A club record $15million fee has been agreed with Skrtel's Russian club, Zenit St Petersburg, and personal terms have also been agreed with the player.

Skrtel is now waiting for the deal to be rubber-stamped by Liverpool's owners.

The Slovakia international centre-back was manager Rafael Benitez's top target for the January transfer window, and the Reds boss is looking to get the transfer wrapped up as quickly as possible so he can incorporate Skrtel into the Liverpool squad.

But currently chief executive Rick Parry is in New York holding discussions with club owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The meetings have been arranged to make a decision on what plan the Americans will agree on for the new stadium planned for Stanley Park.

It is also clear that talks are still going on regarding Liverpool's overall financing, with the Americans still searching for a deal to re-finance their original loans to buy the club, and to find the cash for the new stadium.

A decision is expected to be announced on the new stadium scheme tomorrow, and it is also expected that Skrtel's transfer will also be finalised for him to be included in Liverpool's squad to play Middlesbrough on Saturday.

NEWCASTLE boss Sam Allardyce is following owner Mike Ashley's orders and getting on with his job by setting his sights on a swoop for Arsenal's Lassana Diarra. Lyon have also confirmed their interest - but admit they are unlikely to clinch the signing of the midfielder.

Jermain Defoe has revealed he has been told he can leave TOTTENHAM by manager Juande Ramos but insists he wants to stay at the north London club.

PORTSMOUTH made their first signing of the transfer window after snapping up Swiss striker Danijel Subotic from Basle.

MARSEILLE have rejected an approach from Manchester City for striker Djibril Cisse.

INTER president Massimo Moratti has confirmed the club are interested in signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Maniche.

AJAX defender Urby Emanuelson is set to stay in Holland, ruling out a move to TOTTENHAM.

New DERBY signing Laurent Robert has insisted he never had any doubts about returning to 'the best league in the world'. Derby have also agreed a fee with Blackburn for midfielder Robbie Savage and have received international clearance to play new signing Emanuel Villa.

READING'S new signing Marek Matejovsky is eager to begin his Royals career at Aston Villa on Saturday.

Coca-Cola Championship big spenders QPR have completed the signing of Birmingham striker Rowan Vine for an undisclosed fee.

LEEDS have issued a "hands-off" warning following speculation surrounding the future of striker Jermaine Beckford.

Beckford, the leading scorer in League One this season with 15 goals, has attracted interest from rival clubs in recent weeks, but Leeds insist the 24-year-old is not for sale.

A club spokesman said: "Jermaine is a key part of the club's progress on the pitch under Dennis Wise and there is no reason why he can't reach his ambitions of playing at the highest level with Leeds United."

Meanwhile, the Whites have agreed to extend the loan spell of Tomi Ameobi, the younger brother of Newcastle's Shola, at SCUNTHORPE until the end of the season.

The Lincolnshire club have also snapped up former Manchester City midfielder Kevin Horlock after his contract at DONCASTER was terminated by mutual consent.

PETERBOROUGH have broken their transfer record to sign Norwich goalkeeper Joe Lewis for $1million on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Meanwhile, Posh director of football Barry Fry has claimed their League Two rivals MK DONS have enquired about Jamie Day, Danny Blanchett and Danny Crow.

LEICESTER have signed Hungary winger Gabor Bori on loan from MTK Hungaria FC until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old right-sided player becomes the second Hungarian to arrive at the Walkers Stadium following fellow winger Zsolt Laczko, who joined the Foxes on loan at the end of last week.

BARNSLEY have placed defender and former captain Paul Reid on the transfer list along with Andy Johnson.

MILLWALL have released Trinidad and Tobago defender Brent Sancho, while Bryan Hodge has returned to Blackburn following his loan spell, despite the Lions' desire to sign the young midfielder on a full-time basis.

BRADFORD have completed the permanent signing of Paul Heckingbottom from BARNSLEY while BRISTOL ROVERS have also tied up a permanent deal for Danny Coles from Hull for an undisclosed fee.

LEYTON ORIENT enjoyed a successful day in the transfer market agreeing a six-month contract for Birmingham defender Sam Oji, while Adam Chambers signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract.

LEEDS have completed the permanent signing of NORTHAMPTON midfielder Bradley Johnson.

The left-sided midfielder is the third player to have signed for Leeds during the January transfer window. He follows Sebastian Sorsa and Neil Kilkenny into Elland Road, with a fourth, Stoke's Peter Sweeney, set to complete his switch after a medical later this week.

Fabio Santos is to quit LYON on a temporary basis for personal reasons and join Brazilian club SAO PAULO on loan for six months.

BESIKTAS are close to a deal for Deportivo La Coruna's Argentinian defender Fabricio Coloccini, according to reports.

OLYMPIACOS have completed the signing of Argentinian midfielder Fernando Belluschi from River Plate for a reported fee of 6.5 million euros.

HEERENVEEN striker Afonso Alves is hoping to secure a move to either Manchester City or Fenerbahce in the January transfer window.

FC GRONINGEN have rejected a 2.5million euros bid from Ajax for Uruguayan Bruno Silva.

Defender Guillaume Gillet insists it has been a "dream come true" to join ANDERLECHT.

LYON could be ready to farm out Fred on loan to Ligue 1 rivals Paris St Germain after washing their hands of the wantaway striker.

Brazilian forward Amauri is set to remain at PALERMO until the end of the season despite strong interest from some of Italian football's heavy hitters.

AMIENS centre-back Joel Sami will join Ligue 1 high-flyers NANCY on a three-year deal in the summer.