Football Transfer Rumours - Jun-15-2011

Neil Mellor's move from Preston to Sheffield Wednesday has stalled because the striker wants £9,000-a-week in League One

Newcastle's transfer budget has been questioned after they offered only £3m for full back Cheikh M'Bengue - a third of Toulouse's valuation

The Toon hope to snatch St Etienne's Blaise Matuidi from under the noses of Arsenal

Newcastle are close to a £6m deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Swiss international Tranquillo Barnetta, and will match Sunderland's £5m bid for Birmingham City's Craig Gardner

The Baggies are in the race with Sunderland to snap up Blackpool midfielder David Vaughan on a free transfer

Liverpool will have to offer £20million to land Stewart Downing

Manchester United defender Wes Brown is keen on staying in the North West and might reject a switch to Sunderland, which would put Blackburn and Bolton on red alert.

Sunderland and Everton will step up their attempts to sign striker Demba Ba after he activated a clause in his contract allowing him to leave West Ham on a free transfer.

Tottenham are close to concluding a £12m contract for Internacional's 21-year-old forward Leandro Damiao.

Chelsea have been told they will have to fork out at least £44m for Palermo's attacking midfielder Javier Pastore. The 21-year-old Argentine, who joined the Italian Serie A club two years ago for £5m, is also wanted by Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Manchester City and Chelsea will submit bids for David Villa if Barcelona choose to cash in on the Spanish international forward in order to fund a move for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

Manchester United are ready to seal a £27m deal for Udinese's Chile midfielder Alexis Sanchez - under the noses of Manchester City and Barcelona.