Kyle Walker during the January transfer window.
Holloway warns Liverpool: hands off Adam
Ian Holloway claims Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston is refusing to answer calls from Liverpool regarding midfielder Charlie Adam.
The Reds have had two bids, the latest of £6.5 million (Dh38m) made on Friday, rejected and Holloway, the Blackppol manager, claims their director of football strategy Damien Comolli has been trying to get back in touch to continue negotiations.
However, Holloway said Oyston was refusing to return calls or answer messages.
"He's my player and that is the situation at the moment," said Holloway. "I spoke to Kenny Dalglish the other day and he made an improved offer.
"I talked to the chairman about it and he turned it down. Damien Comolli has now tried to contact Karl but he hasn't returned his calls.
"He hasn't got to has he? It's pretty rude isn't it but if we run out of time ...
"He [Oyston] is trying to get people in before he deals with someone else. But I can't run that because it is none of my business. It's all been out of my hands.
"He's under contract, Liverpool want to sign him but they keep saying they don't want to sell Fernando Torres so they obviously know how we feel.
"I strongly suggest to them, I don't think my chairman will sell him and I don't think we've got enough time to replace Charlie."
Reid moves to Blackpool
Blackpool have signed midfielder Andy Reid from Premier League rivals Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international has made 70 appearances for the Black Cats since his £4 million (Dh23.4m) switch from Charlton Athletic in January 2008.
However, he became surplus to requirements under Steve Bruce and follows Paulo da Silva (Real Zaragoza) and David Healy (Glasgow Rangers) out of the Stadium of Light over the past few days.
Amauri rejected both Fulham and West Brom, says agent
Amauri, the Juventus forward, has turned down moves to Fulham and West Bromwich Albion, his agent has claimed.
The Italy international has struggled to make an impact this season for Juventus and has yet to score a Serie A goal in the current campaign.
Amauri has been strongly linked with a move during the winter transfer window, and his agent, Ernesto Bronzetti, told Sky Italia: "The truth is that we have said no to two English clubs – West Bromwich and Fulham.
"These two clubs are not at his level.
"I don't think it would have been good for Amauri to join these teams because they are in the low positions in the standings.
"Moreover, it would have meant they would have had to adapt to a new life, with neither he or his wife speaking the language."
Amauri, 30, has been linked in recent hours with a move to Serie A side Parma as well as a return to his former club Palermo.
Veteran Legrottaglie joins AC Milan
AC Milan have signed the veteran defender Nicola Legrottaglie from Juventus, the Serie A leaders have confirmed.
The 34-year-old Legrottaglie completed his transfer after Juve signed Andrea Barzagli from Wolfsburg last week.
A statement from AC Milan read: "Milan announce the signing of Juventus player Nicola Legrottaglie on a permanent deal.
"Legrottaglie has signed a contract until June 30, 2011."
Milan had been looking for defensive cover with Alessandro Nesta sidelined through injury.
Legrottaglie is Milan's fifth signing of the transfer window following the arrivals of Urby Emanuelson, Didac Vila, Mark van Bommel and Antonio Cassano.
The former Italy international could make his debut in Tuesday's match against Lazio.
Aguero staying put
Sergio Aguero has ended speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur after signing a contract extension with the Spanish club Atletico Madrid.
As reported in today's edition of The National, the north London club had lodged a club record €45 million (Dh225m) bid for the 22-year-old Argentina striker.
But Aguero has ended all the speculation surrounding his future after he agreed a two-and-a-half-year extension to his existing deal earlier this month and formally signed the contract at a presentation in Madrid earlier today.
The new deal is thought to reduce the buy-out clause in the player's contract but Aguero himself insists he will not be leaving the Vicente Calderon.
"I'm staying here because I want to," Aguero told Atletico's official website.
Torres flying to London?
Reports in the UK say Fernando Torres, the Liverpool striker, has left the club's training ground in a helicopter, adding to speculation that the Spaniard could be on his way to London to sign for Premier League champions Chelsea.
After having one bid of £35 million (Dh204m) rejected by Liverpool on Thursday, it has been suggested that only an offer in the region of £50m will persuade the club's American owners to sell the unhappy Spaniard, who handed in a transfer request the day after learning of Chelsea's offer.
