Monday Paper Talk

[Chelmsford_yid]

Ars*nal are considering a £10m move for Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 31.
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[/size]Arsene Wenger will be given £70m to spend in the summer. Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue, 24, Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, 30 , and Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic, 23, are his main targets.[/color]
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[/size]Southampton are risking losing in-form winger Jason Puncheon by dithering over handing the 26-year-old a new contract, while Newcastle and West Ham wait in the wings.[/color]
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[/size]Newcastle United winger Jonas Gutierrez, 26, is confident that the influx of five new French players in the transfer window will help to steer the club to a strong finish this season.[/color]
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[/size]Celtic are mulling over offering forward Anthony Stokes an extension to his contract after the 24-year-old played his way back into Neil Lennon's good books. Celtic were ready to offload the former Ars*nal trainee earlier in the season over off-the-field issues.[/color]
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[/size]Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has refused to rule out the possibility of a switch to moneybags French club PSG, saying: "Why not?"[/color]
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[/size]Striker Marek Hamsik, 25, is the latest Napoli player to be targeted by criminals after he was robbed at gunpoint while leaving the Stadio San Paolo following Sunday's 0-0 Serie A draw against Sampdoria.[/color]
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[/size]Roy Hodgson is ready to hand an England chance to Celtic defender Kelvin Wilson following the 27-year-old's Champions League heroics for the Hoops.[/color]
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[/size]Oldham's FA Cup hero Matt Smith, who scored a late equaliser against Everton to earn his side a replay, will be fined a week's wages for throwing his shirt into the crowd at the final whistle.[/color]
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[/size]Ars*nal are preparing to offer Arsene Wenger a two-year contract extension.[/color]
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[/size]Chelsea defender David Luiz, 25, apologised to Brentford's Jake Reeves after leaving the 19-year-old concussed with a tough challenge during Sunday's FA Cup tie.[/color]
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[/size]Barnsley boss David Flitcroft is relishing the chance to play Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals - his brother Gary was once a fans' favourite during a five-year spell there.[/color]
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[/size]Cash-strapped Portsmouth insisted on charging Carlisle £20 to park their team bus outside Fratton Park before last weekend's Championship clash.[/color]
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[/size]Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 26, is set to wear a four-fingered glove on his right hand against Ars*nal in Tuesday's Champions League clash after trying out his unusual apparel while keeping a clean sheet against Wolfsburg over the weekend[/color]

[Chelmsford_yid]

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce could move for ex-Bolton defender Ricardo Gardner. The Jamaica international, 34, is a free agent after leaving the Reebok Stadium last summer.

Manchester City are ready to open talks with Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure about a new five-year deal worth £55m.

Fulham boss Martin Jol is considering offering an extended contract to veteran Greece midfielder Giorgios Karagounis. The 35-year-old joined the Craven Cottage club on a free transfer last summer.

Spanish newspaper El Pais was thrilled by the performance of Spanish star Michu in Swansea's League Cup victory at Wembley, saying that "a buzz ran through the legendary London venue" every time he received the ball.

However, German newspaper Bild insists it was Swansea's German goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel who "stole the show" at Wembley.

Italian side Palermo have fired manager Alberto Malesani after just three weeks in the job and rehired Gian Piero Gasperini - the man Malesani replaced.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke maintains they will let Poland striker Robert Lewandowski leave for nothing when his contract ends in 2014 if they do not receive the right offer this summer. The 24-year-old has been linked with both Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Midfielder Michael Carrick, 31, has warned Manchester United not to be too gung-ho in their Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid.

Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, 24, believes that Real Madrid's consecutive wins over Barcelona have answered any questions about their team spirit ahead of their trip to Old Trafford.

Manchester United defender Patrice Evra believes his former United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo could be affected by the emotion of returning to Old Trafford for the first time.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini wants to see his players taking responsibility for the team's failings this year.

Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni will consider Antonio Cassano for Thursday's Europa League tie with Tottenham after dropping the Italy striker, 30, for Sunday's 3-2 win at Catania following a training ground row, which saw the pair reportedly come close to blows.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Claudio Ranieri's AS Monaco want to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, 29, this summer.

Ars*nal boss Arsene Wenger is set to renew his efforts to sign 21-year-old Celtic defensive player Victor Wanyama.

