Leeds ready to let Kewell move to Liverpool for £6m

Liverpool have agreed a £6m fee with Leeds United for Harry Kewell and will offer him a £60,000-a-week contract. Liverpool made a formal offer over the weekend for the Australian whose link to Anfield had puzzled Leeds because they had not been appraised of the Merseysiders' interest.

Kewell seems keen to sign for Liverpool despite Arsenal's long-standing attempt to sign him which floundered because of their lack of cash and concerns at Highbury about another big earner on their books. For all of Chelsea's new-found wealth - and with Champions' League football on offer - Kewell is leaning towards Liverpool.

Manchester United have struggled to get into the race because Kewell is reluctant to join Leeds's old enemy and fight for a first-team place, despite Sir Alex Ferguson's interest in him. He also made clear that he was not impressed with Ferguson's handling of David Beckham's transfer.

The income will help Leeds who are now in danger of losing out on money for Olivier Dacourt as Roma, where he was on loan for most of last season, are set to pull out of a deal for the Frenchman.

Liverpool have signed the young French pair Antony Le Tallec and Florent Simana-Pongollet who will join in training this week after leaving Le Havre yesterday.

The Tottenham manager, Glenn Hoddle, is also attempting to bolster his squad, and is ready to move for the PSV Eindhoven striker, Mateja Kezman, if they cannot talk Real Madrid into selling Javi Portillo.

Hoddle has an agreement with Kezman's advisers about a possible £3m move for the Serbian, who has a year left on his contract. The 24-year-old has been one of the most prolific scorers in Europe for the past few years, with 62 goals in three seasons at PSV.

Portillo would cost Spurs £10m, money they are willing to find because the Spaniard is such a good investment at only 21. Portillo said yesterday that he is willing to stay in Madrid with the arrival of their new coach, Carlos Queiroz, and the possible departure of Fernando Morientes, but Spurs are working on reaching a deal with club and player.

Having already signed the striker Helder Positga, Tottenham increased the pace of their move for Kezman because other Premiership clubs have been offered the Serbia and Montenegro international, with Fulham among those interested, especially as they have been turned down by Pierre van Hooijdonk, who has flown to Turkey for talks with Fenerbahce. Fulham were willing to pay the £600,000 fee to Feyenoord for the veteran, but Fenerbahce offered both fee and superior personal terms.

Possibly on the way out of White Hart Lane is Simon Davies - a target for Liverpool and Manchester United. The Welsh midfielder has seen the management about his future and is aware of other clubs' interest after an impressive couple of years.

His sale would bring in up to £10m, a reluctant trade but one that would be covered by the signing of two or even three new players. Tottenham have also been alerted that Valencia are trying to sell the Norwegian striker Jon Carew as they close in on a £8m deal for the Mallorca striker Samuel Eto'o.

Agents working for Valencia have been in discussions with Spurs about Carew, who has his critics, but has a style and an aerial threat that would make him attractive to a Premiership side. Carew almost joined Fulham a couple of years ago until a controversial cancellation after claims that he had failed a medical.