What The Sports Pages Say

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THE SUN: Rio Ferdinand insists he will not be gagged by anyone - despite facing an FA probe and taking horrific abuse from rival fans on Twitter. Also: Liverpool are ready to make Joe Allen their second signing of the new Anfield era by triggering a £15million release clause in his contract.


DAILY MIRROR: Phillips Idowu has blasted British Olympic officials for going public with their demand to see his medical records. Also: Rio Ferdinand has defended his use of Twitter - despite the threat of an FA charge.

DAILY STAR: John Terry will learn in the next 48 hours whether he will be charged by the FA for his clash with Anton Ferdinand. Also: Angry Phillips Idowu is at war with British Olympic chiefs for demanding his medical records.

DAILY EXPRESS: Phillips Idowu's row with the British Olympic Association has taken on a new dimension. Also: John Terry will learn later this week whether he will be charged by the Football Association for using racially abusive language during his controversial clash with Anton Ferdinand.

DAILY MAIL: Usain Bolt failed to show at Jamaica's open training session yesterday, raising further concerns that he is in a race against time to get fit for London 2012. Also: Phillips Idowu has expressed his disappointment that the British Olympic Association made public their request to see his medical records.

THE TIMES: Lord Coe will pit himself against Sergei Bubka, his fellow athletics legend, in a race to run the sport that made both men famous. Also: Somewhere behind the thick privet hedge and the wall of security, sport's greatest showboat is working on a miracle. Usain Bolt insists he is fine.

THE GUARDIAN: Luka Modric's desire to force a transfer to Real Madrid has been complicated by interest from Paris St Germain, who have indicated that they would be prepared to pay Tottenham Hotspur's asking price of £40m. Also: John Terry is expected to learn by the weekend whether he is to be sanctioned by the Football Association for the use of racially abusive language during Chelsea's defeat at Queen's Park Rangers last October.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Aston Moore, the coach of triple jumper Phillips Idowu, has privately conceded the athlete may not be ready in time for the London Olympics after he suffered an injury breakdown in training last week, it can be revealed. Also: Lord Coe will attempt to lead international athletics out of its troubles as president of the world governing body once the Olympic flame has gone out in London.

THE INDEPENDENT: As if Phillips Idowu did not already have enough on his pre-Olympic plate - what with his battle to gain fitness in time for the Games and his long-running spat with Charles van Commenee - the troubled triple jumper now finds himself at odds with the British Olympic Association. Also: Thorgan Hazard will join his older brother Eden at Stamford Bridge next season after Chelsea confirmed his signing from Lens.

 

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Latest Paper Talk
Thursday July 26

Juventus will switch their attention to Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko if they fail to snare Robin van Persie from Arsenal.
Former Cardiff and Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton is set to join Bristol City to replace ex-England international David James.
Stoke are fending off a late bid from Everton for USA star Geoff Cameron of MLS side Houston Dynamo.
West Ham will be keeping an eye on Senegal star Moussa Konate of Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Olympics.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has joined the race to sign France striker Loic Remy from Marseille, with Arsenal and Tottenham also thought to be keen.
Reported Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham target Jem Karacan has seen contract talks with Reading stall.

Nice midfielder Kafoumba Coulibaly has sent a 'come and get me' plea to Fulham, Aston Villa and Norwich.

Luka Modric's advisors will hold a crucial meeting with Real Madrid in Spain today as the midfielder looks to secure a move away from Tottenham.
Arsenal have given the strongest hint yet that they are prepared to sell Robin van Persie after not designating a squad number to new signing Lukas Podolski.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is weighing up a move for Porto left-winger Christian Atsu.
Chelsea are making an improved offer of £6.5million plus add-ons for Wigan's Victor Moses.
Liverpool are poised to sign Wolves goalkeeper Dorus de Vries in a £750,000 deal.
Norwich are finalising a deal for Sunderland defender Michael Turner after he passed his medical at the club.

Steven Pienaar has moved closer to a permanent return to Everton, with the club on the edge of a deal with Tottenham.

