Monday Paper Talk

[Southend_Yid]

 Jose Mourinho wants to take Frank Lampard to Real Madrid in a swap deal for Spanish Under-21 midfielder Esteban Granero.
Full story: the Sun
Everton boss David Moyes has admitted making an approach to New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry, who is currently training with Ars*nal during the MLS off-season, in an attempt to sign the Frenchman on loan in January.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Ars*nal's Marouane Chamakh has conceded he may have to leave the club to revive his career and has hinted he could be set for a return to his former team Bordeaux.
Full story: Daily Mail
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is ready to offer Bobby Zamora a move away from Fulham.
Full story: Daily Mirror
QPR boss Neil Warnock is also eyeing up Zamora who is unhappy at being left out of the Fulham side at Swansea.
Full story: Daily Express
Manchester United are chasing 17-year-old Dutch left-back Jetro Willems, who plays for PSV Eindhoven, as manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks for the next Patrice Evra.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Mario Balotelli faces a £150,000 fine from Manchester City after breaking a club curfew to go for a midnight curry.
Full story: Daily Star
 Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas banned anyone outside the first-team squad from the training ground at Cobham ahead of their game with Manchester City on Monday night.
  Full story: Daily Express
Blackburn full-back Gael Givet had to be substituted in the first half of the 2-1 defeat by Sunderland because he was suffering from heart palpitations.
Full story: the Independent
Phil Jones believes it is wrong to criticise his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney for a lack of goals before the weekend's win against Wolves because he does so much important work for the side in other areas.
Full story: talkSPORT
New Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has warned the Black Cats supporters that there will be plenty of dark days ahead of them despite their much-needed win over Blackburn on Sunday. Full story: Daily Telegraph

Liverpool's Craig Bellamy and QPR's Joey Barton were involved in an argument moments after the final whistle in Saturday's game at Anfield as bad feelings between the two spilled into the tunnel area.
Full story: Daily Mail
 

[Southend_Yid]

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas says he may spend the rest of his career at Barcelona - but his former side Ars*nal are the only club he would leave the Nou Camp for. (Sky Sports News)

Manchester United are poised to test Tottenham's resolve with a £30m January move for play-maker Luka Modric.
Full story: Daily Express
Meanwhile, Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, reportedly targeted by Manchester United, says he is happy at Schalke, where he has scored 15 goals in 16 matches in the Bundesliga this season.
Full story: Daily Mail
Arsene Wenger is contemplating a loan move for Manchester City's out-of-favour 31-year-old defender Wayne Bridge, despite denying having made an approach for the left-back in his pre-match news conference.
Full story: Daily Mail
The Gunners are also ready to step up their interest in Brazil's 19-year-old midfielder Casemiro as his club Sao Paulo are reportedly ready to cash in with a £10m deal.
Full story: talkSPORT
Or Ars*nal will bid £23m for AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato, the 22-year-old having fallen down the pecking order somewhat this season.
 Full story: caughtoffside.com
Tottenham are interested in Bolton defender Gary Cahill, but Chelsea will beat them to the signing.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Meanwhile, Spurs are believed to have held talks with midfielder Giovani dos Santos and his representatives with a view to selling the Mexican in January.
Full story: Daily Mail
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish admits Darren Bent could leave Aston Villa next month, providing they get a bid too good to refuse.
 (Daily Mirror)
Chelsea target Gonzalo Higuain could be set for a summer switch to Juventus, according to reports in Italy as the Italian giants plan on opening the bidding at £24m for the Real Madrid striker.
Full story: talkSPORT
Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor will not open talks about staying at loan club Tottenham until the end of the season.
Full story: the Sun
Birmingham have put a £12m price tag on 17-year-old winger Nathan Redmond who is being targeted by Manchester City.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill is weighing up an offer for Hamburg SV's versatile left-sided player Marcell Jansen, 26, whose contract is due to end in 18 months.
Full story: FootyBunker
West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie is believed to have turned down a £160,000 a week offer to join Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.
 (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United have emerged as the latest suitors for Real Sociedad's 20-year-old centre-back Inigo Martinez, according to reports in Spain.
Full story: Insidefutbol.com
Chelsea are believed to have been told they can sign Brazil international Kaka for £22m.
 (Daily Star)
Blackburn will offer Fulham striker Andy Johnson, 30, a £2m pay deal to help them secure their Premier League status.
Full story: Daily Mirror
QPR are believed to be considering a move for Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones.
Full story: Daily Mail
Manchester United veteran winger Ryan Giggs is believed to be the man Welsh chiefs want to replace tragic Gary Speed as national boss.
Full story: the Sun
Meanwhile Giggs is believed to be planning to discuss his Manchester United future with Sir Alex Ferguson and is keeping an open mind about playing on for another season.
Full story: Sky Sports
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor has spoken out in support of John Terry - after the defender was taunted at White Hart Lane - and believes the Chelsea captain's court case will not affect his performances.
Full story: Evening Standard
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill believes striker Nicklas Bendtner can finally show why he rates himself so highly at the Stadium of Light.
Full story: Daily Star
The Bishop of Blackburn has called on Blackburn fans to lay off under-fire manager Steve Kean.
 (Daily Express)
Wayne Bridge has hit back after his Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini suggested the defender is motivated by money and played golf on matchdays. Mancini has said he is keen for Bridge to find a new club, while the 31-year-old, who has made just one appearance for City this season, said he does not know why he is being isolated.
Full story: Daily Mail

