Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has opened talks with Patrick Kluivert's agent over a move to St James' Park on a year-long loan - with the prospect of a permanent move from Barcelona next summer.
Shepherd met agent Paul Foortse on returning from the Far East and both parties seem confident that a deal will be signed in the next 24 hours once details of how Kluivert's wages are going to be paid have been sorted out.
As reported earlier, Gary Speed has completed a move to Bolton and now he's explained his reasons why, or at least his agent has. Hayden Evans revealed Speed turned down the chance to join other clubs to link up with Sam Allardyce and his squad.
Evans said: "He had a year left on his contract at Newcastle but there were two very big First Division clubs and three Premier League clubs who came in for him, but there is a feel-good factor about Bolton and Gary sees this as a good move for him."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's fears that his move for Benfica's Tiago would end in disappointment have proved to be unfounded and the Portuguese midfielder finally signed on the dotted line late last night, in time to fly out with his new teammates on their pre-season tour of the United States later today.
Tiago has signed a three-year contract with the Blues and becomes their sixth summer signing following the earlier arrivals of Peter Cech, Arjen Robben, Mateja Kezman, Paulo Ferreira and Didier Drogba.
West Ham manager Alan Pardew, hardly in the same fortunate position as Mourinho, has confirmed he is interested in re-uniting former Tottenham colleagues Teddy Sheringham and Sergei Rebrov at Upton Park.
Sheringham signed for the Hammers on a one-year contract last week and is currently training with Rebrov, who is looking for a new club after a far than satisfactory conclusion to his troubled spell at White Hart Lane.
Pardew told the official club website: "Basically, he is a player that wants to have a chance at West Ham. He has a feel for the club, and certainly with his record and his history we have to give him that chance. It would be silly not to, so we are just having a look and taking it day by day."
Aston Villa boss David O'Leary looks to have finally got his man with Villa chiefs agreeing terms with Nantes midfielder Mathieu Berson who will become the club's third summer signing following the earlier arrivals of Martin Laursen and Carlton Cole.
Berson's agent Olivier Jouanneaux said: "Myself and Mathieu have a verbal agreement with Villa. Nantes have been fair to Mathieu. They want the deal to go through as they know he wants to play for Villa. The deal is more is less done. It just has to be put in writing.
"When we went to Birmingham to meet David O'Leary, Mathieu enjoyed himself and he knows that Villa have watched him several times."