Danny Murphy, 35, wants to cancel his playing contract with Blackburn to take a coaching role with Fulham.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness says the team will continue to hold public training sessions when ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola arrives as coach next season. He said: "At Bayern we have a tradition that fans can see their idols up close and it is not going to change."

Defender Loris Benito had his finger bitten as he tried to get it off the pitch before his Zurich team-mate Davide da Costa finally carried it off the field

The only consolation for Benito was that his side won the match 4-0.

[RiffHard]

Defender Loris Benito had his finger bitten as he tried to get it off the pitch before his Zurich team-mate Davide da Costa finally carried it off the field

He tried to get his finger off the pitch, then it was bitten, and finally a team-mate managed to get his finger off the pitch? 

_{(I actually know it was a ferret or someone similar)}

[Chelmsford_yid]

German side Wolfsburg are considering a summer move for 28-year-old Ars*nal defender Per Mertesacker.

Ars*nal are ready to make Swansea an offer for their highly rated goalkeeper Michel Vorm, 29, to finally solve their problems between the sticks.

Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, 29, could join Zenit St Petersburg in order to trim the club's wage bill should they be relegated from the Premier League.

Chelsea have said that Atletico Madrid will have to pay £17m for 20-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has spent close to two seasons at the Spanish club and is yet to play for his parent club.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp may give the goalkeeping gloves to Robert Green after Julio Cesar's display in the Aston Villa defeat.

Ars*nal's victories against Bayern Munich and Swansea came after the team's defence decided to sit down and review their poor performance against Tottenham on video.

Play was interrupted during Blackburn's 1-1 draw with Burnley when fans let a chicken onto the pitch in protest against Blackburn owners Venky's, who own a poultry firm. It is the second time this has happened after a similar incident against Wigan last season.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Ars*nal and Manchester City target Stevan Jovetic says he would relish a chance to play in England and "the strongest league in the world". The 23-year-old playmaker has scored 12 goals in 24 games in Serie A for Fiorentina this season.
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[/size]Ars*nal could be priced out of the race for Jovetic, with Fiorentina seeking more than £25m amid interest from Juventus and both Milan clubs[/color]
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[/size]Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo says he will play in the Premier League "sooner or later". The statement will interest Everton, who attempted to sign the 27-year-old striker on transfer deadline day in January.[/color]
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[/size]Barcelona have defender Vincent Kompany, 26, and his Manchester City team-mate, striker Sergio Aguero, 24, in their summer plans. The Catalan giants may bid for the pair if their attempts to sign Borussia Dortmund's centre-back Mats Hummels and retain forward David Villa fail.[/color]
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[/size]German team manager Oliver Bierhoff says it will be "impossible" for a European team to win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, saying the advantage will lie with South American teams.[/color]
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[/size]Ars*nal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla, 28, believes Spain will still qualify for the World Cup, despite two recent draws in their qualification campaign. "Whoever thinks this is the end of an era is wrong," said Cazorla after Spain's 1-1 draw with Finland on Friday.[/color]
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[/size]Juventus forward and Montenegro skipper Mirko Vucinic has said his side will try to provoke England's "loose cannon" Wayne Rooney in the vital World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday. Rooney, 27, was sent off in England's last match in Montenegro in October 2011.[/color]
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[/size]Jose Mourinho has hinted he wants to return to manage Chelsea next season. The Real Madrid boss is quoted as saying: "It's not easy to find a new destination. It could be a destination where I've coached before. There are things that may be about to happen no-one could imagine."[/color]
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[/size]Mourinho will return to Stamford Bridge on Monday night as a special guest of the Brazilian FA for their friendly against Russia.[/color]
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[/size]Luiz Felipe Scolari has dismissed suggestions he was a failure at Chelsea and insisted he was not given enough time by owner Roman Abramovich[/color]
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[/size]Chelsea defender David Luiz believes the club can still end their troubled season on a high. "We can still win the Europa League, are still in the FA Cup and fighting for a better position in the table," he said.[/color]
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[/size]Gillingham chairman Paul Scally bought fish and chips for 28 travelling Accrington fans after the two sides' League Two match on Saturday, which the Gills won 1-0.[/color]

[Chelmsford_yid]

New Reading boss Nigel Adkins wants to raid his former club Southampton for 27-year-old striker Billy Sharp, who is on loan at Championship side Nottingham Forest.


Brazil striker Neymar, 21, has refused to rule out extending his contract with Santos despite interest from Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.