[Southend_Yid]

Manchester City's first signing of the transfer window could be Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi. Manager Roberto Mancini is keen to recruit the 28-year-old Italy international but the deal could depend on whether City can sell unsettled striker Carlos Tevez.
 Full story: the Sun
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is pondering an £8m move for giant Blackburn defender Chris Samba.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Another Blackburn player, midfielder Steven N'Zonzi, has emerged as a shock target for Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas as the Stamford Bridge boss searches for a physical presence in midfield.
 Full story: Metro
Yet another Blackburn player being targeted is winger Junior Hoilett - and Stoke are prepared to offload winger Jermaine Pennant as they step up their attempts to sign Hoilett, who is valued at £8m.
 Full story: Daily Mail
Aston Villa could be set to sign Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane on a similar loan deal to that which Thierry Henry has agreed at Ars*nal. The Los Angeles Galaxy striker would need clearance from both his club and Major League Soccer.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Manchester United are eyeing a £25m-plus-player offer for Lille attacker Eden Hazard, who is also a target for Ars*nal.
 Full story: Caughtoffside
Everton are the latest side to be linked with a move for Huddersfield Town's highly rated striker Jordan Rhodes. The youngster, who has scored 21 goals so far this season, has already been the subject of an approach by West Ham.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Bolton could turn to League Two side Crawley in their search for Gary Cahill's possible replacement. The Trotters are considering a £1m bid for centre-back Kyle McFadzean to replace Cahill, who is wanted by Chelsea.
 Full story: the Sun
Ars*nal and Chelsea are both interested in 17-year-old Crewe forward Nick Powell, a 6ft 1ins England youth international.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Japan striker Tadanari Lee, who scored the winning goal in last year's Asian Cup final against Australia in Doha, could be joining Southampton after agreeing terms with the Championship side, according to reports in Japan. Saints must now obtain a work permit for the 26-year-old. (Nikkan Sports newspaper)
Rangers are hopeful that former striker Nacho Novo, who has been training with the club over the Christmas period, will return to Ibrox from Sporting Gijon. (Daily Record)
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson admits he is interested in Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic but does not think his club "is at the top of the list of candidates". (Daily Record)
Honduran club Motagua claim a Rangers representative is trying to finalise negotiations to sign striker Jerry Bengtson and midfielder Jorge Claros. (the Sun)
Rangers operations executive Ali Russell is keen for the club to sign Honduras internationals Jerry Bengtson and Jorge Claros, but manager Ally McCoist has yet to be convinced either would cut it in the Scottish Premier League. (Daily Record)
Young Boys full-back Scott Sutter has his heart set on joining Rangers, the club he supported as a boy in Hertfordshire, on loan despite interest from a German top-flight outfit and two from the English Championship. (the Sun)
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson is not interested in allowing Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans join Rangers, despite Ibrox manager Ally McCoist expressing an interest. (Daily Record)
Norwegian midfielder Thomas Bendiksen says he delayed signing a new contract with Rangers because of an offer from Tromso and will choose the club that can offer him more first-team football. (the Sun)