Southampton are hoping to sign Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal.
Retired Wales international Robbie Savage and former Hearts striker Kevin Kyle want to make comeback with newco Rangers in the Third Division.

Manchester United are thought to have postponed temporarily plans to launch their 300m US dollars (£193m) flotation in New York, after volatile US markets spooked the Premier League club into a rethink.
Alan Pardew has advised Liverpool to cut their losses on Andy Carroll and move on.

Gareth Bale received some severe criticism yesterday after playing for Tottenham Hotspur on their pre-season tour of the United States despite pulling out of the Team GB squad with a back injury, and could be banned from playing for his club during the Olympics, according to the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter.

 

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THE SUN: Team GB were robbed of a flying start to the Olympics after being denied a cast-iron penalty. Also: John Terry has revealed his relief at being cleared in court to resume his Chelsea and England career.
Andy Carroll: Wanted by West Ham
Andy Carroll: Wanted by West Ham

DAILY MIRROR: West Ham have made a stunning £17million bid to sign Andy Carroll. Also: Fabio Capello has claimed he would have done a better job than Roy Hodgson at the Euros - after launching a bitter attack on the Football Association.

DAILY STAR: Emmanuel Adebayor's expected move to Tottenham was scuppered when the striker demanded Manchester City pass on the £5m fee straight to him. Also: Liverpool star Craig Bellamy got a rare standing ovation at Old Trafford last night as Team GB suffered a setback to their Olympic dream.

DAILY EXPRESS: West Ham have sparked the chase for Andy Carroll into life with an £18million offer for the striker to leave Newcastle facing a fight in their efforts to re-sign him. Also: John Terry is just glad to be back playing football again, back doing what he does best, at the club that he loves.

DAILY MAIL: Roberto Mancini has washed his hands of Manchester City's faltering pursuit of Robin van Persie. Also: Fabio Capello accused the FA of breaching his £6million-a-year contract in the John Terry race row after he was appointed head coach of Russia yesterday.

THE TIMES: Great Britain's men's footballers' hopes of emulating their female counterparts by making a winning start to the Olympic Games were frustrated on a disappointing night at Old Trafford. Also: The race to sign Andy Carroll intensified last night when West Ham United offered a club-record transfer fee for the out-of-favour Liverpool forward.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: John Terry has spoken of his relief at being able to return to playing football following his acquittal on a charge of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. Also: Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, has issued a bold statement of intent ahead of the new season by insisting his club would reclaim their place in the Champions League this year.

THE GUARDIAN: Roberto Mancini has given vent to his frustration over Manchester City's failure to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal and has made it clear he holds the club's football director, Brian Marwood, accountable. Also: Fabio Capello has claimed the Football Association was in breach of contract by stripping John Terry of the England captaincy against the Italian's wishes earlier this year.

THE INDEPENDENT: Roberto Mancini yesterday gave vent to his frustrations over Manchester City's lack of activity in the transfer market this summer, the latest indication of the struggle for influence and control at the top of the club between him and executive Brian Marwood. Also: Manchester United appear to be planning an imminent launch of the marketing roadshow for their proposed 300million US dollars (£193m) New York flotation, despite the apparent postponement of the move designed to reduce the club's crippling debts.

 

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Latest Paper Talk
Saturday June 28

Andy Carroll is digging in for a fight at Livepool - even though the club has secretly informed interested parties of his sale price.
Arsene Wenger last night lost his cool over the Robin van Persie saga.

Arsene Wenger lost his cool last night after claiming Arsenal had received no offers for striker Robin van Persie.
Jose Mourinho has made a personal plea to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to let Luka Modric join Real Madrid.
Aston Villa are poised to sign Dutch international defender Ron Vlaar after agreeing personal terms with the player, the club have confirmed.

Roberto Mancini's rant at the Manchester City board looks set to land him his dream player, Daniele De Rossi.
Tottenham are considering making a bid for Swansea's Joe Allen, who they can land for £10m.

