As Sunderland edged closer to signing two more Tottenham Hotspur players, Roy Keane, the manager, stepped up his ambitious transfer strategy this summer with a bid of up to £7million for Taye Ismaila Taïwo, the Marseilles left back. Taïwo, 23, was named African young player of the year two years ago, 12 months after he helped Nigeria to reach the World Youth Championship final. He joined Marseilles four years ago.

If a deal is completed, Taïwo could join a new-look Sunderland defence that could include Younès Kaboul, the Tottenham centre back who will have a medical today after agreeing personal terms, two days after Teemu Tainio joined from White Hart Lane, with Pascal Chimbonda set to follow. Sunderland are braced for an approach from Rangers for Dickson Etuhu, the midfield player who joined from Norwich City last summer for £1.5million.

Decent bets

Portsmouth are expected to complete the sale of Sulley Muntari to Inter Milan. He will have a medical today. The Ghana midfield player, who has been offered a five-year contract, will cost an initial £11.2million, with further sums based on appearances. Portsmouth bought Muntari from Udinese for £7million last summer. Portsmouth are in talks with Lens about Nadir Belhadj, the left back.

Jan Lastuvka has claimed that he could become West Ham United's second-choice goalkeeper. The 26- year-old Czech, who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk, was on loan to Fulham two seasons ago. “We were almost agreed [on a deal] when the transfer fee increased very much all of a sudden,” Lastuvka said.

Middlesbrough could be willing to allow Adam Johnson, the midfield player, to move on loan to Rangers, although 12 Coca-Cola Championship clubs have asked for a similar deal.

Dead certs

Liverpool have agreed to sign David Ngog from Paris Saint-Germain for about £1.2million. The 19-year-old striker will sign a four-year contract, subject to a medical.

Blackburn Rovers have withdrawn from a deal to sign Segundo Castillo, the Red Star Belgrade and Ecuador midfield player, after a trial this week.

Nick Colgan, the Ireland goalkeeper, has joined Sunderland after he was released by Ipswich Town.

Anthony Gardner will have a medical at Hull City today after the defender, who has one year left on his contract, agreed a loan from Tottenham.

Borussia Dortmund have told Hull to increase their offer for Delron Buckley after an unknown bid for the South Africa winger was turned down.

AS Monaco have denied a claim by Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, that they made a £12million offer for Niko Kranjcar, the midfield player.