November Football gossip 2007

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Wednesday 21st November gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Real Madrid are planning a £30m deal to sign Chelsea striker Didier Drogba next summer and the Blues will line up Bolton forward Nicolas Anelka as replacement. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has been linked with a move to Arsenal but says he wants to stay at his hometowm club. (Various)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has his sights set on a £10m move for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch. (Daily Star)

Reading boss Steve Coppell says he was interested in Malta and Coventry striker Michael Mifsud when he was a free agent - but not anymore with a £5m asking price. (Times)

But Coppell is interested in a move for Bolton's right midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland are ready to offload Graham Kavanagh and Sheffield Wednesday are interested in recruiting the midfielder. (Times)

Leicester chief Milan Mandaric may deny that Plymouth boss Ian Holloway is going to be his new manager but the move is going to take place. (Daily Mail)

Plymouth move for former manager and current Swindon boss Paul Sturrock if, and when, Holloway makes his exit. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United will run the rule of Miguel Veloso when the midfielder plays for Sporting Lisbon at Old Trafford in the Champions League next week. (Guardian)

Julio Baptista, who spent a spell on loan at Arsenal, is waiting on Real Madrid to let him discuss a move to Tottenham Hotspur. (The Sun)

Aston Villa midfielder Shaun Maloney's agent has urged Celtic to make a bid for their former player - if they want to bring him back to Celtic Park. (Daily Mail)

Newcastle are interested in Rangers full-back Alan Hutton after a series of impressive performances for the Ibrox club and Scotland. (Daily Mail)


OTHER GOSSIP
England's stand-in captain Steven Gerrard wants fans at Wembley for the Croatia game to replicate the atmosphere the Kop creates for his club side Liverpool. (Various)

Newcastle striker Michael Owen has gone to Germany to help speed up his recovery from the thigh injury suffered in England's win in Austria. (Various)

Wayne Rooney's comeback from an ankle injury has seen him return to training for Manchester United. (Daily Star)

Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra's current deal runs until June 2009 but he is keen to sign a contract extension. (Times)

Birmingham's board are growing in their frustration with prospective new owner Carson Yeung and his silence on the managerial situation since Steve Bruce's departure. (Daily Express)

Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd is eyeing taking over a "northern club". (Guardian)

Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele, 34, has a deal with manager Avram Grant that he is only used in the club's "important" matches to help keep up his fitness. (The Daily Telegraph)

Everton could replace out-going assistant and new Preston boss Alan Irvine with Sheffield United number two Brian Kidd or Steve Round, who is on the England backroom team. (Various)

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has warned the club he may walk away if he is not given more money to bolster his squad. (Daily Express)


AND FINALLY
Chelsea's Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich was so unhappy after his country's loss in Israel that he apparently stormed into the side's dressing room in Tel Aviv and had a rant at the players. (Daily Mail)

The British economy would lose as much as £1bn if England fail to reach Euro 2008. (The Daily Telegraph)

 

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Thursday 22nd November gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Manchester City have joined Tottenham in the chase to sign £8m-rated Real Madrid striker Julio Baptista. (The Sun)

City are also interested in Russian midfielder Marat Izmailov, but face competition from Inter Milan to sign the £4m Sporting Lisbon player. (Daily Star)

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan expects to join Manchester City in the summer after claiming that transfer negotiations with his club Udinese are well advanced. (Times)

Middlesbrough are keen to sign Sheffield United striker James Beattie in the January transfer window. (The Sun)

Cardiff want to bring Derby striker Rob Earnshaw back to Ninian Park on a loan deal. (Daili Mirror)

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has been told by chairman Simon Jordan to sell £2m-rated midfielder Ben Watson to raise money for new players. (Daily Mirror)

Forest Green boss Jim Harvey fears he will lose star striker Stuart Fleetwood, who has scored 23 goals this season, in the January transfer window. Plymouth and Stoke are interested in the 21-year-old. (Various)


