SPORTS AND GAME, GOSSIPS AND TRANSFERS (Wednesday)

TRANSFER WINDOW

Liverpool have been told that only an "obscene" offer will be enough to land Uruguay striker Luis Suarez from Ajax. The Reds are now likely to make Anderlecht's Romelu Lukaku their primary target.
Full story: talkSPORT

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is preparing a substantial bid for Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie as he looks to address his lack of effective striking options.
Full story: Caught Offside

Fulham are ready to swoop for Southampton's highly rated teenage midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with his proposed £10m switch to Arsenal on the verge of breaking down.
Full story: Goal.com

Tottenham are locked in a battle with Benfica to clinch the signing of Marseille defender Taye Taiwo. The Nigerian international, valued at £5m, has also been targeted by Everton.

Suarez Should Stay Full story: talkSPORT

Ajax coach Frank de Boer is confident that star player Luis Suarez will not leave during the winter transfer window. The Uruguay international is continually being linked with a move to Liverpool, but De Boer questions whether the Reds have the financial resources to meet Ajax's asking price.

Four-Star Citizens Oust Sven

Sven Goran Eriksson's Leicester City were able to earn an FA Cup replay with Manchester City by holding them to a 2-2 draw in their first match, but they couldn't repeat the shock as they lost 4-2 at Eastlands. The Citizens continue into the fourth round of the competition while Leicester bow out...

Darren The Villan

Darren Bent has officially completed his move to Aston Villa from Sunderland on a four-and-a-half year deal. The transfer fee is believed to be around the region of £18 million, but could potential rise to £24m. Bent revealed that he wanted to join the Villans as soon as he found out that they were interested.

Newcastle and Tottenham are lining up as suitors for Italian World Cup winner Mauro Camoranesi, with Stuttgart having confirmed the 34-year-old midfielder is surplus to requirements.
Full story: Metro

OTHER GOSSIP

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has branded Birmingham's failed £6m bid to buy him a publicity stunt, expressing bemusement at a statement released by Blues explaining why the deal had failed.
Full story: Daily Mail

Aston Villa's club record £24m bid for Sunderland striker Darren Bent looks set to trigger a flurry of transfer window activity that propels top-flight spending past the £100m mark.
Full story: City AM

Steven Pienaar has agreed to join Tottenham

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar has agreed to join Tottenham after the two clubs agreed a fee of about £2.5m.

The South Africa international, 28, who was nearing the end of his contract at Goodison Park has signed a four-year-deal with the north London club.

"To end speculation, I am going to Spurs," confirmed Pienaar on his Twitter account earlier on Tuesday.

Chelsea also had a bid accepted for Pienaar by Everton, but failed to convince the player to join them.