Doncaster Rovers striker Billy Sharp, who has scored 10 goals this season, has said he is ready to leave the Keepmoat Stadium but only for the right club.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has been banned from returning to the house he is renting by the landlord until he settles a bill - the size of which he disputes - for the damage he has reportedly caused since moving in.
 Full story: Metro

[Southend_Yid]

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has claimed that Demba Ba's release clause is actually around half the £10m mooted over the weekend, which could be set to spark a transfer frenzy.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Tottenham are believed to be planning a move for defender James Collins with Aston Villa ready to listen to offers in excess of £3m for the 28-year-old.
 Full story: Metro
Manchester United are planning a late bid to sign Bolton defender Gary Cahill despite Chelsea agreeing a fee for the England international.
 Full story: Daily Mail
Blackburn Rovers are targeting French winger Wahbi Khazri as a possible replacement for contract rebel Junior Hoilett.
  Full story: Daily Mirror
Chelsea forward Gael Kakuta will spend the rest of the season on loan at Dijon.
 Full story: Inside Futbol
West Ham are set to revise their offer for Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes after he netted five goals against Wycombe on Friday.
  Full story: Daily Mail
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking add two new faces to his squad in the form of Borussia Dortmund pair Mario Gotze and Neven Subotic.
 Full story: CaughtOffside
Neil Warnock left QPR after a bust up with owner Tony Fernandes over the signing of Blackburn striker Yakubu.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
QPR are set to hold talks with former Manchester City and Fulham boss Mark Hughes by Tuesday as they seek a replacement for Warnock, who was sacked on Sunday.
  Full story: Goal.com
As well as Mark Hughes, Gianfranco Zola is a possibility for the QPR job and would bring Ray Wilkins with him as his assistant.
 Full story: The Sun
Former QPR boss Ray Wilkins believes the current players need to take more responsibility for their current situation.
 Full story: talkSPORT Niko Kranjcar has done a U-turn and insists he is ready to fight for his Tottenham future to resurrect his international career with Croatia.
  Full story: The Sun
Diego Maradona has questioned whether Paris Saint-Germain's sporting director Leonardo is a football man or an oil dealer. In a rant he said: "I wonder if he is a player, coach, agent or oil dealer. I do not understand."
 Full story: Metro
Former Italy striker Christian Vieri has been showing off his silky foot work with an appearance on Italy's Strictly Come Dancing.
 Full story: 101 Great Goals

[Southend_Yid]

