Football in Brief: Sunderland stall Benitez over move for Jones

Babel will have to be sold by Liverpool so they can raise funds (GETTY IMAGES)

Sunderland are unwilling to consider loaning their striker Kenwyne Jones to Liverpool and Rafael Benitez will have to raise funds from the sale of Ryan Babel to bring the player in. Benitez has not given up hope of recruiting the Trinidad & Tobago striker with a cash deal though. Sunderland may release him for £10m, with Steve Bruce keen to raise money for his own targets. These include Salvador Cabanas, the Paraguayan striker of Club America in Mexixo and Schalke's Kevin Kuranyi. If Babel can be offloaded to Birmingham for nearer to £10m than the initial £8m bid, securing Jones seems a possibility.

Hull secure loan signing of Egypt's Zaki

Hull City have signed Amr Zaki on loan until the end of the season, subject to the Egypt striker receiving a work permit. Zaki, who scored 11 Premier League goals during a loan spell with Wigan last season, agreed to join Hull from Egyptian side Zamalek on Sunday. "I'm happy to be back in the Premier League through Hull," Zaki said. "Tigers are good side and I'm looking forward to doing my best for the team."

Yeung seals record sponsorship deal

Birmingham City's owner Carson Yeung agreed a club-record sponsorship deal yesterday with Chinese sportswear manufacturer Xtep that will also mean the club's matches are broadcast in China. Xtep will pay around £7.1m to the club in a five-year contract from the start of next season, under which China Central Television will show at least eight Birmingham matches.