Torres, who is under contract at Anfield until 2013, was at the club's Melwood training ground earlier this morning. Liverpool fans will be hoping it was not to say goodbye to his teammates before flying down to London to sign for Carlo Ancelotti's side before the 11pm (GMT) transfer window deadline tonight.
He has scored 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool.
Tuncay in talks with Wolfsburg
Tuncay Sanli has confirmed he is holdings talks with German club Wolfsburg ahead of a proposed move to the Bundesliga club from Stoke City.
The Turkish striker revealed in a brief statement on his official website that he has travelled to Germany for contract negotiations and a medical.
Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, said yesterday they had received an offer from Wolfsburg. Tuncay would link up with former England coach Steve McClaren at the VW Arena.
The Wolves, who are struggling in 12th place in the Bundesliga, are on the look-out for a striker after selling Edin Dzeko to Manchester City earlier this month.
They are also reportedly set to sign Germany striker Patrick Helmes from Bayer Leverkusen, subject to a medical.
Helmes, whose career has been hampered by injury, told the Bild newspaper: "I am happy to be here."
Martins update
Birmingham City have confirmed that the British Home Office have granted the Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins a work permit.
The former Newcastle United player is now free to complete his five-month loan deal to Alex McLeish's side from Russian club Rubin Kazan.
Done deal
Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed the former Bristol City goalkeeper Adriano Basso on a short-term contract until the end of the season. Basso, who has been a free agent since leaving Bristol City last March, will provide cover for Wayne Hennessey, Marcus Hahnemann and Aaron McCarey after Carl Ikeme was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, has reaffirmed the club's position that they do not want to sell star striker Fernando Torres before tonight's 11pm (GMT) transfer deadline.
The club rejected a transfer request from the Spain international on Friday night, reminding the player of his commitment to a long-term contract, having turned down a £35 million (Dh204m) bid from Chelsea the previous day.
With Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan striker, having passed a medical at Anfield today, it has been reported that the club would reluctantly be willing to sell Torres if the Premier League champions came back to them with an offer of £50m. However, Dalglish insists that Suarez has been signed to partner Torres, rather than replace him.
"We've not brought anyone in as a replacement for anyone else," said the Scot.
The club have not given up hope of persuading Torres to stay, although Dalglish tellingly reiterated his belief that his concern was players who were committed to the club.
"Movement is part and parcel of football but the most important people at Liverpool Football Club are the ones who want to be here," he added.
Torres, who trained yesterday after the squad were given a couple of days off, was at the club's Melwood training ground this morning.
Newcastle United have rejected a £30 million (Dh175m) bid from Liverpool for striker Andy Carroll.
According to the Press Association Sport, the Magpies have turned down the offer from Anfield, just as they did Tottenham Hotspur's approach last week.
The St James' Park club have spent much of the transfer window insisting the 22-year-old is not for sale amid Tottenham's concerted pursuit, and now it remains to be seen if their resolve to hang on to their 11-goal hitman can be broken during the remaining hours of the transfer window, which is due to shut at 11pm (GMT).
Fernando Torres is at the centre of what could be a busy final day of the January transfer window with Chelsea showing interest in the Liverpool striker.
If he does go for the reported £50 million (Dh291.5m) , it could lead to a chain reaction of moves from other clubs scrambling to add to their squads.
Elsewhere, Tottenham have been unsuccesful in their bids to sign Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid and Giuseppe Rossi from Villarreal during this window.
Will Dani Alves leave Barcelona for possible English Premier League suitors?
Follow updates of breaking deadline day signings as the January transfer window draws to close.
Done deals so far
Paul Konchesky, the Liverpool defender, has joined Nottingham Forest on loan, Kenny Dalglish, the manager, has confirmed.
Konchesky joined Liverpool from Fulham in August. Having already played for two Premier League clubs, he could not join another club in England's top flight meaning he has stepped down to the Championship club to get game time.
Sunderland confirm that Paulo Da Silva, the Paraguay international defender, has completed his move to Spanish side Real Zaragoza for an undisclosed fee.
West Ham confirm yesterday Robbie Keane has joined the club on loan from Tottenham.
Other speculation
The Press Association reports that Birmingham City are confident of completing the loan signing of Obafemi Martins, the Rubin Kazan striker, before the transfer window closes tonight.
The player flew into England yesterday to finalise terms - with a view to a permanent move to St. Andrew's in the summer - before undergoing a medical today.
