Arsenal's chances of selling Emmanuel Adebayor increased last night after AC Milan admitted that it would be difficult to sign Edin Dzeko, the Wolfsburg striker and the Italian club's main target.

Milan's contingency plan is a move for Luís Fabiano, the Seville striker, or Adebayor. The North London club are keen to sign Marouane Chamakh, the Bordeaux forward. Stéphane Courbis, Adebayor's agent, said that the forward is admired by Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager. “He would like to work with Ancelotti, but Chelsea have not contacted us,” he said.

Decent bets

Manchester City will step up efforts to sign Joleon Lescott, but Everton will resist selling the defender. The Merseyside club have been offered Alan Hutton but Tottenham Hotspur want to recoup the £8million fee that they paid Rangers to sign the right back last year. City have signed Stuart Taylor, the Aston Villa goalkeeper, in a move that will allow Joe Hart to move to Birmingham City on loan.

Bolton Wanderers have approached Swansea City about signing Ferrie Bodde, the midfield player, but their £500,000 offer for Paul Robinson has been rejected by West Bromwich Albion, who want £1million for the defender. Stoke City are ready to revive their interest in Joe Ledley, the Cardiff City midfield player.

The agent of Maicon has claimed that the Inter Milan and Brazil right back would be interested in a move to Chelsea. Peter Crouch, the Portsmouth forward, and James Beattie, the Stoke striker, are being monitored by Blackburn Rovers.

Dead certs

Florent Malouda, the Chelsea winger, has agreed a two-year extension to his contract. West Ham United have signed Luis Jiménez, the forward, on loan from Inter Milan. Marko Arnautovic, the Twente striker linked with Chelsea, has agreed a five-year deal with Inter for about £14million.

Paulo Sousa has been unveiled as Swansea's manager succeeding Roberto Martínez, who has taken over at Wigan Athletic. Hermann Hreidarsson has rejected Middlesbrough to sign a new one-year deal with Portsmouth.

Long Shots

Fabien Piveteau, Michael Essien's agent, claims that the Chelsea midfield player would consider a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona. Monaco have expressed an interest in Andriy Shevchenko, the Chelsea striker.

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