Transfer frenzy gossip

CROUCH THE MAN FOR LIVERPOOL?
According to the Sun, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wants to sign Southampton's England striker Peter Crouch. Saints boss Harry Redknapp is hoping to keep a hold of his 6ft 7in target man, but a bid, reported to be in the region of £5m would be difficult to resist, while Crouch would jump at the chance to join Liverpool.

According to the Mirror, the Reds are also targeting Nuremberg's Slovakian goal-scoring midfielder Marek Mintal. The 27-year-old, who scored 24 goals last season, would cost in the region of £2m. But Benitez's bid to sign Real Zaragoza's Argentinean defender Gabriel Milito was snubbed by the Spanish side, who rejected his £5.5m offer.

WEST HAM ON THE PROWL
Alan Pardew is considering resigning Tomas Repka, for less wages, after having only just released him from his contract. But the West Ham boss is also looking at shoring up his defence with Levante's Republic of Ireland left-back Ian Harte as well as Ipswich's 28-year-old £1m-rated goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, 33-year-old Atletico Madrid left-back Sergi and is hoping to sign Real Madrid midfielder Albert Celades, who is available on a free transfer.

JUVE DUO TO BAGGIES
West Brom will again bid for Juventus defenders Igor Tudor and Nicola Legrottaglie after failing to sign them on loan in January. Baggies boss Bryan Robson has £10m to spend and wants to sign five new players. Both Croatian central defender Tudor and Italian right-back Legrottaglie, who went out on loan in the Serie A last season, want to leave Juve after coach Fabio Capello told them they wouldn't be part of his plans next season.

BORO EYE UPSON
Middlesbrough boss Steve McLaren is confident of signing Birmingham centre-back Matthew Upson after the England defender rejected a contract offer from his west midlands club. Upson's agent said: "We did speak to Birmingham about a new contract but Matt decided he did not want to accept it. I think Matt feels he needs to be playing in Europe." Middlesbrough have made a central defender their priority as they struggled last season with first-choice Ugo Ehiogu continually injured.

AND THE REST
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is eyeing Everton target, Tranmere right-back Ryan Taylor...Mikael Forssell will join Everton for £3m...Aston Villa will not give up in their chase for Man City centre-back Sylvain Distin...Celtic want Lyon fullback Jeremy Berthod and could sign goalkeeper Antti Niemi after his agent said he will definitely leave Southampton...Newcastle keeper Shay Given is wanted by Barcelona and Man Utd...Portsmouth boss Alain Perrin will watch 24-year-old Maccabi Haifa's Israeli forward Yaniv Katan before deciding whether to sign him for £2.5m...Charlton want Oxford’s Welsh Under-21 striker Craig Davies...And Newcastle are still tracking Inter Milan left-mid Belzoglu Emre, who could join for £4m.