Bar? who remain favourites to sign Gudjohnsen, are still balking at that fee and have told Chelsea that they will not pay more than €10m (£7.1m). However, the interest from the other La Liga clubs may spur them into action. In addition, Barcelona have quashed speculation concerning a swap deal involving Deco and the Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
If the Premiership champions secure the fee they want for Gudjohnsen, it would represent a healthy return for a player who joined them six seasons ago but has grown increasingly frustrated at his lack of opportunities.Chelsea are also set to bank an impressive return for Robert Huth, with Middlesbrough having agreed to pay £6m for the 21-year-old German international who is now seeking regular first-team football. Personal terms have also been settled and the deal should go through as early as today.Chelsea are also prepared to sell Carlton Cole to Tottenham Hotspur but no fee has been agreed, while the only avenue for Shaun Wright-Phillips to leave the club, if he wants to, is to secure a permanent deal. Chelsea would listen to offers but expect to recoup as much as £20m for the winger, which would scare off any potential suitors.It appears that Damien Duff will stay with Chelsea likely to agree to his request for an extended contract..

Lee Bowyer last night joined West Ham United from Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee, thought to be about £750,000. The 29-year-old midfielder has also taken a substantial pay cut to sign for the club he supported as a boy. His departure will heighten Newcastle’s efforts to sign Fulham’s Steed Malbranque for £4m.
Bowyer, capped once by England, had a six-month stint with the Hammers in 2003 before moving to St James’ Park He said: “I am desperate to do well for West Ham I loved my time at Newcastle but this is my club I didn’t play well last time. I had a bad ankle injury and kept playing on it which was to nobody’s benefit I see this as unfinished business.

I want to show the fans what I can do.”Chelsea are set to bank an impressive return for Robert Huth, with Middlesbrough having agreed to pay £6m for the 21-year-old German international.Chelsea are also prepared to sell Carlton Cole to Tottenham Hotspur but no fee has been agreed.. Harrison Hansen, who starts his comeback for Wigan tonight after three months out, is the surprise inclusion in New Zealand’s squad to play Great Britain later this month. The 20-year-old second-rower, born in New Zealand but brought up in Britain, where his father played for Swinton and Salford, has recovered from an ankle injury which has kept him out since March.
He is now fit enough to be in Brian Noble’s plans at Headingley, although he will make his return in the Under-21s rather than the first team. He has also caught the eye of the Kiwi coach, Brian McClennan, who has put him in the party for the international at St Helens on 27 June.Although Hansen has played for England at Under-18 level, McClennan says he is “a proud Kiwi who wants to play for his country” and has moved quickly to lay claim to him.McClennan has also selected Robbie Paul, who has found a new lease on life at Huddersfield. He could partner Stacey Jones at half-back, with the Catalan Dragons player the likely choice to captain the side Paul admitted to being taken aback by his selection. “I didn’t think my international career was over, but I have to admit this has come as a surprise,” he said. “I didn’t think they were picking any old soldiers.”The squad includes just six players from the southern hemisphere’s NRL competition, only two of whom – Melbourne’s David Kidwell and Clinton Toopi, who is joining Leeds next season – have full caps.

Noble is due to name his Great Britain side for their one game before the Tri-Nations next week.Leeds have rested Danny McGuire for their meeting with Wigan, with their captain, Kevin Sinfield, moving to stand-off to take his place. Wigan will be without David Vaealiki, who has a thigh strain, with Nathan McAvoy his likely replacement.The Catalan Dragons have made their first signing for next season, in the shape of the Canberra centre or winger, Adam Mogg, who has been named in Queensland’s side for the second State of Origin match next week. Mogg will arrive in November on a three-year contract.The Dragons’ latest recruit from the French domestic competition, Younes Khattabi, is in the squad to play at Huddersfield on Sunday. The 21-year-old outside back has joined the Dragons’ sister club, UTC, which makes him eligible for Super League selection.The St Helens prop, Nick Fozzard, has agreed a two-year contract extension until the end of the 2008 season. Saints will play their Powergen Challenge Cup semi-final against the competition’s surprise team, Hull Kingston Rovers, at Huddersfield on 29 July. The other semi-final, between Huddersfield and Leeds, will be at Odsal the next day..