Football Transfer Rumours - Jan-02-2011

Nottingham Forest want to sign Newcastle striker Leon Best on a permanent deal. Burnley, Crystal Palace and Swansea are also interested but only want to take the 24-year-old on loan

Wolves, Blackpool and Cardiff are battling to sign Millwall defender Danny Shittu, 30, whose contract with the Lions runs out on 20 January.

West Ham want Birmingham midfielder Jordon Mutch, 19, who is currently on loan at Watford.

Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell, 28, will complete his move to West Ham over the next 24 hours.

Aston Villa and Wigan want to sign Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on loan for the rest of the season.

Newcastle hope Tottenham will let them take striker Robbie Keane, 30, on loan in a deal that would become permanent if the Irishman is successful at St James' Park.

Former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen will leave Stoke for Swansea in January.

Blackburn are leading the chase to re-sign left-back Stephen Warnock, 29, who could move to Ewood Park for £2m

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is set to bid £1.5m for Everton winger Steven Pienaar, whose contract is running out, but Toffees boss David Moyes is likely to want at least £3m for the South African.

Blackburn are set to receive an offer from Tottenham for unsettled defender Christopher Samba.

Tottenham winger David Bentley is set to move to Newcastle as Spurs make room for the possible arrival of David Beckham.

Liverpool are leading Arsenal in the race to sign Germany and Werder Bremen centre-back Per Mertesacker.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak rang Edin Dzeko's representatives on New Year's eve to try and save the Wolfsburg striker's £30m move to Eastlands by offering him an improved £150,000 a week, still short of the £180,000 the player is demanding.

Chelsea have emerged as surprise contenders to sign Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd for £2m, with the 28-year-old Englishman out of contract in the summer. Birmingham and West Ham are also interested.