Manchester City's ambitious bid to sign Samuel Eto'o is in danger of collapsing at the eleventh hour amid claims that the Barcelona striker is demanding almost half of the £25 million transfer fee in addition to wages of about £200,000 a week.

With the Spanish champions refusing to bow to such demands, the transfer is unlikely to go through unless a compromise can be reached, leaving Eto'o to see out the remaining year of his contract at the Nou Camp.

Josep Maria Mesalles, the player's agent, will hold a press conference in Barcelona today when the future of Eto'o is expected to be confirmed, but having failed to land Kaká, the Brazil forward, in January, City are bracing themselves for more disappointment in their search for a global superstar.

Decent bets

Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, will hold talks with Xabi Alonso this week in a last effort to keep the Spain midfield player, who is determined to leave and is wanted by Real Madrid. Alonso is reluctant to continue playing for a manager who tried to offload him last summer.

Club sources have indicated that their relationship has passed breaking point but Benítez is adamant that Alonso and Javier Mascherano will not leave. Mascherano would consider signing an improved contract if one is offered, but his pregnant wife is refusing to return to Merseyside and the midfield player could move to Barcelona. Álvaro Arbeloa, the right back, should complete a £5 million move to Real this week.

Fulham have offered about £2 million for Kalu Uche but Almería want at least double that sum for the midfield player. Inter Milan officials are expected in London within 24 hours to try to conclude the transfers of Ricardo Carvalho and Deco, whom Chelsea value at a combined fee of £11 million. Inter want to buy Carvalho, the defender, and take Deco on loan.

Didier Zokora will speak to Daniel Levy, the Tottenham Hotspur chairman, in an attempt to secure a move to Seville. Burnley are interested in signing Steven Fletcher, the Hibernian striker valued at £3.5 million.

Dead certs

Manchester United are expected to complete the £15.25 million signing of Luis Antonio Valencia, the Ecuador winger, from Wigan Athletic today. Chelsea expect to confirm the signing of Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow this week. The clubs have agreed an £18 million fee for the versatile Russia midfield player.

Long shots

Tottenham have asked for money plus Sebastián Eguren and Marcos Senna, the midfield players, in return for Roman Pavlyuchenko after an inquiry from Villarreal.

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