Manchester United have sensationally agreed a £20 million deal for West Ham United striker Carlos Tevez overnight.

The Daily Mail says the move will be completed next week, subject to any challenge from West Ham, who still claim to own the registration of the player who saved them from relegation last season.

However, West Ham have no contract with Tevez and his owner, businessman Kia Joorabchian, which has left the player and his representative free to negotiate a transfer with other clubs.

The news, breaking in South America last night, means that United will take their summer buying past the £70m mark, confirming them as the biggest spenders in world football.

Tevez was once fined when playing for Brazil's Corinthians for turning up to an official press conference wearing a Manchester United shirt.

He will fly from Argentina's Copa America base here to join United's pre-season programme.

"He just cannot contain his excitement at the news," a source close to the Argentina camp confirmed. "Tevez has been concerned about his future, worried about where he may play next season and now he is joining the biggest club in the world! This is massive news."

Tevez is best friends with United's Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze and was a guest at their end-of-season title party in a London club.

Fernando Torres admits he was a fan of Liverpool growing up in Madrid.

Torres completed his move from Atletico Madrid yesterday and when asked about the captain's armband he wore against Real Sociedad last season, with You'll Never Walk Alone written on the inside, replied:

"There is a group of my mates, about five or six of us, and we've all grown up supporting Liverpool. Because they are all so committed to Liverpool, they've had We'll Never Walk Alone tattooed on their arms. It's changed slightly because it's a symbol of our friendship as well as our support for the club. Obviously I couldn't have that tattooed on my arm playing for Atletico, but they gave me this armband as a present for my last birthday."

Torres also told liverpoolfc.tv: "I'm aware of the history and how special this club is. The tragedies that have happened have made the bond between the fans and the club so strong. Liverpool just ticks all the boxes for me. There's team spirit and a desire to win instilled by Rafa, and then there's my new teammates like Pepe and Xabi.

"They, as well as Luis, have always spoken very positively about life here in Liverpool. I didn't speak to them directly before signing because it all happened so quickly. I've been getting planes here, there and everywhere. My other half has spoken to Pepe's other half though. She said: 'We're here for you. Let us know if there is anything you need'."

------------------------------------------

Celtic are moving for Liverpool winger Adam Hammill.

The Daily Mail says Hoops boss Gordon Strachan is interested in the winger, who scored a superb goal at Celtic Park in March.

Dunfermline want Hammill on loan again but their new First Division status will count against them as the youngster looks to find a way to edge closer to Rafael Benitez's first team.

"I expect Adam to go out on loan for next season and there's a good chance that could again be in the SPL," said the player's agent, Tamas Byrne. "His performances for Dunfermline have persuaded Liverpool to talk about a new contract.

"I haven't finalised that yet but, with two years left on his existing deal, the new contract will be for three or four more years at Anfield. However, the feeling is for him to spend another year somewhere else gaining experience.

"There is some Championship interest from the likes of Watford but if either of the Old Firm, or other SPL clubs, are interested, then we would look at it very positively indeed."
-----------------------

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood believes Arsene Wenger may've pulled off a coup in the £10 million capture of Dinamo Zagreb strike-ace Eduardo Da Silva.

Hill-Wood said: "Arsene's unearthed a few gems before. He's full of surprises and knows this player better than some of the forwards we've been linked with."

----------------------------------------
Arsenal have expressed interest in Juventus striker Raffaele Palladino.

The Italy U21 international could be made available this summer as clubs queue to speak with the youngster.

Arsenal will have to see off competition from Parma, Sampdoria, Fiorentina and Reggina for Palladino.

----------------------------------------------

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso admits he is flattered by interest from Arsenal.

Asked about reports that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is keen to sign him, Veloso said: "I am very happy, which is normal when a coach like Wenger is pleased with your work.

"England is a place where I'd like to play, but I am also keen on Italy and Spain. These three championships are the ones that inspire me most."

-------------------------------------------

Meanwhile it's been heard that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to pay Obafemi Martins' £13 million buyout clause to take him away from Newcastle United.

The Sun says Gunners boss Wenger has £16m from skipper Henry's Barcelona switch to play with and a swoop for the 17-goal Toon ace would give him further room for manoeuvre in the transfer market.

St James' Park chief Sam Allardyce has met with Martins to discuss the hitman's future after he refused to play against Watford in the final game of last season.

Big Sam wants Martins to stay but knows he might ask to leave if a club of Arsenal's stature makes a formal offer.

Chelsea have made a £12 million offer for Tottenham fullback Pascal Chimbonda.

The Sun says Chelsea are turning to Chimbonda after being price out of a deal for Sevilla right-back Daniel Alves.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho was snubbed in a £10m offer for the French right-back last month but has tested the resolve of Tottenham chief Martin Jol with an increased bid.

Mourinho is desperate for a right-back even though Glen Johnson will return to Stamford Bridge after a season-long loan at Portsmouth.

The Blues boss has lost faith in his fellow Portuguese Paulo Ferreira as a first-choice right-back.