Real Madrid will offer £33m for Luka Modric in an effort to get his transfer from Tottenham concluded over the weekend.
Newcastle United are considering reviving interest in Swansea City defender Ashley Williams.

The England striker Andy Carroll will leave Liverpool only for a club who can provide him with European football.

 

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THE SUN SUNDAY: Britain was reduced to tears during a day of high drama as the Olympics action got started. Also: Ledley King cried when he learned his career was over.


SUNDAY MIRROR: The hopes of the host nation were dashed by a convicted drugs cheat, who beat Britain's Mark Cavendish to cycling gold. Also: Hannah Miley finished fifth in the 400 metres individual medley final last night.

SUNDAY PEOPLE: Mark Cavendish's dreams of golden glory were shattered on the streets of London. Also: Manchester United are seriously considering a shock bid for Chelsea's Ashley Cole.

DAILY STAR SUNDAY: Great Britain cyclist Mark Cavendish was a gold medal flop yesterday - in stark contrast to team-mate Bradley Wiggins' historic Tour de France triumph last Sunday. Also: Robin van Persie will join Man United if he's promised the same mega-wages as Wayne Rooney.

SUNDAY EXPRESS: The Olympic dream of superstar cycling Mark Cavendish was crushed yesterday on The Mall. Also: Robin van Persie is ready to join Manchester United... as long as his wages match the £220,000 a week that Wayne Rooney earns.

MAIL ON SUNDAY: Paula Radcliffe will be forced to make the heartbreaking decision this week to withdraw from the London Olympics. Also: Hannah Miley's bold mission to deliver Britain's first medal at the Games in the Olympic Pool last night ended in disappointment.

SUNDAY TIMES: Ryan Lochte assumed the mantle of the best all-round swimmer in the world last night at the London aquatics centre. Also: The dream scenario, guiding Mark Cavendish into The Mall so he could unleash a gold medal-winning sprint, never materialised but it was not for the want of trying.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Choreography of London's triumphant Olympic opening ceremony gave way to disappointment on the first full day of competition as Mark Cavendish's efforts to win Britain's first gold of the Games were frustrated. Also: Tottenham's Gareth Bale was at the centre of a new injury scare last night after a crude challenge by Liverpool's Charlie Adam reignited a year-old feud between the pair.

INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: No gold at the end of the rainbow, only bruised egos and disbelief. Also: Injury-plagued Owen Hargreaves is training with QPR following his release from Manchester City at the end of last season.

THE OBSERVER: After the euphoria of the past nine months, this was the reality check. Also: Gareth Bale was caught up in a fresh injury scare as temperatures were raised in America during Tottenham's goalless pre-season friendly against Liverpool last night.

 

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THE SUN: Lizzie Armitstead grabbed Britain's first medal of the Games with a brilliant silver in the cycling road race. Also: Gareth Bale has accused Charlie Adam of attacking him - twice.


DAILY MIRROR: Rebecca Adlington hailed Team GB "girl power" after she followed cyclist Lizzie Armitstead on to the Olympic podium. Also: Gareth Bale has branded Charlie Adam a "coward" for trying to crock him again.

DAILY STAR: Lizzie Armitstead claims shower power helped her land Great Britain's first medal of London 2012. Also: Gareth Bale last night launched a blistering attack on Liverpool's Charlie Adam, calling the Scot a "coward".

DAILY EXPRESS: Gareth Bale has launched a withering attack on Charlie Adam and branded the Liverpool midfielder a "coward", claiming he deliberately planned to injure him. Also: The IOC are blaming Twitter for the poor coverage of the cycling road races, as BBC commentators and pundits were left without timing and positional updates during both the men's and women's races.

DAILY MAIL: Great Britain had 'girl power' to thank as Lizzie Armitstead and Rebecca Adlington secured the home nation's first medals of London 2012. Also: Gareth Bale will flatly refuse any apology from Charlie Adam on principle after he branded the Liverpool midfielder a coward.

