Blackburn Rovers have signalled their willingness to sell David Bentley for £18million, even though the England midfield player looks unlikely to fulfil his wish of playing in the Champions League in the coming season.

It is believed that Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have each had £15million bids rejected. Although John Williams, the Blackburn chairman, is reluctant to allow Bentley to leave Ewood Park, he confirmed yesterday that if the club's asking price is met, the 23-year-old may go.

“We have received two bids, but neither has come anywhere close to our valuation,” Williams said. “We don't want to lose David, but if we do get a bid that meets our valuation then ultimately it comes down to a football decision by Paul [Ince, the manager].”

Bentley may return from Blackburn's pre-season tour to Germany after suffering a hamstring injury. Ince has been linked with a move for Keith Andrews, the Milton Keynes Dons captain, after the midfield player was put on the transfer list by Ince's former club.

Everton are willing to break their transfer record to sign João Moutinho from Sporting Lisbon in a deal that could cost £18million. The Portugal playmaker, 21, has been tracked by Manchester United, who remain interested in Miguel Veloso, but Sporting claim that they will sell neither. “The two players are in our squad and we have no need to sell as we are financially secure,” Filipe Soares Franco, the Sporting president, said.

Valencia claim that Villa have bid £5million for Nikola Zigic, the 6ft 7in Serbia striker. Juan Sánchez, the Valencia sporting director, said: “The player and his agent know about the offer and we expect them to make a decision in the coming days.”

Decent bets

Liverpool are confident of sealing a deal to sign Robbie Keane, the Tottenham forward, this week.

Eidur Gudjohnsen, the Barcelona and former Chelsea forward, has said that he is “open to anything”, news that may interest West Ham United, Portsmouth and Manchester City.

Long shots

Samuel Eto'o, the Barcelona striker, claims to have had offers from Chelsea, Tottenham and Inter Milan. Konstantin Sarsaniya, the Zenit St Petersburg sporting director, said yesterday that Tottenham are interested in Andrei Arshavin, but the£21million fee is “too high for them”.

Dead certs

Derby County have bought Rob Hulse from Sheffield United for £1.75million and taken Przemyslaw Kazmierczak, the Poland midfield player, on a year's loan from Porto.

Richard Wright, the goalkeeper, 30, has rejoined Ipswich Town, one of his former clubs, from West Ham for an undisclosed fee.