Transfer Talk: Featuring Johnson and Dempsey

Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Sunderland, Manchester City, Fulham, and Liverpool are the talk of the papers today.

All the transfer news and gossip you need to know from the last 24 hours...

Southampton are close to sealing a move for Uruguayan playmaker Gaston Ramirez report the Mirror. The paper claim the Saints are ready to complete an £18 million double deal for Ramirez, and Blackpool winger Matt Phillips. Ramirez was strongly linked with Manchester City, Liverpool, and Tottenham earlier this transfer window so it would be a massive coup if Southampton could pull it off.

Manchester City have made a £5 million bid for Scott Sinclair, who has just one year left on his Swansea contract. The winger scored at the weekend for the Swans against QPR, but has so far refused to sit down and negotiate a new contract.

If he went to the Etihad he could replace Adam Johnson, who is being linked with a switch away. Sunderland are strongly linked with making a £10 million move, but the Belfast Evening Telegraph report that Liverpool are now leading the chase. Both Everton and Tottenham are both thought to be also interested in the player.

The Guardian is reporting two unlikely departures at Tottenham. They include the out of favour Tom Huddlestone, who is believed to be available on loan, with Stoke most likely to seal a deal. Michael Dawson also could be on his way out after falling down the pecking order with William Gallas preferred to him against Newcastle on Saturday, and QPR are interested. Sebastien Bassong meanwhile is reported by Sky Sports to be close to finalising a transfer to Norwich.

And finally a new twist has emerged in the Clint Dempsey saga, with the Fulham forward linked with Sunderland. The American has made it clear he wants to leave the club, with Liverpool most strongly linked. Martin O'Neill is said to have asked permission to speak with Fulham over a move. Meanwhile the Craven Cottage club are linked with former Arsenal striker Eduardo as a £7 million replacement.

image: © NathanF

Dan Coombs

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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.

As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.

He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.