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is ready to test Tottenham with a £10m offer for unsettled striker Jermain Defoe, 29.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Paris Saint-Germain manager Carlo Ancelotti has offered Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez a lifeline after Alexandre Pato turned down a £29m move to PSG last week. AC Milan hoped to use the money from the sale of Pato to the French club to fund a move for the Manchester City and Argentina striker, but now Ancelotti could pounce instead.
 Full story: the Times (subscription required)
However, AC Milan have not given up on their pursuit of 27-year-old Tevez, according to his agent Kia Joorabchian.
 Full story: Tuttosport (in Italian)
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is ready to swoop for Tottenham's 22-year-old striker Giovani dos Santos in a £4m deal.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov is to hold transfer talks with Bayer Leverkusen, while Bayern Munich and Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala are also interested in the 30-year-old. Full story: Sky Sports
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, 18, says he will have to consider going out on loan next season if he fails to get more first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge.
 Full story: ESPN
Manchester City are set to finalise the £3.5m signing of 15-year-old Real Madrid striker Jose Angel Pozo. He will sign a five-year deal on 15 March, his 16th birthday.
 Full story: Daily Mail
Liverpool are targeting a January move for 22-year-old Swansea City winger Scott Sinclair.
 Full story: Caughtoffside
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is seemingly still keen on Marseille's £15m rated French forward Loic Remy, 25, after jetting out to see him score twice for his side in their 2-0 win over Lille.
Full story: the Sun
Bolton boss Owen Coyle has confirmed the move to get United States defender Tim Ream in from New York Red Bulls is at an advanced stage after the player spent a successful week at the club.
Full story: MEN
Estonian right-back Enar Jaager, 27, jetted into Glasgow determined to land the biggest deal of his life at Rangers. The 84-capped defender is a free agent after spending last season with Norwegian side Aalesunds.
Full story: Daily Record
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has leapt to the defence of top-flight referees, claiming they are doing a good job in the face of growing scrutiny.
 Full story: talkSPORT
Former Blackburn striker Kevin Gallacher believes the club's youngsters proved their critics wrong by defeating Fulham 3-1 - despite being down to 10 men.
 Full story: talkSPORT
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher fears his team's disappointing form at home is ruining their chances of finishing in the top four.
 Full story: the Sun
Thierry Henry was involved in an altercation with an Ars*nal supporter when the players went across to applaud their followers after the final whistle of their defeat at Swansea City on Sunday. It is understood the on-loan forward took exception to criticism of the players, appearing to make a 'yapping' gesture at the fan with his left hand and pointed as if to invite the individual to address him on the pitch. Full story: The Guardian

On-loan Wolves midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong delighted Ars*nal fans by pole-axing Tottenham ace Rafael van der Vaart when he fired a ball into his face from point-blank range. The term "Frimponged" quickly started trending on social networking site Twitter.
 Full story: Metro

[Southend_Yid]

Chelsea have been told that Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Willian, 23, for whom they have already made a reported bid of £20m, will be available for £28m. Full story: Daily Mail
Tottenham have extended the contract of striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, 30, until 2013 - but the Russian remains available for transfer.
 Full story: The Times [subscription required]
Bolton are hopeful of signing 27-year-old forward Ismael Bangoura from Arab side Al Nasr and boss Owen Coyle is trying to rush through a work permit for the Guinea international.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Manchester United are thought to be ready to enter the race for Brazil striker Leandro Damiao, 22, the subject of a £15m bid from Tottenham last summer, who is valued at £24m by his club Internacional.
 Full story: Daily Mail
QPR's bid for Manchester City's Nedum Onuoha, which new boss Mark Hughes had hoped to finalise this week, has been complicated by interest from Everton.
 Full story: Metro
West Brom have attempted to ward off interest from Fulham and West Ham by putting an £8m price tag on winger Peter Odemwingie.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Swansea midfielder Joe Allen, 21, has emerged as a surprise target for Tottenham, after impressing in the Welsh side's maiden Premier League campaign.
 Full story: Metro
Lyon have expressed an interest in Tottenham's versatile defender Vedran Corluka, who is also wanted by Roma.
 Full story: Daily Mirror
Everton are reportedly keen to take 24-year-old Fiorentina winger Alessio Cerci on loan with a view to a permanent move.
 Full story: Inside Futbol
Greek giants Olympiakos want to sign Blackburn Rovers's Argentine playmaker Mauro Formica on loan until the end of the season. Full story: Lancashire Telegraph
Reading, with funding from new Russian investor Anton Zingarevich, are ready to move for Doncaster striker Billy Sharp.
 Full story: Daily Mail
Real Betis striker Jorge Molina is a £2m transfer target for Celtic. (Scottish Sun)
Leeds have moved to hijack Rangers' bid for Estonian full-back Enar Jaager. (Scottish Daily Express)
Television cameras captured Ars*nal's Robin van Persie voicing his disbelief at Arsene Wenger's decision to sub winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the Gunners' 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United.
 Full story: The Guardian
Out-of-favour Spurs midfielder Steven Pienaar is rumoured to be angered and seeking talks after the Londoners valued him at £6m, which could dissuade QPR from making a bid.
 Full story: Daily Mail
Former West Ham team-mates Nigel Reo-Coker and Craig Bellamy reignited their feud during Bolton's win over Liverpool at the Reebok. Reo-Coker, whose ability was mocked by Bellamy when they played at Upton Park, announced he has "no respect" for the Welshman.
 Full story: The Sun
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has backed £20m winger Stewart Downing to become an Anfield star. Full story: Liverpool Echo
Wes Brown has urged homesick team-mate Craig Gardner not to go back to Birmingham and settle in Sunderland.
 Full story: Daily Express
Portsmouth boss Michael Appleton has been told to sell his stars to save the Championship club.
 Full story: The Sun
QPR captain Joey Barton may have upset former manager Neil Warnock but the Loftus Road faithful have afforded him a new song to celebrate his Twitter antics entitled: "He tweets what he wants."
 Full story: Metro