Brazil striker Neymar, 21, has refused to rule out extending his contract with Santos despite interest from Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.


Sacked Premier League managers Martin O'Neill and Brian McDermott have emerged as leading contenders to succeed Giovanni Trapattoni as Republic of Ireland manager.


McDermott has broken his silence for the first time since he was sacked as manager of Reading with just nine games left in the Barclays Premier League season.


German side Hamburg have invited fans to a barbecue on 20 April, following their 9-2 defeat by league leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday.


Valencia's Paraguayan striker Nelson Haedo Valdez, 29, saw off two burglars who broke into his home in early hours of Saturday morning by throwing ornamental stones from his garden at them.


England midfielder Jack Wilshere got a taste of just how desperate Ars*nal fans are to have him back in the side after he was mobbed at traffic lights while driving his car outside the Emirates.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Millwall club chaplain Father Owen Beament is hoping for a helping hand from God when the Lions take on Wigan in next weekend's FA Cup semi-final. As well as praying for the London team, he also says he will be having a few gin and tonics to calm his nerves.


Serie A side Inter Milan are planning a move for Manchester City's 29-year-old Argentina striker Carlos Tevez.

Manchester City will review manager Roberto Mancini's position at the club at the end of the season.

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, 38, says City will have to develop their young players to earn success.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says there is no way rivals City could have kept pace with them in this season's title race.

West Brom defender Jonas Olsson, 30, believes the Baggies need to finish in the Premier League's top eight to attract bigger players to the club.

Reading striker Adam Le Fondre believes Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez should have been sent off for his challenge on goalkeeper Adam Federici in scoring on Saturday. Instead Rodriguez's goal stood as the Saints won 2-0.

Real Madrid will take four goalkeepers to Turkey as part of their 21-man squad for the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Galatasaray on Tuesday. Diego Lopez, 31, is expected to start once again ahead of the out-of-favour Iker Casillas, 31.

Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil, 24, was only on the pitch for 15 minutes in Saturday's 5-1 win over Levante, but managed to score twice. Assistant manager Aitor Karanka later said the German international was carrying a slight injury.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, 25, met his match in the form of a robot goalkeeper as part of a bizarre Japanese game show.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Chelsea are set to open talks with Bayer Leverkusen as they close on a £20m deal for Germany striker Andre Schurrle, 22.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce wants to sign Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes. The Scotland international, 23, has scored 24 goals for Rovers since joining in an £8m deal from Huddersfield last summer

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has confirmed the club's interest in signing Dortmund's Germany defender Mats Hummels, 24

QPR manager Harry Redknapp admits it will be difficult to clear out the biggest earners at Loftus Road if his team is relegated to the Championship.

Former Spain and Real Madrid striker Raul, 35, won a seventh league title of his career when he captained Qatari side Al-Sadd to their 13th league title following a 3-1 victory over Al-Kharatiyat.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Tottenham are keen to sign former Ars*nal midfielder Alex Song, 25, who has struggled to get into the team at Barcelona this season.

Fulham have opened talks about a £5.1m summer deal for Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, 30.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has vowed to extend 28-year-old winger Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with the club beyond 2015.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes patience is required if the club are to bring back the glory days - or, failing that, a huge transfer fund

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has emerged as a leading candidate for the Everton job should David Moyes leave Goodison Park this summer.

Manchester City have added Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti to their four-man shortlist to succeed Roberto Mancini this summer, alongside Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini and Borussia Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness says he will not resign despite facing an investigation for tax evasion. The 61-year-old has pledged to be present at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday to see his team take on Barcelona in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola hopes to conduct his first press conference as Bayern Munich coach in German when he joins the club next season

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert, 31, says the PFA Player of the Year snub for Swansea's Michu, 27, proves there is a bias against 'smaller' clubs.