OTHER GOSSIP
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has quashed rumours that he will take over as England manager should Steve McClaren be sacked. (The Times)

Scotland manager Alex McLeish is back on the list of candidates to succeed Steve Bruce as Birmingham manager. (Various)

Meanwhile, Blues co-owner David Gold is ready to try and seize control at St Andrews, buying out takeover bidder Carson Yeung and name Eric Black as the new boss. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City want to improve manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's contract which will amount to a £4m pay rise for the Swede. (The Sun)

Former Tottenham manager Martin Jol wants another job in the Premier League, but wants to stay in the south of England where his family are settled. (Daily Express)

Emile Heskey is back in training and set to make his Wigan comeback at Arsenal on Saturday. (The Sun)

Leicester owner Milan Mandaric expects to unveil Ian Holloway as City's new manager. (Various)

Burnley are set to appoint St Johnstone boss Owen Coyle as their new manager. (Various)


AND FINALLY
A selection of headlines from the papers after England lost 3-2 to Croatia and failed to qualify for Euro 2008: I'll Get My Croat - Daily Mirror. Out You Cro - Daily Star. A Wally With A Brolly - Daily Mail.

 

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Friday 23rd November gossip column

ENGLAND
Martin O'Neill is the man the FA want to take over as England boss and they will do whatever it takes to get the Aston Villa manager. (Daily Star)

O'Neill does not want the job and will rule himself out of the running. (Various)

Jose Mourinho is the FA's choice for the England job. The ex-Chelsea boss has already been sounded out. (Daily Express)

Jurgen Klinsmann is keen to succeed McClaren. The ex-Germany boss would work alongside former England captain Alan Shearer. (Daily Express)

Rafael Benitez is a contender after his future as Liverpool boss was thrown into doubt following a row with the club's American owners. (Various)


TRANSFERS/OTHER GOSSIP
Arsenal will listen to offers for midfielder Gilberto Silva when the transfer window opens in January. (The Sun)

Bolton boss Gary Megson is set to bid for Villarreal's Danish striker Jon Dahl Tomasson - as he prepares for Nicolas Anelka to leave the Reebok Stadium. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa defender Olof Melberg is a target for AC Milan and Juventus. (Daily Mirror)

Steven Fletcher has told Hibernian he wants to leave the club. (Daily Record)

Rolando Bianchi is not looking to leave Manchester City. (The Sun)

Steve Bruce is set to take over as Wigan manager after paying his former club Birmingham to settle a row over his contract. (Various)

Derby manager Billy Davies has begged the club's board for money to spend in the January transfer window. (Daily Star, The Times)

Plymouth want former manager Paul Sturrock to leave Swindon and return to his old job at Home Park. (The Sun)

Wembley will consider replacing the much-criticised pitch at the stadium with a new surface. (The Guardian, The Times)

Terry Venables only found out he had been sacked as England assistant coach when he heard the news on television. (Daily Express, Daily Mirror)

Venables is now in line to become Republic of Ireland boss. (Various)


AND FINALLY
Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann wants England fans to support Germany at Euro 2008. (The Sun)

 

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Saturday 24th November gossip column

ENGLAND
England skipper John Terry says he wants former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to replace Steve McClaren as manager of the international side. (The Sun)

And Mourinho, who is still out of work after leaving Chelsea, has urged the Football Association to make him a firm offer. (Daily Express)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be given a key role in helping the FA find a new manager. (The Mirror)

Former England manager Terry Venables, who was sacked as McClaren's assistant earlier this week, says Italian Fabio Capello is the ideal man for England's top job. (The Sun)

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill may have ruled himself out of the running for England but his comments have given the FA a glimmer of hope that he could be persuaded to change his mind. (The Independent)

The FA have made contact with Real Madrid over the availability of their German manager Bernd Schuster. (Spanish daily Marca)

Former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann says he wants the England job. (The Mirror)

And German legend Franz Beckenbauer has says the FA should now turn to the former Tottenham striker. (Various)

