Sunderland manager Roy Keane says the club have agreed with Spurs the transfers of a number of players from White Hart Lane, and are hopeful of announcing a multiple deal by the weekend.

Based on earlier media reports, the players in question are thought to be Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda, Steed Malbranque and Younes Kaboul, though the latter’s agent unflatteringly rejected out of hand a move by his client to Wearside.

Malbranque has so far made no comment, but both Tainio and Chimbonda have reacted positively to Sunderland’s interest.

Now Keane has said that negotiations with Spurs regarding “two or three, if not four” of the players are close to being finalised.

The Irishman told the Journal: “We have got an agreement with Spurs and a few of the players.

“We have virtually agreed personal terms with two or three of them, if not four. There are just a few loose ends to be tied up.

“I have been in the game long enough to know that these things can drag out a little bit, but in defence of [Sunderland‘s chief executive] Peter Walker and [chairman] Niall Quinn, from our point of view, it’s been full-steam ahead.

“I have spoken to Peter and progress has been made, but [given] the amount of players we are trying to sign from one club, there are going to be stumbling blocks.”

Keane is also targeting other players, adding: “We are in discussions regarding fees for one or two other players and that will be the case over the next two or three days.

“I would hope the Tottenham deals would be done by the weekend, and with the other couple of deals I think we might have to be patient, possibly next week.”

Ref From Mark Hinton, Goal.com

Aston Villa supporters turned on unsettled Gareth Barry during the friendly victory at Walsall.

Barry was disciplined for criticising manager Martin O’Neill after the 27-year-old revealed he wanted to quit Villa and join Liverpool.

But the proposed move has stalled amid ill-feeling as Liverpool have failed to meet Villa’s £18m asking price.

Barry has returned to training but was a target for Villa fans as he played for an hour in their 3-2 victory.

Walsall took the lead through Alex Nicholls in the 42nd minute, but Shaun Maloney equalised with a 62nd-minute free-kick.

Trialist Patrick Suffo, the former Sheffield United striker, made it 2-1 to the home side with a low drive.

Maloney levelled again from close range with 10 minutes remaining before Wayne Routledge volleyed home the winner four minutes from time.

Ref From BBC SPORT

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is the kind of player ‘you know for sure you cannot get’.

Ronaldo has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer and has yet to make a definitive announcement on his future.

United have insisted the Portugal international is not for sale and manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Ronaldo of the perils of joining Real.

New Inter Milan coach Mourinho has intimated that signing Ronaldo, and prising him from Ferguson’s grasp, would be a near impossible task.

And the former Chelsea boss admits that he never imagined trying to put together a bid to take his compatriot to Stamford Bridge.

Ref From Skysports