THE TIMES: Lizzie Armitstead put Great Britain on the podium for the first time at the Olympics yesterday by winning the silver medal in a thrilling conclusion to the women's cycling road race on The Mall. Also: Gareth Bale intensified his feud with Charlie Adam last night by labelling the Liverpool midfield player a coward and claiming that his opponent deliberately set out to injure him during the pre-season friendly in Baltimore on Saturday.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: It was not gold but frankly you would have to come from another planet to defeat Marianne Vos at present. Also: Tottenham's Gareth Bale has labelled Charlie Adam a "coward" and has claimed that the Liverpool midfielder deliberately set out to injure him during Saturday's supposed friendly match in the United States.

THE GUARDIAN: There was a time when cyclists considered that finishing second to Eddy Merckx was worth a victory in itself, and it is in that context that Lizzie Armitstead's silver medal in the women's road race to Marianne Vos of the Netherlands should be seen. Also: In an Olympic final of unremitting tension and ferocious competition, Rebecca Adlington lost her 400m freestyle title - but still won a thrilling bronze medal behind Allison Schmitt and the victorious and hugely impressive Camille Muffat.

THE INDEPENDENT: It was not the gold medal of Beijing but it was still a performance to be proud of for Rebecca Adlington. Also: Gareth Bale has launched a withering attack on Charlie Adam, branding the Liverpool midfielder a "coward" amid accusations he deliberately set out to injure him.

 

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THE SUN: Rio Ferdinand has been left 'dumbfounded' by an FA charge over a tweet he made about Ashley Cole. Also: Britain's gymnasts were robbed of an Olympic silver medal by a marking blunder. Also: Tom Daley got an apology from partner Pete Waterfield after blowing a diving medal.

DAILY MIRROR: Rio Ferdinand is kicking himself over the tweet that has landed him with an FA charge. Also: Team GB's heroic gymnasts celebrated a "miracle" bronze medal last night despite being sensationally denied silver.

DAILY EXPRESS: Louis Smith put aside the controversy of having silver downgraded to bronze last night and told Britain to celebrate the end to a century-long wait for a gymnastics team medal instead. Also: Rio Ferdinand is facing a fight to clear his name and avoid being labelled a racist.

DAILY STAR: Rio Ferdinand is facing a desperate fight to clear his name and avoid being labelled a racist. Also: Great Britain's men claimed bronze on a historic day for gymnastics - but only after having silver controversially snatched from their hands.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The 100-year wait is over. Britain's gymnasts have won a team medal at the Olympics for the first time since 1912, when rope-climbing was part of the event. Also Rio Ferdinand will discuss his response to a Football Association charge for improper conduct with Manchester United's legal advisors after being told he could be fined or suspended for a tweet about Chelsea defender Ashley Cole.

THE TIMES: Great Britain won their first Olympic men's team gymnastics medal for a century when they claimed an unexpected bronze medal at the North Greenwich Arena yesterday. Also: Rio Ferdinand will hold discussions with the Manchester United hierarchy and the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) today after being charged with improper conduct by the FA in the latest fallout from the John Terry trial.

THE GUARDIAN: Graeme Swann will play his 44th consecutive Test at Headingley this week but he concedes that any further deterioration in his troublesome right elbow would force him to have a second operation -his "worst fear". Also: Overwhelmed. Surreal. Amazing. Incredible. Unexpected. These were the words spoken by the British men's gymnastic team as they struggled to come to terms with what they had just achieved in winning the nation's first Olympic team medal for a century.

THE INDEPENDENT: The end-of-season win-bonus package paid to Manchester City's triumphant squad for securing the club's first Premier League title in May was a huge £6.2m shared between 24 players, The Independent can reveal. Also: It takes, as Tom Daley often likes to point out, 1.6 seconds to plunge from the top of the 10m platform into the water and that is how long it took Daley and his partner Pete Waterfield to see their hopes of a medal disappear today.

DAILY MAIL: Great Britain had a silver medal snatched away from them by Japan in the men's gymnastics team event last night, but celebrated the "miracle" of their first team bronze for 100 years. Also: Tom Daley's diving partner said "I'm sorry" the moment the pair's golden Olympic dream bit the dust.