McClaren ignored the advice of Venables to put on midfielder Owen Hargreaves when England equalised against Croatia on Wednesday night. (Daily Mail)

Chelsea manager Avram Grant says Terry would have been fit enough to play for England against Croatia. (Various)

The Football Association is unwilling to commit to a home nations tournament next summer, following England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008. (The Times)


TRANSFERS/OTHER GOSSIP
Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva, who is struggling to get into the Gunners first team, says he would "gladly" move to Juventus. (Daily Star, Daily Mail)

Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka has revealed his regret at leaving Arsenal in 1999. (The Sun)

Swindon boss Paul Sturrock is set for a return to Plymouth. (Daily Mail)


AND FINALLY
Barcelona defender Edmilson has apologised after he questioned the commitment of his team-mates on a television interview earlier this week. (The Independent, Daily Mail)

He had said: "The squad are like a family and every family has black sheep."

 

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Sunday 25th November gossip column

ENGLAND
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill says former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer should replace Steve McClaren as England boss. (News of the World)

Which is just as well really because Shearer will be interviewed for the job by the Football Association. (Sunday Express)

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster and former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier have joined the list of people linked with England. (Sunday Telegraph)

FA chief executive Brian Barwick says he will have talks with England skipper John Terry to emphasise what he expects from the players in the future in the wake of the failure to qualify for Euro 2008. (News of the World)

Barwick will have to move quickly if he is to secure the services of Jurgen Klinsmann, as the former Germany coach weighs up a list of offers from Europe. (Mail on Sunday)

Fabio Capello will name former Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola in his management team if he gets the England job. (News of the World)

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would find it hard to turn down a serious offer to coach England. (The Observer)

Striker Michael Owen says England need to improve their psychological preparations as "how we as players cope with that [pressure] is where the problem lies". (News of the World)

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has expressed his dismay at English managers who rule themselves out of the running to take the country's top job. He said: "You'd almost have to be a traitor to turn it down." (Mail on Sunday)

David James says fellow England goalkeeper Scott Carson - whose gaffe on Wednesday night led to Croatia's opening goal - should have been given more international experience before being put in such a high-pressure situation. (The Observer)


TRANSFERS/OTHER GOSSIP
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will be sacked following his row with the club's owners and Mourinho is being lined up to replace him. (News of the World)

Benitez, meanwhile, has refused to back down and insists he needs to sign three players in the January transfer window - and wants the negotiations to start now. (Sunday Express)

Terry Venables, who was sacked as England's assistant manager on Thursday, will be interviewed for the vacant Republic of Ireland job next week. (News of the World)

Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez is close to signing a new long-term deal with the club. (Various)

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is wanted by Spanish side Atletico Madrid. (News of the World)

Chelsea want to sign Russian internationals Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Branislav Ivanovic. (Daily Star Sunday)

Juande Ramos' £15m transfer spree has been rejected by the Tottenham board when they learnt that the three players in question were over 26-years-old. (The People)

Bolton manager Gary Megson is set to raid his former club with a £2.5m swoop for West Brom defender Paul Robinson. (Sunday Express)

Inter Milan are considering a move for Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, who is unsettled following the exit of Mourinho. (News of the World)

Birmingham assistant manager Eric Black will next week be asked to replace Steve Bruce as boss. (The People)

It looks as if Tottenham have missed out on Real Madrid forward Julio Baptista as the Brazilian would prefer a move to Roma. (News of the World)


AND FINALLY
The Sunday papers would not have been pleasant reading for the Football Association top brass as there was plenty of criticism of their handling of the national team.

The most stinging attack of their governance came from former Spurs chief executive and Apprentice star Sir Alan Sugar, who has typically not pulled any punches in his assessment of the FA board.

