Black cats Keane on Robbie
Keane has fallen out of favour at White Hart Lane with Harry Redknapp viewing Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch as his preferred strike partnership.
Sunderland are the latest club to be linked with a swoop for the Ireland captain, who is valued at £9million.
Celtic had a bid turned down earlier this month while West Ham, who were trumped by Spurs in their attempt to sign Eidur Gudjohnsen, have also expressed an interest.
However, the Hammers’ shortage of striking options is set to be addressed by the imminent arrival of Benni McCarthy in a £2.5m move from Blackburn.
McCarthy’s departure could pave the way for Stoke striker James Beattie to return to his hometown club. Stoke, meanwhile, are still pursuing Portsmouth’s England goalkeeper David James and hope to wrap up a deal.
Boss Tony Pulis said: “We’re obviously desperate to get a goalkeeper in before Monday and he’s our target.”
Fulham are set to wrap up a loan deal for Stefano Okaka from Roma until the end of the season, while their injury problems will force boss Roy Hodgson to consider signings right up until the deadline.
It has generally been a quiet transfer window and Hodgson offers a simple explanation.
“The fact there hasn’t been much business is hugely significant. Europe is in a major recession,” he said. “People are losing their houses and businesses, so why should we expect that in football money flies out the window like there’s no tomorrow?
“A lot of clubs have realised that we’re also victims of the recession and can’t keep spending money that we don’t have.
“Most moves are based on players being loaned out.”
One of the few clubs unaffected by the recession, Manchester City, have been linked with a £7m swoop for Parma’s Kenyan midfielder McDonald Mariga after a move for Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago broke down.
One player heading out of Eastlands could be Benjani Mwaruwari, whose representatives have been talking to Sunderland and could seal a £5m move.
Steve Bruce insists any signing of Benjani would not necessarily pave the way for the departure of Kenwyne Jones, with initial interest from Liverpool seemingly cooled.
