Liverpool to offer players in exchange for Duff

Gerard Houllier, the Liverpool manager, is ready to make a players-plus-cash offer for Damien Duff. Houllier has decided to make a formal bid for the Republic of Ireland forward after sounding out Blackburn Rovers about his availability and will offer about £12m and the option of swaps.

Duff has become a Liverpool priority since the collapse of the Lee Bowyer deal and, although they are considering Senegal's Khalilou Fadiga, Duff heads their list. Houllier has the Blackburn target, Djimi Traoré, to offer in exchange and could also make available the likes of Stephen Wright and Patrik Berger. Blackburn still hope to keep Duff, possibly persuading him to sign on new terms, but with the option to leave in a year's time. They would seek a transfer fee of £20m.

Traoré, who has played in pre-season, is probably the only Liverpool player Blackburn would consider, but as they value him at £1.5m Liverpool would still have to find more than £18m for Duff.

The goalkeeper Richard Wright has agreed to take a wage cut to join Everton from Arsenal. The initial £3.5m fee will rise to £4.5m depending on appearances and achievements. Wright has passed a medical and is expected to sign a five-year contract today.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, said: "It is a big move for him because you have to remember that at the present time Arsenal are in a far healthier position than Everton Football Club are.

"Having to have to decide 'No, I don't want to be a No 2 two, I want to be a No 1' I think has been a big decision. He has also had to take a big wage dock to come here, so that tells you about his ambition, at a time in football when you hear so much about players picking up the money.

"In the conversations and meetings I have had with him he has shown me great desire to do that and I am looking forward to starting work with him."

Paul Gascoigne arrived in Washington last night to begin a one-week trial with the Major League Soccer club, DC United. He will spend a week in Washington with a view to making a permanent move across the Atlantic.