Liverpool and Manchester United were last night put on alert when West Ham striker Carlos Tevez turned down a move to Inter Milan and expressed his desire to remain a Premiership player.
The 23-year-old Argentina international, who was instrumental in West Ham's successful battle to avoid relegation, is expected to leave Upton Park in the summer.
Inter and Real Madrid are among several clubs to have shown interest, but a statement from Tevez's representative, Kia Joorabchian, said last night: "Inter put a deadline on the decision and Carlos' heart is really in the Premier League." That could tempt United and also Liverpool, who last season signed compatriot Javier Mascherano.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are close to agreeing a fee for striker Fernando Torres that would smash the club's transfer record.
Atletico Madrid appear to have accepted Liverpool's offer of �20 million plus Luis Garcia, who is apparently happy to return to the Vincente Calderon Stadium where he spent a season before his transfer to Barcelona four years ago. The cash-plus-player deal would satisfy the �27 million release clause in Torres' contract.