[Sunderland chairman Ellis Short celebrated his side's victory over Everton with Black Cats fans in a bar and Indian restaurant, where the Texan billionaire left a £1800 tip.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Barcelona's Spanish striker David Villa, 31, will try to force a move to save his chances of playing in the 2014 World Cup but may have missed a chance to join Ars*nal.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Sunderland will offer Tottenham £8m to sign full-back Danny Rose, 22, permanently.
Full story: Metro
David Villa has been at Barcelona since 2010
Ars*nal boss Arsene Wenger wants to sign Sevilla's £17m-rated Geoffrey Kondogbia, although the France Under-20 midfielder is also on Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid's radar.
Full story: the Sun
West Brom striker Shane Long, 26, is prepared to turn down the chance to move to Germany to stay at the Hawthorns.
Full story: Metro
Defender Joleon Lescott, 30, admits he may have to leave Manchester City in the summer to safeguard his World Cup ambitions.
Full story: Daily Mail
Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray wants to sign Real Madrid striker Javier Acuna, 24. The Paraguayan is currently on loan at Girona and available on a free transfer this summer.
Full story: Daily Mail
Harry Redknapp fears QPR will never get back in the Premier League after their relegation was confirmed on Sunday.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Former Liverpool and Scotland defender Alan Hansen says Newcastle will finish in the top half of the Premier League table next season - if they survive.
Full story: Daily Telegraph
Ars*nal boss Arsene Wenger has promised that he will not allow Sir Alex Ferguson to sign any more players from the club.
Full story: Daily Telegraph
Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler, 19, has pledged his immediate future to the club, ending rumours he will move to Borussia Dortmund to replace Mario Gotze, 20, who is joining Bayern Munich next season.
Full story: Kicker  (in German)
Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 31, has clarified his refusal to assume the captaincy after the substitution of Xavi, 33, in Saturday's game against Malaga, saying the armband was too small for him to wear comfortably.
Full story: Mundo Deportivo  (in Spanish)
Coldplay singer Chris Martin and American rapper Jay-Z watched Ars*nal v Manchester United on Sunday.
Full story: Daily Mail
Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio says he improved his English by using a karaoke machine and listening to Oasis.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Liverpool are ready to move for Brazilian defender Douglas on a free transfer as a replacement for the retiring Jamie Carragher. The 25-year-old, who currently plays for FC Twente, was previously the subject of a £4m bid from Newcastle but he is out of contract in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mail
Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has issued a 'come and get me' plea to Manchester City. City boss Roberto Mancini has expressed his interest in signing the 28-year-old who has a £42.5m release clause in his contract, although he hopes the Ukrainian giants will take nearer £20m.
Full story: The Sun
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to make Valencia's Spanish defender Victor Ruiz, 24, his first signing at Southampton.
Fernandinho could be on his way to the Premier League, possibly at Manchester City
Full story: The Sun
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has dismissed suggestions that star keeper Asmir Begovic, 25, has already been sold. Manchester United, Ars*nal and a host of top European clubs have been linked with the £15m-rated Bosnian international but Pulis says he isn't going anywhere.
Full story: Daily Star
Goalkeeper David Stockdale would be interested in making his loan spell at Hull City permanent if Fulham let him leave Craven Cottage. The 27-year-old made 24 appearances for the Tigers, helping them win promotion to the Premier League.
Full story: talkSPORT
But Hull manager Steve Bruce is set to give former England keeper Chris Kirkland, 31, another chance to play in the Premier League. The Sheffield Wednesday man played for Bruce when he was at Wigan Athletic and has a bargain fee in his contract.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Borussia Dortmund are desperate for Chelsea to beat off Bayern Munich and buy their star striker Robert Lewandowski, 24.
Full story: Daily Star
Manchester United are considering a move for Colombia under-20 international midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero who has been on loan from parent club Atletico Nacional to Italian Serie A side Pescara.
Full story: Daily Mail
Peterborough striker Dwight Gayle, 22, is a transfer target for QPR, following the Posh's relegation to League One.
Full story: Fulham Chronicle 
Swansea midfielder Leon Britton wants to see former team-mate Scott Sinclair, 24, return to the Swans after he was told he was surplus to requirements at Manchester City.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp would not mind taking a pay-cut after the club were relegated to the Championship because he does not need the money.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, 26, would like to get back in the England squad but says Villa "will always come first".
Full story: The Birmingham Mail
QPR midfielder Joey Barton is willing to take a pay-cut to help make his move to Marseille permanent as he does not see "why he would help" Rangers next season.
Full story: Goal.com 
Reading manager Nigel Adkins insists there will be no mass exit of players from the club despite their relegation from the Premier League.
Full story: Daily Mail
Robin van Persie is set to stick with his number 20 shirt next season to save the Manchester United fans some money. The striker had been offered the chance to swap for the number nine shirt but is planning to turn it down.
Full story: United Review

[Chelmsford_yid]

