Barcelona are said to be ready to step in and snatch Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen from under the noses of Arsenal as the January Transfer Talk machine cranks up to full pace.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger likes the look of the shot-stopper as Jens Lehmann nears an inevitable exit from The Emirates, but with regular number two at the Camp Nou Albert Jorquera currently injured, Frank Rijkaard could whisk him to Catalonia instead.

Lehmann though is not wanted at likely suitors Dortmund because he played for rivals Schalke for 10 years - despite winning the Bundesliga with Der BVB in 2002. A fans' banner at an indoor tournament read: "Enemies remain enemies: Lehmann out".

Whatever - Jaaskelainen may prefer to negotiate a free transfer move in the summer. Bolton may accept that choice if they get their way and con Chelsea out of £15 million for Nic Anelka ; however the Blues are not willing to pay above £12m for the Sulk.

The Reebok remains where it's at as far as Transfer Talk is concerned. Gary Megson has apparently warned Bobo Balde that Bolton will not sign him from Celtic if he does not shun his country Guinea in the African Cup of Nations - sounds harsh, but better that than to moan after completing the deal.

Bolton have been joined in the hunt for striker Djibril Cisse by Manchester City, Blackburn and West Ham for a bizarre fee of £7.4m, but that looks like good value next to Middlesbrough's £12m intentions for Afonso Alves, untested outside the Eredivisie with Heerenveen - but then they said that about Ruud van Nistelrooy, who also featured for that club for a season before joining PSV.

Man City were also supposedly in for Brazil striker Alves and have been dealt a further blow by the revelation that his compatriot Amauri is set to remain at Palermo. Liverpool were also linked with the frontman.

"The fact Amauri is a target of several clubs is not news," said the player's agent Maurizio Grimaldi. "There has been contact but the player is likely to remain at Palermo until the end of the season."

Sven-Goran Eriksson may as well stay in bed this morning: he's more chance of finding an attractive young Brazilian specimen there than in the transfer market. Roma's Amantino Mancini is another that could slip his grasp: "It's not certain the player will leave the club," his coach Luciano Spalletti said. "I think Amantino wants to find an agreement with the club - and in these cases intentions are always important."

That spells bad news for Italian forward Rolando Bianchi - he may have to stay at Eastlands after all. Sven could however bag Iraqi midfielder Nashat Akram of Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates, who has been on trial. It's just not the same though, is it?

As well as Wilson Palacios, Wigan and Birmingham will also slug it out for Rennes' Swedish defender Erik Edman on a free transfer. Meanwhile Wigan have reportedly told Antoine Sibierski he can leave for Lille.

Blackburn have taken Bulgarian Under-21 striker Valeri Domovchiyski on trial, who is said to be able to run 100m in just over 10 seconds. Club Levski Sofia want £1.5m for him. His pace may come in useful if he annoys Robbie Savage on the training pitch.

But no: Savage may have entered talks with Derby after a £2m fee may have been agreed; however elsewhere Rams' manager Paul Jewell may have laughed off Rovers' valuation. In truth we just don't know. What we do know is that Derby have received international clearance to play Argentinian striker Emanuel Villa .

Derby have been told by Leeds that goal-getter Jermaine Beckford, top scorer in League One, would command a price of £3m. Roy Keane is once again getting an itchy trigger finger at the controls of Niall Quinn's rubbish Sunderland signing machine - and will splash £7m on Stephen Hunt, long linked with the club, and his Reading team-mate Leroy Lita. That £11m on Kenwyne Jones and Michael Chopra just wasn't enough.

Newcastle may bid soon for Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra after the midfielder was taken out of Tottenham's hands. Roy Hodgson could make Jean-Alain Boumsong - no smirking at the back - the bedrock of his Fulham defence as they seek Premier League safety in the second half of the season.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport