Simon Jones is Sportsmail’s man on the inside of all the major transfer moves this summer.
His column, published every weekday, offers an insight into the deals which will be done and those that won’t – and why.
A 5/5-rating means The Insider reckons it’s a done deal; 0/5 means The Insider has his mortgage on it not happening.
Don’t miss your daily Insider instalment here.
FERNANDO LLORENTE
Athletic Bilbao to LiverpoolTHE INSIDER says: 2/5
DANNY ROSE
Tottenham to SunderlandTHE INSIDER says: 4/5
Llorente has endured a torrid couple of months at Athletic as he continues to train with the team despite making it clear he wants to move on.
He has 10 months remaining on contract and they are refusing to budge from their buy-out clause valuation of £30million.
Llorente is an amiable character and is facing a tough time off the pitch with fans and the general public if he fails to secure a move before Friday night.
He would love to come to England and the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool would surely benefit from his presence.
He is aware Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers speaks Spanish, likes the idea of playing before an appreciative crowd and would consider a move even though they are not in the Champions League.
The problem is until Andy Carroll is sold, Liverpool do not have enough money to bid. City like him a lot also but Llorente believes he will be forced to stay in Spain until January.
Talks are ongoing between Sunderland and Fulham for the sale of Kieran Richardson. It is understood that although the clubs have agreed a fee the personal terms offered are less than what the player is on in the North East.
In the throes of the conversation between the two clubs a possible deal for Clint Dempsey has been mooted but Sunderland do not have the funds to see it through. Liverpool and Arsenal continue to consider an approach for the American as Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill admits most clubs in the country would be interested.
O’Neill will now concentrate on bringing in a left-back and will talk to Tottenham over a loan for Danny Rose. The versatile GB Olympics starlet will prove a good acquisition and get more game time than he will at White Hart Lane.
His path will be eased by Hull taking El Mohammady on loan from Sunderland. If talks fail a late effort may be made for Stephen Warnock at Aston Villa.
NICKLAS BENDTNER
Arsenal to StokeTHE INSIDER says: 2/5
HUGO ALMEIDA
Besiktas to West HamTHE INSIDER says: 3/5
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has admired Bendtner for some time and what him to freshen up his strikeforce among others. However, as Sportsmail revealed the 24-year-old Dane is talking to Juventus and close to agreeing terms.
Arsenal want around £5million and Juve see that as a bargain for a player of his age. They had planned to sign Dimitar Berbatov but his spectacular change of heart left them and Fiorentina with a striker to find.
Bendtner was heading over for talks anyway with AC Milan also interested but joining the Italian champions looks the best choice. Stoke will continue to look around. They have bid for Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam and that should happen but are still wary he will go in part of the Clint Dempsey transfer to Fulham while Everton, although interested, are bidding for another midfielder.
Arsenal will look to offload Marouane Chamakh with Malaga, Besiktas and a Premier League club keen.
West Ham are ready to offload Carlton Cole as he has one year left on contract. There had been interest from Trabzonspor but they signed Marc Janko from Porto and Besiktas have stepped in with an offer.
West Ham are allowing Nicky Maynard to join Cardiff City and continue to free up wages. They will make a last ditch effort to persuade Andy Carroll to come to Upton Park but have Miralem Sulejmanji of Ajax and Besiktas’s Hugo Almeida as a makeweight in the Cole deal to consider.
Sulejmanji is only 23, has a great reputation but may struggle to get a work permit as he did when Avram Grant tried to sign him. It has been a problem for English clubs in the past and that may stall negotiations.
Almeida is 28, 6ft 3ins tall and well known to English scouts.
Everton, Stoke and Newcastle have alll shown interest in the Portuguese international in the past and his experience in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen will help.
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