-------------------------------------

Barcelona will make a £12 million offer for Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard today.

The Sun says the Spanish giants plan to make formal contact for the first time about signing Lamps.

Blues officials will reply by insisting the England star is not for sale at any price.

And they will follow up by arranging another meeting with Lampard to discuss a new contract when he returns for pre-season training next week.

A senior source at the Nou Camp confirmed: "We know the negotiation will be a complex one.

"But coach Frank Rijkaard has made his feelings clear on Lampard and it's now up to the directors to find a way to sign him.

"We don't expect it will happen quickly but we have time before the new La Liga season begins and we are prepared to do what is necessary."

-------------------------------------------

Olympique Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas believes Chelsea are going cold over their interest in star winger Florent Malouda.

"If he leaves," Aulas told AS, "it will be on the conditions that we have already defined [for £17 million].

"At the moment, Chelsea does not give the impression they want to close the transfer. They've told me that in the next few days [chief executive] Peter Kenyon and Roman Abramovich will meet. We'll soon know what they're going to do."

Aulas also warned: "Real Madrid have also asked for him."

-----------------------------------------
Chelsea have made a £14 million bid for Sevilla wing-back Daniel Alves.

Radio Marca says Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has already tabled the offer for the Brazil international.

Sevilla are considering the bid, but president Jose Maria del Nido is insisting Daniel Alves won't be sold for less than £17 million - cash.

----------------------------------------

Real Madrid's interest is driving up the price for Chelsea target Roysten Drenthe.

The Mirror

Aston Villa are set to rock the Premiership with a £30 million spending spree on their top-flight rivals.

The Daily Mail says American billionaire owner Randy Lerner is ready to give Villa manager Martin O'Neill full backing to land his four targets: Jermain Defoe, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nigel Reo-Coker and Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Spurs striker Defoe and Chelsea winger Wright Phillips are available for £10m each.

And with Reo-Coker closing in on an £8m switch from West Ham, Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen remains the last big target at £3.5m.

-------------------------------

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has rejected an offer from Sunderland.

Black Cats boss Roy Keane, who withdrew the club's offer for Preston's David Nugent, then reportedly turned his attention to Tottenham hitman Defoe.

However, after being given no encouragement by the player, he is having to think again.

------------------------------------

West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley is chasing Fenerbahce midfielder Stephen Appiah.

The Mirror says the 26-year-old Ghana captain, who has two years left on his contract, came close to joining Arsenal last summer.

Now Hammers boss Curbishley is ready to swoop for the former Juventus star in order to add Appiah to his new-look midfield.

-----------------------------------------

Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce spent part of yesterday attempting to strike a deal for Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The Evening Chronicle says Toon director Kenneth Shepherd is in Spain to continue the Magpies' work in the transfer market this summer by speaking to the La Liga giants about Gudjohnsen.

The signing of the former Chelsea and Bolton star will cost United around the £7m mark with Barca keen to recoup as much as possible from the £8m fee they paid the London club 12 months ago, when Gudjohnsen signed a three-year deal and replaced Henrik Larsson.

The agent of Adel Taarabt says the Tottenham midfielder is regarded as the 'new Zinedine Zidane' in his native France.

Rudy Raba told BBC Sport: "In France it is simple, he is considered as the new Zidane.

"He is exceptional, he is one of the most talented young players in France, perhaps the most."

But Raba is at pains to suggest that Taarabt is fully aware that he will need to work hard if he wants to become a first-team regular at White Hart Lane.

"Adel wants to work and succeed with Tottenham," he said.

"He wants to play and for that he has to do well at training and convince the manager. He has a good mentality - he knows that he has to work to succeed even if he has the quality."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is happy to see Thierry Henry leave the Emirates, it has been revealed.

The Mail on Sunday says some sources claim Wenger feared that his younger players might be intimidated by the presence of a man of Henry's superstar status.

In public, Wenger will remain respectful when he speaks for the first time about the transfer tomorrow and acknowledges the huge contribution Henry has made to the club, a period in which the Frenchman won two Premiership titles, the FA Cup twice and appeared in Champions League and UEFA Cup finals.

But in the privacy of the London Colney training ground and in the dressingroom at the Emirates Stadium, several sources testify that Wenger has made what he regards as a strategic decision.

Henry's presence, it is alleged, had become an unstable influence, with young players fearful of not being able to match his standards. As a result, the team atmosphere was said to be, at times, extraordinarily tense.

Manchester United have accepted a £6 million bid from Middlesbrough for striker Alan Smith.

The People says Boro manager Gareth Southgate will jet to Florida to convince the player to join his Riverside revolution.

Smith is currently on holiday in the States but Southgate is determined to sell Middlesbrough to the 25-year-old England international.

Southgate's Atlantic crossing puts Boro a step ahead of north east rivals Newcastle and Sunderland, both of whom have been tracking the former Leeds star.

Neither Sam Allardyce nor Roy Keane have lodged bids with Old Trafford, leaving Southgate in the box seat.