Football Transfer Rumours - Jun-18-2011

Malky Mackay's first major act as Cardiff City manager will be to tempt striker Craig Bellamy to return to the club. Bellamy spent last season on loan at Cardiff from Manchester City.

Swansea want to sign Leeds striker Max Gradel for £1.5m to boost their strike force in their first season in the Premier League.

Bolton will allow goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi to complete a £4m move to Wigan, where he spent last season on loan, after Jussi Jaaskelainen agreed a new two-year deal at the Reebok.

Bolton are poised to throw a Premier League lifeline to England Under-19 striker Nile Ranger, who has been transfer-listed by Newcastle after failing to convince boss Alan Pardew that he has a long-term future at St James's Park.

Alex McLeish, the new Aston Villa manger, is monitoring Scotland right-back Alan Hutton, who did not feature for Tottenham at the end of last season

Wolves are also set to test Birmingham's resolve with a £7m bid for defender Roger Johnson, and are keen on Swansea goalkeeper Dorus De Vries, too.

Sweden international Sebastian Larsson is set to join Sunderland, rejecting interest from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle after leaving Birmingham on a free.

Warnock is weighing up a £3m move for Real Valladolid striker Javi Guerra, the top scorer in Spain's second division last season with 29 goals.

Arsenal have held talks with Jose Enrique's representatives after identifying the Newcastle United left-back as a possible replacement for Gael Clichy

Blackburn boss Steve Kean faces defeat in his bid to sign Roma striker Mirko Vucinic - the Montenegro international hopes to clinch a move to Juventus.

Real Madrid are using former player Zinedine Zidane as a secret weapon as they try to beat Manchester United to the signing of Lens' teenage defender Raphael Varane.

Udinese's Colombia international centre-back Cristian Zapata says he is close to joining Liverpool. The £14m-rated defender has also been linked with Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

Jose Mourinho is set to beat old club Chelsea in the race to sign Neymar. The Real Madrid coach is ready to pay the £40m demanded by Brazil side Santos for the striker, 19, but Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will not budge above £30m.

Chelsea have increased their bid for Modric to £25m after the midfielder indicated he wanted to move

Midfielder Luka Modric says he wants to leave Tottenham and sign for Chelsea.