Mark Schwarzer heads for Arsenal on manic Monday

We're in store for a manic Monday as clubs look to snap up some last-minute bargains before the transfer deadline expires on Tuesday. And one man who's never been averse to a bargain is Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, well known for being tighter than the Chelsea defence.

It looks as though Wenger could at last be about to get his hands on Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer as the Cottagers weigh up Shay Given as a replacement. Wenger has been chasing the 37-year-old Schwarzer for months but Fulham have been playing hard to get, stating there was no way they would sell the Aussie international to their London rivals.

But Fulham boss Mark Hughes seems to be softening his stance, saying after Saturday’s draw with Blackpool: "Mark Schwarzer has made it clear that he would like to go to Arsenal so we are trying to look at other options." The fact that Arsenal are alleged to have increased their offer from £2.5m to £3m might also have made Hughes a happier man.

Top of Fulham's options is Given and Hughes didn't deny he would like to see Manchester City's unsettled keeper at Craven Cottage. "I'm always interested in quality players and Shay Given is a quality player. Make of that what you will."

However, the Daily Mirror says that while it's almost certain Schwarzer will indeed sign for Arsenal, his replacement won't be Given but rather another Australian in Reading's Adam Federici. The 24-year-old Federici is out of contract at the end of the season and Reading are understandably keen to cash in on him before he becomes a free agent.

And it's the Mirror which swears on its mother's life that Arsenal reject Armand Traore is about to make the trip across the capital to Upton Park. The 20-year-old French defender allegedly turned down a £3m move to Benfica last week, preferring to stay in England, and it seems he's rather taken a fancy to leafy West Ham.

Traore fell out of favour with Wenger and ended up third choice left-back behind Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs but he's likely to get more game time at the Hammers who have so far leaked nine goals in three games. Other reports, however, link Traore with a move to Juventus. Only time will tell.

Having struggled to see off West Brom at Anfield on Sunday – and with Argentine Javier Mascherano now a Barcelona player after a £17.25m transfer - Liverpool are clearly in dire need of some fresh blood. But will Porto midfielder Raul Meireles be able to fill Mascherano’s formidable boots?

The 27-year-old Portugal international is a no-nonsense player and, unlike most of the current Liverpool squad, knows the sweet taste of success having won four league titles during his six years at Porto. He appeared for his country in all of their World Cup matches in South Africa and the Kop will be hoping he links well with fellow new boys Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen in the midfield.

Meanwhile, if the Spanish daily Sport is to be believed (and remember this is the rag that swore blind Cesc Fabregas would forsake Arsenal for Barcelona), Liverpool might also be about to land Real Madrid central midfielder Mahamadou Diarra. The paper says the 29-year-old Diarra has been told by Jose Mourinho that he's surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu and that his agent, Frederic Guerra, is in negotiations with Liverpool about the possibility of a move to Anfield.

It was only last week that some of the more fantastic elements of the Fourth Estate were swearing blind that Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa was on his way to Arsenal, but in fact the 23-year-old has had to settle for a one-year loan deal with Newcastle with an option of signing a permanent contract at the season’s end.

"Hatem is a player who we have been tracking for a long time, and what is important is that he is not only a young player who should continue to improve, but somebody who already has a great reputation in the game," said Newcastle boss Chris Hughton, adding that he hopes to blood Hatem against Blackpool in a fortnight’s time.
 
In other news, the Sun claims that Manchester United are hoping to have Everton tyro Jack Rodwell on their books by the end of tomorrow. The 19-year-old is a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson and the paper says that he’ll offer the Toffees £10m plus the unwanted Michael Carrick in order to secure the services of the England Under-21 star.

Rodwell broke into the Everton side two years ago and came to the attention of Ferguson two years ago when he scored against United. Though the Sun says the Merseyside club would love to hang on to Rodwell, the size of Ferguson’s offer might prove too tempting.

Finally, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is nothing if not tenacious. Having made several attempts during the summer to bag Brazil striker Luis Fabiano, Redknapp is reportedly up to his old tricks again as the transfer deadline draws near. The Mirror says Spurs' hand has been strengthened by their qualification for the Champions League group stage – particularly as Fabiano's club, Sevilla, crashed out of the competition last week and are now in the Europa League.

Apparently Sevilla excluded the Brazilian from their side that won in La Liga at the weekend "for fear of him being injured while negotiations with Spurs are still ongoing". ·