"If they were a company, the shareholders could sue them for incompetent mismanagement. In commercial terms, it's like watching your mother-in-law drive your new Ferrari over the cliff." (News of the World)

 

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Monday 26th November gossip column

ENGLAND
Fabio Capello has blamed the tactical ineptitude of Steve McClaren and the psychological weakness of his players for the England's failure to reach Euro 2008. "How can players of such calibre perform so differently when they play for their country?" (The Times)

Meanwhile, former Brazil boss Carlos Alberto Parreira reckons the crisis in English football would be solved if more of our top players plied their trade abroad. (The Sun)

The FA managed to take seven of its "top brass" to the 2010 World Cup qualification group draw in Durban, one of whom - Sir Dave Richards - was wheeled out at a 'legends' presentation ceremony alongside Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer. (Various)

Sam Allardyce is ready to be talked into becoming England manager, one of his biggest supporters - League Managers Association chief executive John Barnwell - told the FA. (Daily Mail)

Howard Wilkinson has criticised the FA for failing to complete the National Football Centre in Burton upon Trent. (The Times)

Jurgen Klinsmann has signalled his potential interest in becoming England manager - although it is thought that he would want control over the selection of his backroom team.

Michael Owen has kick-started preparations for 2010 World Cup qualification in earnest by insisting none of the Croatian team would get into the England side. (The Sun)


TRANSFERS/OTHER GOSSIP
Derby County have lost patience with manager Billy Davies and are expected to sack him in the next 24 hours. (Daily Mail)

Rafael Benitez - now a "dead man walking" as Liverpool manager - would pocket £6m in compensation if he is asked to leave at any time during his contract. (Various)

Liverpool supporters, however, are considering staging a protest against co-chairmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett during the must-win Champions League match against Porto. (The Guardian)

Terry Venables is expected to meet officials from the Football Association of Ireland (FIA) this week to discuss the leading the country towards the 2010 World Cup. (The Times)

Benjani will snub an offer from Juventus to extend his contract at Portsmouth. The Italian giants have tabled a £7m bid for the Zimbabwean striker. (Daily Mirror)

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has warned that future World Cups could be overrun by teams full of naturalised Brazilians - such as Croatia's Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva. "If we don't take care about the invaders from Brazil, then we could have problems at the 2014 and 2018 finals." (The Independent)

Kaka has apparently been named European Footballer of the Year. It's not official, but we know this because France Football - the magazine that awards the prize - has set about organising the customary photo shoot with the AC Milan playmaker. (The Times)


AND FINALLY
Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe hopes the possible revival of home internationals could lead to a British team playing at the 2012 Olympics. (Daily Express)

Busy new Leicester City manager Ian Holloway has made a open plea to help his family settle in the East Midlands after moving up from Plymouth. "I'm begging anyone in Leicester to help get my kids into the schools they need to get into - I can't do it by myself." (The Guardian)

Currently injured Wayne Rooney has gone back to studying for his GCSEs. (Daily Mail)

 

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Tuesday 27th November gossip column

ENGLAND GOSSIP
Croatia boss Slaven Bilic is not happy at Michael Owen's claim that none of his country's players would make it into the England side. (Sun)

Mark Hughes has a clause in his contract at Blackburn letting him leave if he is offered the England job. (Sun)

Former England defender Tony Adams says the national team have a poor reputation across Europe. (Various)

Portugal and Spain are to launch a rival bid to England's to host the 2018 World Cup. (Daily Telegraph)


TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP
Tottenham fear striker Dimitar Berbatov will leave the club in January. (Sun)

Reading striker Leroy Lita is unhappy at his lack of first team football and is ready to leave the club. (Sun)

Liverpool could face a player exodus if Rafael Benitez leaves the club. (Various)

Udinese insist Manchester City target Asamoah Gyan will not be allowed to leave the club before the end of the season. (Daily Star)

Newcastle are in the frame to sign Swedish defender Jonas Olsson from Dutch side NEC Nijmegen. (Daily Mail)

Croatia star Luka Modric is at the centre of a transfer battle as Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham try to lure him away from Dinamo Zagreb. (Daily Mail)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has missed out on AC Milan defender Kakha Kaladze because the club's owners would not discuss transfer planning with him. (Independent)