 

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HE SUN: After many years of hurt, we finally put the Samba stars to the sword last night. Also: West Ham have offered Andy Carroll a mind-boggling £36million contract in the hope of luring him away from Liverpool.
Wiggins: Going for gold in London
Wiggins: Going for gold in London

DAILY MAIL: Bradley Wiggins has issued a gold medal rallying call to Britain and vowed to display the form which took him to victory in the Tour de France in today's road time trial. Also: Hope Powell promised a performance to respond to the wishes of those at Wembley and shine a torchlight on women's football. And great Britain's coach got her wish, sending her swish side out to dismantle out of the world's best teams in front of an excitable and exuberant crowd.

DAILY MIRROR: Where there's a Wills, there must be a way. Team GB's track athletes flew in to London yesterday to be met by Prince William. Also: Andy Carroll will be offered a stunning £100,000-a-week contract to join West Ham.

DAILY EXPRESS: Bradley Wiggins has promised to deliver for Britain as the host nation enters day five of the Games still waiting for gold. Also: Michael Phelps last night became the most decorated athlete in Olympic history; Zara Phillips celebrated winning a silver medal at Royal Greenwich but apologised for the mistakes which may have let slip Britain's first gold.

DAILY STAR: FA chairman David Bernstein last night vowed to step up the fight against racism. Also: Zara Phillips blamed herself as Britain's equestrians let gold slip through their fingers in the team jumping final at Greenwich Park.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As mum offered her little girl a medal, then a kiss on either cheek, prompting thousands of cameras to go click-crazy, it was not hard to discern what will naturally be enshrined as one of the iconic moments of London 2012. Also: It was both a coronation and a dethroning. Michael Phelps secured the two medals he needed to become, officially, the most decorated Olympian of all time as he took his overall career tally to 19 Olympic medals, beating the 48-year-old record of 18 held by former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.

THE TIMES: After a silver medal for the Great Britain three-day eventing team yesterday, there are high hopes for the first home gold medals of the London Olympics today in rowing and cycling. Also: On an uplifting night when women's football simply could not lose, Great Britain went an awful lot farther.

THE GUARDIAN: Ye Shiwen's life may be a little different to how it was 24 hours ago, but her performances are not. Ye yesterday added the Olympic 200m Individual Medley title to the 400m version that she won on Saturday. Also: Manchester United's controversial flotation in New York continues to provoke an angry reaction from supporters after it emerged that senior employees at Old Trafford stand to benefit from a share scheme worth up to US dollars 320million (£204million).

THE INDEPENDENT: It remains 40 years since Great Britain won gold for eventing but there has been no need for Baddiel and Skinner to write a son about it. Far from being years of hurt, they have been four rich decades of achievement in equestrianism, to which yesterday's silver in the team event added further distinction. In coming to praise South Africa yesterday, Andy Flower was careful to champion England.

 

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THE SUN: Bradley Wiggins roared into Olympic history then dedicated his gold to the real fans locked outside Hampton Court. Also: Olympic champions Helen Glover and Heather Stanning struck gold for Great Britain. Also: Daniel Sturridge was the goal hero as Team GB beat Uruguay to set up a quarter-final against South Korea on Saturday.

DAILY MAIL: Four days of Olympic frustration evaporated in the space of four hours yesterday. Also: Phillips Idowu is no longer injured, according to the information given to athletics head coach Charles van Commenee by the British Olympic Association.

DAILY MIRROR: The giant doors of the Great Gate at Henry VIII's Hampton Court Palace swung open yesterday for a new king to stroll out. Also: Daniel Sturridge fired Team GB into the quarter-finals as they came together under one flag at the Millennium Stadium.

DAILY EXPRESS: Bradley Wiggins, the people's champion, rewrote the history books yesterday, winning gold and his seventh Olympic medal, but declared: "I am not the greatest." Also: Helen Glover, a gold medal draped around her neck, admitted that four years ago she could not even sit in a boat, let alone row one very fast.