Real Madrid are stepping up their efforts to beat Barcelona to the signing of Brazil forward Neymar. Santos are hoping that Real might meet the £59m release clause in the 21-year-old's contract and Barca will not pay more than £25m.
Full story: AS (Spanish)
Incoming Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola accepts Jack Wilshere will stay at Ars*nal this summer but has made the England midfielder, 21, a long-term transfer target.
Celtic paid Sc*nthorpe £2.4m for Hooper in 2010.
Full story: Metro
QPR manager Harry Redknapp wants Celtic striker Gary Hooper to lead his attempts to make an immediate return to the Premier League. Norwich failed with a string of bids for the 25-year-old, who has scored 29 goals this season, in January.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Fulham manager Martin Jol is targeting as many as six new signings for next season.
Full story: Ealing Gazette
Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed reports he has agreed a deal to take over from Roberto Mancini at Manchester City. Pellegrini said: "I have not spoken to anyone. Rumours are coming from many sides."
Full story: El Desmarque Malaga journalist Dani Marin (Spanish)
Pellegrini has dismissed his link to Manchester City as "rumours".
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan believes Everton is not a big enough club to attract Latics manager Roberto Martinez this summer. The Blues are looking for a replacement for David Moyes, who will join Manchester United this summer. "He'll only go to a big, big club and I don't think Everton are big enough," Whelan said.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Ars*nal manager Arsene Wenger has denied ever having contact with Paris St-Germain and plans to stay at the Emirates until at least the end of next season. "I do not see myself leaving the club like a thief and not respecting my contract," Wenger said.
Full story: Sporting Life
Atletico Madrid are looking to bring on-loan Wolfsburg midfielder Diego, 28, back to the Spanish capital next season.
Full story: L'Equipe (French)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent, Mino Raiola, has ruled out the prospect of the Sweden striker, 31, leaving Paris St-Germain this summer.
Full story: Gazzetta dello Sport (Italian)
Michael Owen's Stoke's team-mates covered the former England striker's car with eggs and flour before the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday. Owen, 33, is retiring at the end of the season and Sunday's match was the final home game of his career.
Full story: Daily Mail
Paris St-Germain's first title since 1994 was overshadowed by an ugly dressing room row between sporting director Leonardo and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Full story: Metro

[Chelmsford_yid]

Juventus want to sign Carlos Tevez, 29, from Manchester City as well as his fellow Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, 25, from Real Madrid.

Tevez scored 11 Premier League goals this season.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Tevez is interested in a move to Monaco but would also consider joining Paris St-Germain this summer.
Full story: Gazzetta dello Sport (Italian)
Bayer Leverkusen striker Andre Schurrle is confident of making a move to Chelsea this summer. The Germany striker, 22, claims Leverkusen's 1-0 win at Hamburg was his final game for the club.
Full story: Sky Sports
Sevilla's Spain forward Alvaro Negredo, 27, has rejected interest from West Ham as he wants to join a bigger club.
Full story: Marca 
Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade says the club are set to decide on the future of Montenegro forward Stevan Jovetic, 23, who has been linked with Ars*nal, Manchester City and Juventus.

Jovetic scored in Fiorentina's 5-1 win at Pescara on Sunday.
Full story: Tuttosport
Hull are prepared to pay £3m for Peter Odemwingie after the Nigerian striker, who failed to force through a January move to QPR, angered his West Brom team-mates once again by criticising them in the wake of the 4-0 defeat at Norwich.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Norwich and Swansea are both interested in Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter, 23.
Aston Villa have started talks over a new deal for Belgium striker Christian Benteke, 22, who has scored 23 goals since joining from Genk last summer.
Full story: Birmingham Mail
Coach Walter Mazzarri has confirmed he will leave Napoli this summer.
Full story: Tuttosport (Italian)
Sir Alex Ferguson did not always enjoy the best relationships with referees but officials Michael Oliver, Chris Foy, Ceri Richards and Dave Bryan had their photographs taken with him and got autographs from the retiring Manchester United manager after the 5-5 draw at West Brom.
Full story: Daily Mail
Chelsea's players gave Guus Hiddink a £200,000 watch at the end of his spell at Stamford Bridge but outgoing boss Rafael Benitez did not even receive thanks from John Terry, Frank Lampard or Paulo Ferreira during on-pitch speeches following the 2-1 win over Everton.
Full story: Daily Mirror