Scotland manager Alex McLeish will be unveiled as Birmingham boss in the next 24 hours. (Sun)

But the Scottish Football Association is not allowing the Premier League club to hold talks with McLeish. (Daily Mail)

Derby want Paul Jewell and not Paul Ince to succeed Billy Davies as Rams manager. (Daily Star)

But no, the Pride Park outfit do want Ince and Roy Hodgson to come in and add his experience to the partnership. (Daily Mail)


AND FINALLY
Chelsea winger Florent Malouda is unhappy at his club not arranging for him to fly back from international duty. (Sun)

Real Madrid striker Raul, 30, sleeps in a special oxygen room - simulating conditions at high altitude - to help him cope with the effects of ageing. (Independent)

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce tried to dig into what was wrong with his poorly performing side when he asked his players if they did not like him or his training methods - the responses were of the mumbled variety. (Guardian)

 

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Wednesday 28th November gossip column

ENGLAND GOSSIP
Guus Hiddink has left the door open for the FA to offer him the England job after talks stalled over a new contract with the Russia FA. (The Sun)

Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Jose Mourinho is the outstanding candidate to be England's next boss. (The Sun)

Former FA vice-chairman David Dein is championing Gerard Houllier's claims to be the new England boss. (Independent)


TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP
Michael Ballack's first match back for Chelsea is likely to be the big match at Arsenal on 16 December. (The Sun)

Chelsea outcast Paulo Ferreira is at the centre of a £10m swap deal with Valencia's Miguel. (Daily Mirror)

Departing Scotland manager Alex McLeish has recommended that Motherwell boss Mark McGhee replace him. (Scottish Sun)

Falkirk are preparing to make an offer to former Arsenal kid Stephen Bradley after a trial period. (Daily Record)

Ian Holloway is lining up Tim Breacker and Des Bulpin to join his backroom staff at Leicester. (Daily Mirror)

Wigan will have to buy on-loan Ecuador midfielder Luis Antonio Valencia from Villarreal to head off a bid from Racing Santander. (Daily Mail)

Paul Jewell is expected to agree a £1.5m-a-year deal to become Derby County's new manager. (Various)

Steve Cotterill is the favourite to become Swindon manager. (Various)

Reading boss Steve Coppell no longer wants Cameroon's George Elokobi and will try to keep Nicky Shorey. (Sun)

Boxing promoter Dennis Hobson is considering a multi-million pound bid for Sheffield Wednesday. (Express)


AND FINALLY
AZ Alkmaar boss Louis van Gaal, in the running for England boss, broke his ankle and fibula while demonstrating his pole vaulting prowess. (Express)

 

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Thursday 29th November gossip column

INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT GOSSIP
Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will demand £4m a year to become the new England manager. (The Star)

Graeme Souness has made it clear he would welcome the Scotland or Republic of Ireland jobs but insists he has not been offered either. (various)

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood has put himself in the frame to be the new Scotland boss. Also on the list for the job are Billy Davies, Jim Jeffries, Souness, Craig Levein and Mark McGhee. (Daily Record)


TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP
Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka has told Chelsea boss Avram Grant he wants to move to Stamford Bridge and could complete a £10m move in January. (The Sun)

And Chelsea have offered Saudi Arabia captain Yasser Al Qahtani the chance to train with them with a view to a transfer. (various)

Manchester City are set to bid £3.5m for Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Marat Izmailov. (various)

Middlesbrough's Dong-Gook Lee will leave in January. (The Sun)

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce believes he has only two games to turn the struggling club around, otherwise he will be sacked. (The Sun)

But Allardyce is hoping to persuade Newcastle chairman Chris Mort to release funds for new players in the January transfer window. (The Mirror)

Manchester United are closing in on £20m-rated Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso. (The Sun)

Crystal Palace want to sign Barnsley defender Rob Kuzluk. (Daily Star)

Leicester boss Ian Holloway will make Israel midfielder Tamir Cohen his first signing for the Foxes. (The Mirror)

Juventus are leading the race for Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg, ahead of AC Milan and Roma. (The Sun)

