Transfer news in brief: Etienne Capoue nears Tottenham switch; Stewart Downing set to leave Liverpool; Anton Ferdinand let go by QPR

France midfielder Etienne Capoue (AP/Getty images)

Tottenham are close to completing a £9m deal for the France midfielder Etienne Capoue from Ligue 1 club Toulouse.

The 25-year-old, who has also interested Cardiff, underwent a medical yesterday and Capoue, who has five caps for his country and can also play as a central defender, is set to become Andre Villas-Boas’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window.

When asked about Capoue’s suggested move to White Hart Lane, the Toulouse president, Olivier Sadran, said: “He will go there.”

His arrival could hasten Scott Parker’s departure from Spurs, after he was linked with a move to Queen’s Park Rangers.

Downing set to leave Liverpool

West Ham United were in talks with Liverpool last night about a £6m bid for Stewart Downing, with the England international now resigned to leaving Anfield.

Downing does not want his Liverpool career to end, two years after he was signed for £18m in the profligate Kenny Dalglish/Damien Comolli era, and rejected the chance to move to West Ham earlier this summer.

However, the 29-year-old has reflected on the way his situation is going, with Liverpool willing to sell. Newcastle United are also monitoring his position and a return to his native north-east would appeal more to a player who does not want to live in London.

Meanwhile, Luis Suarez was omitted from the Liverpool squad to play Celtic in Dublin this weekend.

Ian Herbert

Ferdinand let go by QPR

Anton Ferdinand has left QPR by mutual consent. The 28 year-old defender had been on loan at Bursaspor but is now a free agent.

Ferdinand made 49 appearances for Rangers including the infamous game against Chelsea in which John Terry racially abused him.