Transfer Talk: Lyons president plays down chances of capturing Real target Reyes from Arsenal

* ARSENAL

The Lyons president Jean-Michel Aulas conceded that he is unlikely to secure the signature of the Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes. Reyes, who moved on loan to Real Madrid last season, could secure a permanent deal with the Spanish champions, although Atletico Madrid are also in the running for his signature. Speaking after the champions' 2-1 win over the French Cup winners Sochaux in the French version of the Community Shield, Aulas said: "Concerning Reyes, we were supposed to meet him on Monday in Seville, but his prime objective is to join a Spanish club. We have a big handicap and we are trying to surmount it. Real have said they are signing Reyes. We still have a little chance." Aulas said there was still a chance of the former Gunners striker, the 33-year-old Sylvain Wiltord, staying at Lyons despite the club having agreed to sell him to Rennes.

* BIRMINGHAM CITY

The manager Steve Bruce is confident the Tottenham midfielder Hossam Ghaly will finally sign within the next 24 hours. But Bruce is virtually resigned to losing his fight to sign Ghaly's club and country team-mate Mido, rating his chances as "less than 50-50". Ghaly was in Birmingham on Saturday and further talks are planned, with Bruce optimistic the Egypt international will become his eighth signing of the summer.

As regards Mido, he said: "The deal looks a bit off. It's to do with different clauses. I can't say more as that would not be fair on the player. We still hope we can pull it off but it's nothing to do with finances."

Bruce has also been linked with the Middlesbrough striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu but his agent Barry Silkman believes the player would be out of Birmingham's price range at more than £10m.

* SHEFFIELD UNITED

The manager Bryan Robson has confirmed he has offered Everton £4m for their forward James Beattie. Robson, who is also interested in Sydney's Australian midfielder David Carney, said: "I've got a couple of things in the pipeline that are very close." Asked about Beattie, Robson said: "The only thing I feel is that if I can persuade the lad to take a drop [to the Championship], hopefully for just one season, he'd be a good signing."

* MANCHESTER CITY

The manager Sven Goran Eriksson looks set to continue his rebuilding after his Juventus counterpart, Claudio Ranieri, said he will let defender Giorgio Chiellini move to Eastlands if he wants to. Juventus are due to play friendlies in England and Germany, and Ranieri said: "Will he come back to Turin with us? It will depend on him, Manchester City and Juventus."

* SUNDERLAND

The manager Roy Keane is interested in the Cork City player Roy O'Donovan. Speaking in Cork yesterday, he said: "If we get permission this evening, we'll be speaking to a player who doesn't play far from here." Confirming that he was referring to O'Donovan, he was asked: "But you said you didn't want him on Friday." Keane replied: "I changed my mind."