DAILY STAR: Bradley Wiggins has already set his sights on a fifth Olympic gold after making history with number four. Also: Helen Glover and Heather Stanning stormed to Olympic glory and then told their GB team-mates: Now it's your turn. Also: Michael Jamieson produced the swim of his life to grab silver in the 200m breaststroke last night. Daniel Gyurta needed a world record to pip the Scot.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: At the end of a golden afternoon, Bradley Wiggins's stage management was as perfect as everything else he has done this year. Also: In the end it took the greatest swim in the history of the event to keep him off the top step of the podium: Michael Jamieson took the silver medal in the 200metres breaststroke and was only denied gold by a world record-breaking swim from Hungary's Daniel Gyurta.

THE TIMES: The gold rush that began yesterday could continue today, with rowers and cyclists among the favourites to claim Olympic winner's medals. Also: The FA is planning to ask for the mobile phone records of John Terry and Anton Ferdinand as it compiles evidence before a hearing into the racism allegations against the former England captain.

THE GUARDIAN: The kit on his back changes but Bradley Wiggins marches on and he may keep marching on until Rio. Also: Andy Carroll's Liverpool career has been cast into further doubt after he was omitted from the squad to face FC Gomel in Belarus, a match that "means everything" to their manager Brendan Rodgers.

THE INDEPENDENT: After the expected came a British tale of the unexpected. Michael Jamieson only made it to the Olympic Games by two-hundredths of a second and while Britain yesterday prepared to greet two of its sure-thing gold medals, the young man from Glasgow prepared to deliver a medal that nobody saw coming outside his training base in Bath. Also: If England manage to prevail in the second Test against South Africa here, it will be classified as the greatest of their modern comebacks.

 

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THE SUN: Team GB landed three more golds yesterday - but vowed the best is yet to come. Also: Andrew Strauss was left fearing last night that one of the biggest gambles of his captaincy career will be doomed to failure.


DAILY MAIL: Great Britain's gold medal-winning cyclists were mired in controversy last night after Sir Chris Hoy's young team-mate claimed he intentionally crashed after a poor start in the heat. Also: Ryan Lochte tried to claim these London Games as his own in the pool on Thursday night with what would have amounted to a quite extraordinary achievement. Trouble was, a guy by the name of Michael Phelps was in no mood to let him.

DAILY MIRROR: Tears in her eyes, Queen Vic was disqualified in front of Wills and Kate by royal disappointment. Also: Shooting star Peter Wilson claimed he went into a trance-like state as he nailed his final hits to become Olympic champion. Also: England narrowly avoided an utterly miserable day at Headingley, much of it their own making.

DAILY EXPRESS: Britain's gold reserves shot up yesterday as flag bearer Sir Chris Hoy and his team enjoyed a day of fabulous success that had medal detectors pinging around the Olympic venues. Also: Victoria Pendleton took the blame for the blunder which stopped Britain in their tracks in a dramatic women's team sprint yesterday.

DAILY STAR: Sir Chris Hoy capped a dazzling day for Team GB yesterday with his fifth Olympic gold. Also: Rio Ferdinand will fight the FA

in a bid to clear his name after being charged with racist abuse.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain hunted down three more gold medals yesterday, with a gun, in a canoe and on the bike of Sir Chris Hoy, who blasted round the £93million velodrome to collect the fifth Olympic gold of his career. Also: Victoria Pendleton will be determined to produce the best series of keirin rides in her life at the London 2012 velodrome after the massive disappointment of being denied a place in the team sprint final following her disqualification for a faulty changeover.

THE TIMES: Two glorious, gilt-edged minutes set off Britain's second wave of gold medals yesterday as new heroes were created in obscure sports and a fast-pedalling sensation sealed his near-godly status on two wheels. Also: Here come the girls. Day eight of the Olympic Games promises to be Ladies' Day for Great Britain, with more than two dozen women aiming to boost the nation's medal haul.

THE GUARDIAN: From Lea Valley to Excel and from Woolwich Common to the Olympic Park velodrome, the feelgood factor across London yesterday as one British medal followed another. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson has vehemently denied that he stands to profit from the Glazer family's controversial scheme to raise up to US$320m (£204m) by listing Manchester United on the New York stock exchange.

