Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer has rubbished reports Norwich have made a bid for Rovers defender Martin Olsson.
Rumours emanating from Olsson's home country of Sweden have stated this week that the full-back is eager to leave Ewood Park and that the Canaries are ready to make an offer for him.
Chris Hughton was linked with a move for the 25-year-old in January, when West Ham are thought to have had a £4m offer for the Swede turned down.
Olsson's agent has been quoted as saying Norwich have renewed their interest in his client this summer, while the Rovers player has been quoted as saying: “I want to leave and the club knows”.
However, Bowyer has moved to cool the reports coming out of Scandinavia by insisting Olsson is happy at Ewood Park and the Championship club have no plans to sell him.
“He's hoping to go to the World Cup with Sweden and he's a valuable member of the squad, so it would certainly take a good offer,” Bowyer told the Lancashire Telegraph.
“He's been linked with clubs but until we get anything concrete we'll have to see what happens.
“We've had no contact from Norwich as far as I'm aware. He's not said anything to me about wanting to leave.”
West Brom are said to be one of the clubs showing an interest in Carlton Cole, who is attracting attention from across Europe.
The one-time England international was let go by West Ham at the end of last season and is currently weighing up his options for the new campaign.
The Baggies are thought to have taken an interest in the 29-year-old since learning that Romelu Lukaku would not be loaned back to Albion by Chelsea.
West Brom boss Steve Clarke has worked with Cole in the past while assistant manager at Chelsea and West Ham, and is reportedly keen to bring him to the Hawthorns given his status as a free agent.
Cole's agent has admitted that there is interest from Premier League clubs in his client but failed to reveal whether West Brom were one of the interested parties.
“There are offers for Carlton from the Premier League, but also interest from Europe and big interest from MLS,” he told Sky Sports.
“At this stage we are looking at the pros and cons of each offer professionally and financially as this is a very important next step in Carlton's career and the move has to be right for him.
“We hope we can make a decision on Carlton's future soon.”
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has warned his players to come back for pre season in peak condition or risk being fined.
Di Canio was given a limited amount of time to keep the Black Cats in the top-flight at the end of last season, replacing Martin O'Neill in the hot seat at the Stadium of Light.
The Italian was quick to start his overhaul at the club, questioning the fitness and attitude of a number of his team and ruling over training sessions with a lot of focus placed on discipline.
The former Swindon man is eager to get off on the right foot next term and has informed players that he expects them to return from the summer ready and raring to go.
Di Canio said: “Obviously the players have a programme to follow so that they are ready when pre-season begins.
“When we start, we will start not that heavy, but there will still be a great deal to do and they have to be ready.
“It's normal in the Premier League, that players get punishment for breaking rules set down by the club.”
Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes insists that boss Mark Hughes will have full control of any transfers the club makes this summer.
Hughes was appointed as the Potters boss at the end of May following the departure of long-serving boss Tony Pulis, who was relieved of his duties at the Britannia Stadium after seven years at the club.
Rumours had been circulating that the Welsh man would have to answer to a Director of Football over any business that he would like to conduct in the window.
Scholes has been quick to back his manager and cool any talk that he will be unable to mould the squad and place his own stamp on the team.
Scholes said: “The media started reporting that the club was looking to take a 'new direction' and those suggestions seemed to gather some momentum. As far as we're concerned, there is no new direction, we're very clear on how the club should be run.
“Fundamentally, it will be Mark Hughes' decision on what players we recruit within the budgetary parameters that are set but there's no change of direction. Every player that comes into the Club will come in because Mark Hughes wants him to.”
Norwich have emerged as favourites to sign Celtic striker Gary Hooper this summer ahead of an expected £4million bid.
Hooper has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and Norwich tried to sign the 25-year-old in January, reportedly having an £8million offer for him rejected early in the new year.
His value appears to have now dipped, however, as he is entering the final year of his contract at Celtic Park and the Canaries are hoping to land Hooper for as little as £4million during the summer transfer window.
Norwich have already signed Ricky van Wolfswinkel from Sporting Lisbon for a club-record £8.5m but boss Chris Hughton wants more firepower in the top flight next season and has identified the Englishman, who hit 31 goals in all competitions for the Bhoys last term, as his next target.
Hull, Sunderland and Southampton have all also been linked but it is Norwich who are currently leading the chase for his signature.
Top Saints target Davide Astori is also wanted by new Napoli boss Rafa Benitez this summer as interest grows in the Cagliari defender.
