Galatasaray are determined to lure a big-name forward from the Barclays Premier League and have identified Ryan Babel, Giovani dos Santos and Jô as potential targets.
Haldun Ustunel, the Galatasaray sports director, has been in London since signing Lucas Neill from Everton last week and hopes to secure another player before returning to Istanbul. The Turkish club targeted Roman Pavlyuchenko two weeks ago, but believed that the Tottenham Hotspur forward was overpriced.
They are also interested in Giovanni, surplus to requirements at Tottenham, Jô, who is on loan from Manchester City to Everton, and Babel, who is out of favour at Liverpool.
Decent bets
Tottenham are interested in Ruud van Nistelrooy after pulling out of a deal for the Holland and Real Madrid forward in the summer because of concerns about his knee injury and wages.
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Hull City have made an approach for Mido, the Egypt forward who is on loan at Zamalek from Middlesbrough. The player says that he is set to join Ajax. Wolverhampton Wanderers are in talks to sign James Beattie, the Stoke City forward.
Birmingham City are close to buying Craig Gardner, the midfield player, from Aston Villa for a fee of about £4 million. Marek Cech is set to join Rennes from West Bromwich Albion. Newcastle United have made an undisclosed bid for James Perch, Nottingham Forest’s midfield player.
Long shots
Arsenal and Manchester United have been watching Sergio Canales, Racing Santander’s 18-year-old midfield player. Rod Fanni, the Rennes right back, has been watched by Sunderland and Manchester City. The France player, 28, attracted interest from West Ham in the summer.
Milan Jovanovic’s agents claim to have held talks with Liverpool. The Standard Liège and Serbia striker, 28, is out of contract in the summer.