THE INDEPENDENT: Après Wiggo, le déluge. What started as a pair of gilded victories greeted by national relief turned into a euphoric flood on day six of the London Games yesterday when Britain took three golds and two silvers and leapt to fifth in the overall medal table. Also: Representatives from the MCC will meet with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ensure umpires are clear which protocols to follow when a bowler knocks over the bails in their delivery stride.

 

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THE SUN: Victoria Pendleton powered to cycling gold and roared: Now these Olympics belong to Team GB girls...Becky Adlington hinted she may quit swimming after 15-year-old American Katie Ledecky wrecked her London 2012 dreams...Brendan Rodgers wants Luis Suarez to use his Olympic misery to bring Anfield a golden glow.


DAILY MAIL: Victoria Pendleton was crowned queen of the track at the Velodrome last night - winning the first-ever women's keirin by 0.024 seconds...Jessica Ennis began her quest for Olympic gold yesterday on a tidal wave of love...Brendan Rodgers has urged Luis Suarez to leave the past behind and channel his energies into helping revive Liverpool's fortunes.

DAILY MIRROR: It started with a roar from the crowd which took her breath away. Then Jessica Ennis made the watching world gasp...Only one Queen Vic was the toast of London's East End last night - and she wasn't in Albert Square...New Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has told Luis Suarez to rise above fan abuse and leave his anger behind.

DAILY EXPRESS: Great Britain is basking in Olympic glory and yesterday toasted three more gold-medals on a fantastic Friday...Jessica Ennis is on the verge of being crowned Olympic champion. She saved her best for these tremendous home Games and leads a heptathlon she has dominated by 184pts...Andy Murray guaranteed Great Britain another medal by beating Novak Djokovic - and then described the feeling as better than reaching the Wimbledon final

DAILY STAR: Queen Victoria Pendleton reigned supreme on the track - and then said: I can't wait to retire...Heartbroken Becky Adlington's dreams of sporting immortality were crushed by the new kid on the swimming block.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Victoria Pendleton redeemed her Olympic campaign in magnificent style at the Velodrome, devastating the field in the keirin to win her second gold medal and join a select band of female British Olympians...Rebecca Adlington admitted last night that everything "caught up with me" as she pointed both to the pressure and weight of national expectation in explaining her defeat in the Olympic 800 metres freestyle final.

THE TIMES: Jessica Ennis will carry the hopes of a nation with her as she attempts to clinch Great Britain's first athletics gold medal of the London 2012 Games tonight...There was a time yesterday afternoon, with the run-rate funereal, the over-rate slower and even the Western Terrace - after some fruity scenes on the first day - becalmed, that you had to remind yourself you were watching the best two Test teams in the world.

THE GUARDIAN: Jessica Ennis blew away a stadium packed to the rafters with 80,000 spectators as the nation's favourite athlete got her heptathlon gold medal campaign off to a scintillating start...The greatest Olympian in the history of the modern Games, Michael Phelps, last night swam his last ever individual race and won 17th gold medal and his 21st overall, claiming victory in the 100m butterfly at the Aquatics centre.

THE INDEPENDENT: British track queen Victoria Pendleton put all the pain of her relegation from Thursday's women's team sprint behind her yesterday - as well as what she called a disastrous 2011 - with a blisteringly faultless ride to victory in the keirin here last night...A flying start and a flying finish. Jessica Ennis opened day one of the Olympic heptathlon with the bang of a stunning British record in the 100m hurdles, 12.54sec. She concluded it with the bang of a lifetime best in the 200m, 22.83sec.

 

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THE SUN: Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah led Team GB to the greatest night in our Olympic history and sobbed: It will never get better than this. Also: Daniel Sturridge last night proved that even on a day of spectacular sporting glory, the Brits still cannot win a penalty shootout.