The 26-year-old is believed to be among Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino's off-season wish-list but he looks like having fairly formidable competition in the shape of Napoli.
The centre-back nearly arrived at St Mary's in January but the move did not materialise with Norwegian Vegard Forren snapped up as additional cover instead.
However, fresh reports in Italy say Southampton are once again keen on signing Astori although his desire to make the switch to the Premier League could be tested if Napoli, who last month appointed former Liverpool and Chelsea interim boss Benitez as boss, also come in for him.
Saints have also been linked with Lyon central defender Dejan Lovren, 23, who is valued at around £12m, as another option if they do not manage to land Astori.
Hull are reported to be lining up a £3million deal for Birmingham defender Curtis Davies as Steve Bruce looks to bolster his defence.
The rumour mill has gone into overdrive now that Bruce is back behind his desk and Davies is the latest player to be linked with a move to the KC Stadium.
Birmingham will struggle to keep hold of the former Aston Villa defender due to the club's precarious financial situation and a £3million offer would be enough to secure a deal.
Norwich, who are managed by former Blues boss Chris Hughton, are also keen, so Bruce will face competition for the defender's signature should he pursue a deal.
Defence is an area that Bruce is keen to strengthen with proven Premier League players and Wigan's Maynor Figueroa, who is available on a free transfer, also remains a target.
Newcastle could face a battle to keep Steven Taylor as reports claim Arsenal are lining up a bid for the central defender.
Toon boss Alan Pardew is facing a battle to keep some of his star players this summer and it has now emerged that the Gunners are keeping tabs on Taylor with a view to making a bid.
Arsene Wenger is on the look out for a new central defender after releasing Sebastien Squillaci, while doubts are also surrounding the future of Laurent Koscielny, who is a target for Bayern Munich.
Swansea's Ashley Williams has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium but it seems as though Wenger may have turned his attentions to Taylor.
Pardew would be very reluctant to sell Taylor, especially with Fabricio Coloccini unsettled at St James' Park and targeting a return to Argentina during the close season.
Jonathan Walters believes team spirit won't be an issue for new boss Mark Hughes to worry about as he starts life at Stoke City.
Hughes is desperate to rebuild his managerial reputation with the Potters following a less than successful stint in charge of Queens Park Rangers.
The Welshman was accused of bringing in too many players with questionable attitudes on big salaries during his time at Loftus Road, and divisions in the dressing room were identified as one of the prime reasons for Rangers' relegation from the Premier League by his successor Harry Redknapp.
Stoke themselves hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in the final week of the season after a couple of pranks involving senior players went a bit far and were brought into the public eye when photographs were posted on Twitter.
Trinidadian striker Kenwyne Jones failed to see the funny side when a pig's head was left in his locker and responded by smashing the windscreen of team-mate Glenn Whelan's car.
However, Walters is convinced Hughes won't have any trouble motivating the group he is inheriting from departing manager Tony Pulis.
The Republic of Ireland international said: “There's no problem with the spirit. We're all still mates. These things go on.
“Lots of stuff like this happens at clubs that no one ever hears about. It's just that this was something that everyone did hear about. But it's not unusual.”
Walters is now aiming to play a big part in City's future under the former Manchester United hitman as the club looks to progress to the next level after establishing themselves as a solid Premier League outfit in recent seasons.
He added: “It is a good club for someone to come in now. It is a blank canvas, a big squad of players and there is great support.
“Hopefully, he will want to keep me and I will stay.”
West Brom head coach Steve Clarke has made keeping hold of star midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu one of his top priorities this summer.
Clarke is desperate for the 26-year-old to stay at the Hawthorns in the face of strong interest from the likes of Fiorentina after an impressive season for the Baggies.
The DR Congo man has become a popular figure with the Albion fans too since his arrival in the West Midlands from Paris Saint Germain in 2009.
Chairman Jeremy Peace has been told in no uncertain terms to do everything in his power to persuade him to commit his long-term future to the club even though he still has another 12 months to run on his existing contract, which includes an option for an additional year.
The Baggies have already reached agreements with Jonas Olsson and James Morrison in recent months and are keen for Mulumbu to follow suit next.
Clarke said: “Youssouf has been excellent for us since I have been here and is one of the players we want to keep.
“I think come the summer the ones that we have to keep – that I want to keep – will still be at the club.”
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