QPR are poised to sign Italy defender Francesco Coco, who is a free agent after leaving Inter Milan. (The Sun)

Bolton's Greece midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos has threatened to quit the club if he does not get regular first-team football. (various)

Fulham, Wigan and Bolton are in competition to sign Barnsley's German goalkeeper Heinz Muller. (The Sun)

West Brom striker John Hartson is wanted by Sheffield Wednesday in a loan deal from January. (various)

Sheffield United misfit Billy Sharp has been told by boss Bryan Robson that he has a future at the club. (The Sun)

Tottenham boss Juande Ramos is unlikely to buy players during the transfer window after he claimed only desperate teams do that. (various)

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has suggested that the Gunners might be tempted to sell him if Real Madrid came in with a £100m offer. (The Independent)

Brighton are giving trials to ex-Crystal Palace players Michael Kamara and Sam Malsom. (Daily Star)

Everton manager David Moyes has taken Swindon defender Ben Tozer on a four-day trial. (The Times)

Blackburn are confident they can hold on to defender Andre Ooijer despite Feyenoord's interest. (The Times)

Wigan manager Steve Bruce has revealed that recruiting a left-back is his number one priority. (various)

Joe Kinnear is lining up a possible takeover of crisis club Luton, who have been placed into administration. (various)


AND FINALLY
Tennis legend Bjorn Borg says he is a Charlton fan, and claims he has been to see them play a few times and owns a few of their shirts. (The Sun)

AC Milan's Brazilian superstar Kaka has revealed he wants to become an evangelical minister once he hangs up his boots. (various)

Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage is disappointed that team-mate David Bentley is "getting more boos than me at away grounds". Savage says he wants to be "the pantomime villain again".

 

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Friday 30th November gossip column

ENGLAND GOSSIP
The Football Association has virtually ruled out an Englishman as a successor to England coach Steve McClaren after delivering its initial report. Chief executive Brian Barwick wants a 'world class' manager. (various)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp believes his arrest over corruption claims on Wednesday has ruined his chances. (various)

Sir Geoff Hurst and Sven-Goran Eriksson have backed Jose Mourinho for the job, with both men claiming the former Chelsea boss would be a great success. (The Sun)

And the FA are set to offer Mourinho the job. (Daily Express)


TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is ready to sell his stake in the club, following the row with manager Rafael Benitez over investment. (Mirror)

Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson is interested in signing Bolton winger Stelios Giannakopoulos. (various)

Derby boss Paul Jewell wants Wigan coach Mark Seagraves to become his number two at the club. (Mirror)

Manchester City are set to make a £12m move for striker Nicolas Anelka, who Bolton have admitted is available for the right price. (Mirror)

Eriksson is also interested in Liverpool striker Peter Crouch and Heerenveen forward Afonso Alves. (The Times)

Bolton could make a move for Jonas Olsson after his agent revealed the Sweden defender will be allowed to leave his club, NEC Nijmegen, in January. (The Times)

Carson Yeung must prove on Friday he can raise £35m or his takeover plans for Birmingham will be over. (various)

Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is set to join MLS side DC United. (Daily Star)

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is lining up a January move for Porto centre-back Bruno Alves. (The Sun)

Chelsea are ready to splash out £10m on Valencia's Portugal international full-back Miguel as a replacement for Paulo Ferreira. (The Sun)

Former Leicester boss Martin Allen has put himself in the frame for the vacant manager's job at Swindon. (The Sun)

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy will make a second attempt to sign Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp. (The Sun)


AND FINALLY
David Beckham is being lined up to play the role of a labourer in a new film after Hollywood star Nicole Kidman told director Baz Lurhmann she thought the former England skipper would be perfect as a hunky builder. (Daily Star)

New Wigan boss Steve Bruce is not yet up to speed in his new job. He passed defender Granqvist at the club's training ground and asked a member of staff whether his first name was pronounced Jasper or Jesper. Actually, it's Andreas. (Daily Express)