Italian outfit Palermo admit whilst keen on Valon Behrami that no transfer talks have been held for the West Ham midfielder. The Premier League strugglers have endured grave financial difficulties this season, and may need to sell in the summer, but they are reluctant to part with their prized assets.

"I understand that the British press are keen to report the Palermo interest in Behrami, because of the contacts made in January, but at present there is no open discussion," Palermo's sporting director Walter Sabatini told TRM.

"Behrami is a player we like, I like him very much.

"Our coach (former Lazio boss Delio Rossi) knows him well, as he helped him to grow, and he also likes him.

"At the moment there is nothing, in the sense that nothing is concrete, but Behrami is a player we like."