[Southend_Yid]

        Manchester City are offering Ars*nal striker Robin van Persie, 28, a £250,000-a-week deal to lead their attack.
 Full story: Metro 
    Everton are monitoring West Brom's soon-to-be out-of-contract defender Jonas Olsson. The 29-year-old is stalling on a new deal at the Midlands club.
 Full story: Daily Mirror 
        Ars*nal will make the first move in the race for Fulham striker Clint Dempsey, whose contract expires next summer.
 Full story: the Sun 
    Liverpool are lining up a bid for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent, 28, who is nearing a return to fitness.

        Defender Carlos Cuellar, 30, looks to be on his way out of Aston Villa after bidding farewell to fans on Twitter, with his four-year contract expiring at the end of the season and no offer of a new deal.
 Full story: Birmingham Mail 
    Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to battle with Tottenham for Crewe's 18-year-old midfielder Nick Powell.
 Full story: Daily Mirror 
        Reports in France are indicating that Paris St Germain are determined to beat Chelsea to Napoli's Argentinian hitman  Ezequiel Lavezzi,       27.
 Full story: FootyLatest
 Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini finally admits his side are in pole position to win the Premier League after their 2-0 triumph at Newcastle.
 Full story: talkSPORT 
    Sir Alex Ferguson believes the "unethical" manner of Mark Hughes' sacking by Manchester City could help United in the title race - with City due to play QPR next weekend.
 Full story: Manchester Evening News 
        Manchester United winger Ashley Young welcomes the appointment of Roy Hodgson as England manager after speaking to his international team-mates about him.
 Full story: talkSPORT

    Frank Lampard has told Chelsea that Didier Drogba is irreplaceable and has urged the club to agree terms with the striker over a new contract.
 Full story: Independent 
        Aston Villa fans failed to get their protests against manager Alex McLeish off the ground.
 Full story: Birmingham Mail 
    The Football Association will back calls for technology after another Wembley showpiece was overshadowed by a goal-line row. Liverpool striker Andy Carroll had his effort ruled out against Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
 Full story: the Sun 
        Chelsea defender John Terry says owner Roman Abramovich will have to hand the manager's job to Roberto di Matteo full time if he guides them to victory in the Champions League final.
 Full story: Daily Star 
    Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish says he will discuss his Anfield future with the club's owners at the end of the season.
 Full story: Daily Mail 
 
        New Ars*nal striker Lukas Podolski was forced to conduct his farewell lap for Cologne with a riot police escort as his final game for the club was overshadowed by ugly scenes.
 Full story: Metro