Transfer news via ESPN 1/18/2011

07.30: Good morning, and welcome to what will hopefully be another busy day in the January transfer market. We will take an in-depth look through the morning's papers in a few minutes, but the lead story appears to be Chelsea's developing interest in Benfica defender David Luiz. More on that shortly.

07.47: As well as possibly seeing the Darren Bent deal done today, we may also learn whether Steven Pienaar has chosen to join Tottenham or Chelsea in a £3 million move from Everton. Watch out for that one.

08.10: Here is our look over the main transfer stories in the English press on Tuesday morning:
The Sun has an interesting transfer line as they report West Ham will attempt to sign their former player Joe Cole on loan from Liverpool. We will try and follow this one up and get the inside track from the East London club.
The Guardian reports Tottenham have stepped up their attempts to sign Ajax striker Luis Suarez, who is also believed to be attracting interest from Liverpool. Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano is an alternative target, while Liverpool are also pursuing Aston Villa’s Ashley Young and Stephen Warnock.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Aston Villa are hoping to follow the imminent capture of Darren Bent by completing their pursuit of Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam and also prising Maynor Figueroa from Wigan. The Honduran would be a replacement for Warnock. Sunderland, meanwhile, are expected to sign PSG’s Stephane Sessegnon and possibly Stoke forward Tuncay.
The Daily Mirror is always a rich source of transfer rumour and does not disappoint this morning: David Wheater is to join Bolton from Middlesbrough for £2.25 million; Fulham are confident of signing Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips in a £4 million deal; and Chelsea are “increasingly confident” about signing Benfica and Brazil defender David Luiz for £22 million.

Comment from Ike Fortune: Please, Arsenal don't need 'Richard Done'. Arsene Wenger should do everything to sign Mertesacker. We need somebody of his quality.

Finally, in the Daily Mail it is reported that Sven-Goran Eriksson has made an audacious attempt to bring Thierry Henry to Leicester City on loan from New York Red Bulls. Good luck with that one, Svennis. In two more desperately unlikely stories from the newspaper, Arsenal are reported to have enquired about Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne, while Manchester United are linked with Lyon star Michel Bastos. Not going to happen.

08.41: OFFICIAL: Blackburn have completed the loan signing of Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones. Full story here.

09.15: Liverpool are showing interest in Mark van Bommel, according to his agent. More here.

09.25: Barnsley midfielder Adam Hammill says he will only move to a club in the Premier League. A Barnsley spokesman has confirmed offers from Blackpool and Nottingham Forest and says a bid from Wolves is expected.

09.42: Mario Balotelli has confirmed he wants to quit Manchester City and join AC Milan... in two years. "Me with Ibra and Cassano at Milan? It'll happen soon. For this year, and another, I will stay at City where I'm fine," said Balotelli.

10.18: Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba claims Aston Villa have made contact with his club regarding a possible transfer. "I heard about interest from Lyon, but there is no contact," Samba told France Football. "However, there is contact between Blackburn and Aston Villa."

10.36 Sunderland are already scouting potential targets to spend their wodge of Darren Bent cash on and Fox Soccer claim Borussia Monchengladbach's American midfielder Michael Bradley could make a €6m move to the Stadium of Light.

10.55 Paris St Germain striker Peguy Luyindula would not rule out a move to West Ham in the January transfer window. "West Ham is London, and I have half my family in London," the 31-year-old said.

11.09 West Ham are ready to make an approach to take one of their old heroes, Joe Cole, back to Upton Park on loan from Liverpool. "It's a very long shot, but we are willing to have a go," a West Ham source told ESPNsoccernet.

11.11 Reports coming out of Aston Villa indicate that Darren Bent has agreed personal terms on his £18 million move from Sunderland.

Comment from Ashvath: I don't think that Liverpool is the right club for Joe Cole but before bringing him back to Upton Park they should remember that last time when he came there he captained the Hammers to relegation and history has a bad bad habit of repeating itself. A club with a position just behind the striker (his preferred one) and having great ambitions should be good for him. I guess Bolton or Sunderland?

11.16 Liverpool striker Ryan Babel is eager to secure a move back to Ajax with Luis Suarez seemingly destined to go the other way. Babel said: "If Liverpool and Ajax - whether in combination with Luis - can reach an agreement over me I will surely come to the club. For the chance to play I am willing to settle for far less pay."

11.45 Victor Obinna's agent claims that West Ham want to keep the on-loan Inter Milan forward on a permanent basis. "He is doing well at West Ham," Valentino Nerbini said. "This is why the English club would like to keep him."

12.06 Owen Coyle has rubbished reports linking Bolton with a swoop for unsettled Man City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips. “We can sit here and a million names can be banded about,” Coyle said. “But the bottom line is that there is nothing positive or concrete to reports on players. It’s pure speculation.”

Comment from Red_John: Liverpool's owners would prefer players under the age of 25, for the long term of the club. Luis Suarez is one good example. I hope there will be more young signings this January.

12.24 Manchester United are hoping to snap up 17-year-old Real Madrid starlet Juan Manuel Iturbe, according to talkSPORT. Meanwhile, Los Blancos' young defender Jaime Navarro is on trial at Motherwell.

14.27 Darren Bent's jilted strike partner Asamoah Gyan has called on fellow Ghanaian Sulley Muntari to join him at Sunderland. "Sulley would give us a big boost," said Gyan. "He would be loved by the fans if he was here. The fans like players who fight for the team and he is certainly one of them."

14.47 Reports coming out of Tottenham indicate that Steven Pienaar is having a medical at Spurs Lodge and that Harry Redknapp expects to tie up the deal before Premier League rivals Chelsea can counter-offer.