According to the Hull Daily Mail, Hull City boss Phil Brown hopes striker Alvaro Negredo will be at their game tomorrow to watch and hopefully begin talks. He said,

“We’re hoping that he’ll be at the game tomorrow night … I can’t make a comment on speculation from Spain, we haven’t heard anything … There will always be a concern until the deal is done but we’re hopeful.”

According to John Cross at Mirror Football, Hull City are set to miss out on Alvaro Negredo as he will join Spanish side Real Zaragoza.

UPDATE: According to Chelsea’s official website, Chelsea have permanently sold striker Claudio Pizarro to Werder Bremen.

August 12th, 2009 According to James Riach at Sky Sports News, Werder Bremen are hopeful in signing Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro. Manager Thomas Schaaf told Bild,

UPDATE: According to Martin Spinks at WhyDelilah, Stoke City are interested in West Ham United defender James Collins and Middlesbrough’s Robert Huth. Collins could cost around £5million while Huth may cost less.

August 17th, 2009 According to Sky Sports News, Stoke City are closing in on West Ham United defender James Collins after the two clubs agreed to a transfer fee.

UPDATE: According to Fulham’s official website, Fulham have signed Newcastle midfielder Damien Duff. Duff signed a three-year deal with the club.

August 15th, 2009 According to Sky Sports News, Fulham boss Roy Hodgson admitted that Newcastle midfielder Damien Duff has traveled to London to undergo a medical for the club. He said,

UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, Hertha Berlin want Liverpool strike Andriy Voronin if it is financially feasible. Hertha general manager Michael Preetz said,

“We would like to have Voronin - if it was financially doable.”

August 13th, 2009 According to Stefan Coerts at Goal.com, Bild is reporting that Hertha Berlin are interested in signing Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin once again on a season-long loan.

According to Swansea City’s official website, Swansea City have rejected a bid from Wigan Athletic for midfielder Ferrie Bodde. Chairman Huw Jenkins said,

“Not only have we rejected the bid, but it’s an offer we wouldn’t even think twice about considering … In fact, the way it is structured - over such a long period of time and appearance related - it doesn’t even constitute an offer.”

“It certainly doesn’t come anywhere near our valuation, especially when we have no intention of losing him … Ferrie and his agent are well aware of Wigan’s interest. In fact, we have been speaking about a new deal for a number of weeks.”

“The talks have been extremely positive and once Ferrie is fit and playing again then we’ll be trying to tie him down to Swansea for the next few years.”

“Ferrie is more than happy here and is looking forward to getting himself match fit and pulling on a Swansea shirt again.”

According to James Nursey at Mirror Football, Hull City are preparing to make a bid for Aston Villa defender Luke Young. However it is reported that Young may have to hand in a transfer request if he wants to leave as Villa due not want to sell him.

UPDATE: According to Chelsea’s official website, Chelsea have completed the signing of MFK Kosice midfielder Nemanja Matic. Matic signed a four-year deal with the club.

August 13th, 2009 According to Tony Banks at the Daily Express, Chelsea are looking to sign MFK Kosice midfielder Nemanja Matic for £5million. Matic said,

According to ESPN Soccernet, AEK Athens defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos claimed he received an offer from Liverpool that he will accept. He wrote on his personal website,

“I would like to inform the fans of AEK that on Monday night I received an offer from Liverpool, an offer which I have accepted.”

“I understand this has come at the worst possible time ahead of the crucial games for qualification to the Europa League, but the fact that I will play for Liverpool is like a qualification in itself for me. I have taken my final decision which was accepted by the president and the coach.”

UPDATE: According to Burnley’s official website, Burnley have completed the signing of Reading defender Andre Bikey. Bikey signed a three-year deal with the club.

August 17th, 2009 According to Anthony Smith at the Reading Chronicle, Reading defender Andre Bikey has passed a medical for Burnley. The agreed fee between the two clubs is thought to be around £3million.

UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, Julio Baptista’s agent confirmed that his client will not be leaving Roma for West Ham United. Herminio Menendez told Romanews.eu,

August 17th, 2009 According to Darren Lewis at Mirror Football, West Ham United are one of several clubs interested in Roma striker Julio Baptista. However Roma are more interested in selling him rather than loaning him out.

According to Fulham’s official website, Fulham footballer Hameur Bouazza permanently signed with Sivasspor.

UPDATE: According to Alan Nixon at Mirror Football, Blackburn are set to sign free-agent Miguel Salgado to two-year deal.

August 12th, 2009 According to Alan Nixon at the Daily Mirror, Blackburn’s “money men” told boss Sam Allardyce that he is not allowed to sign defender Miguel Salgado due to financial reasons.

According to Sky Sports News, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admitted that they have had talks with midfielder Javier Mascherano and will soon have a meeting to talk again. He said,

“We were talking with Mascherano before. He knows we have to have a meeting and talk about his future … There is a possibility that we will be friends, and will talk about things in private.”

According to Bolton’s official website, Bolton midfielder Matt Taylor signed a contract extension with the club that will keep him there until 2012.

According to Bolton’s official website, Bolton captain Kevin Davies signed a contract extension with the club that will keep him there until 2012.

According to the Hull Daily Mail, Hull City hope to complete the signing of Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo in the next 48 hours. It is reported that the two clubs have agreed to a fee of £12million and that Hull City have offered Negredo £45,000 a week.

According to Mirror Football, Portsmouth are set to sign Bolton midfielder Gavin McCann and defender Danny Shittu for £2million.

UPDATE: According to Anthony Smith at the Reading Chronicle, Reading defender Andre Bikey has passed a medical for Burnley. The agreed fee between the two clubs is thought to be around £3million.

August 13th, 2009 According to Burnley’s official website, Burnley boss Owen Coyle admitted that he has made an enquiry for Reading defender Andre Bikey. Coyle said,

According to Arsenal’s official website, Arsenal have loaned out midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to Blackpool for one month.

According to West Ham United’s official website, West Ham United have loaned out defender Jordan Spence to Scunthorpe for one month.

According to Martin Spinks at WhyDelilah, Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is interested in signing four or five new players. He said,

“We are desperately hanging on to four or five deals, but we will do it the right way.”

“We haven’t got billionaire oil barons running things here, so we have to be respectful to Peter (Coates) and his family and do the right deals.”

“We have seen what’s happened to other clubs when they get into serious, serious trouble. I don’t think Peter or his family want to see this club in trouble.”

“So we have to be right in what we bring in. In every quarter (of the pitch) we are looking to improve – and that’s no disrespect to our players.”