THE PEOPLE: Jess Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford sparked wild national celebrations last night as Britain enjoyed its greatest Olympics day in more than a century. Also: Kat Copeland wore a look of utter disbelief as she told pal Sophie Hosking: "We've won the Olympics - we're going to be on a stamp!"

MAIL ON SUNDAY: Jess Ennis stole the hearts of the nation as Britain recorded their best gold medal haul in a single day for 104 years. Also: Manchester United have agreed a £30million deal for Brazil's Lucas Moura - and Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to take his spending to a close on £50m by finally ending the Robin van Persie transfer saga this week.

SUNDAY MIRROR: Jess Ennis was crowned the greatest female athlete on the planet last night. Also: Mark Cavendish has vowed to have one more crack at winning an Olympic gold medal - by returning to track cycling for the Rio games in 2016.

SUNDAY EXPRESS: Britain stunned the world last night with three Olympic gold medals as 80,000 fans rocked the new stadium. Also: Super Saturday at the London Olympics delivered on its promise yesterday with a cascade of gold medals and a waterfall of tears from Britain's dynamic young sporting heroes.

DAILY STAR SUNDAY: Great Britain is celebrating its best Olympic day in 104 years, winning SIX gold medals on Super Saturday. Also: Great Britain's golden Olympic football dream died in a dramatic penalty shootout. Also: Jose Mourinho has slammed Stuart Pearce and British Olympic bosses for snubbing David Beckham.

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Britain won six gold medals in sensational style yesterday - three in the space of an hour with victory following victory in the heptathlon, the long jump and the 10,000 metres. Also: The velodrome rocked to another brilliant, British cycling victory last night. Also: For seven years he had tried in vain to reach a final at Wimbledon - now Andy Murray has managed it three times in the space of a month.

THE SUNDAY TIMES: Jessica Ennis fulfilled a lifetime dream last night when she became the Olympic heptathlon champion. Also: At the end of a superb day for British athletics, you might argue that Mo Farah kept the best until last.

THE OBSERVER: The 40ft banner draped across the front of John Lewis in her home city of Sheffield is the local confirmation of Jessica Ennis's national and international status - a status cemented last week when she appeared, eyes fixed on the camera and in mid-javelin throw, on the cover of Time magazine's Olympics special.

INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: Jessica Ennis last night crowned a fantastic day at the end of a remarkable week of sport, with a record-breaking gold medal win in the heptathlon. Also: Gold is not enough for British cyclists. The goal is now to crush, to obliterate, to set a standard way beyond the imagination of their rivals.

 

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THE SUN: Usain Bolt sealed his place in Olympic history when he became only the second man to defend the 100 metres title. Also: Andy Murray bagged gold at Wimbledon and declared: This is the best week of my life.

DAILY STAR: Lightning Usain Bolt killed off the Beast to prove he is still the fastest man on the planet last night. Also: Proud Andy Murray last night insisted he would not trade his Olympic tennis gold for the Wimbledon title.

THE INDEPENDENT: It was Jamaican party time in London last night. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Caribbean island gaining independence from Britain but the celebrations started early, and in England's capital city. Also: Jason Kenny has to win gold. The man who was picked ahead of Chris Hoy, Britain's gold medal machine, for the men's sprint dare not fail.

THE TIMES: Super Saturday gave way to Sublime Sunday last night as Usain Bolt dazzled 80,000 people in the Olympic Stadium to retain his 100 metres Olympic title in emphatic fashion. Also: After what he called "the hardest two weeks of my life", Ben Ainslie claimed victory in the Finn class on the waters of Weymouth Harbour to win his fourth Olympic gold medal, making him the most decorated sailor in the sport's history and one of Britain's greatest Olympians.

DAILY MIRROR: So after Super Saturday, Usain Bolt brought us Supersonic Sunday. Also: Andy Murray revealed Team GB's Super Saturday heroics inspired him to win Britain's first men's tennis Olympic gold for more than 100 years yesterday... Golden girl Jessica Ennis has vowed to turn her back on celebrity status and continue to compete in athletics' most gruelling event.

THE GUARDIAN: They had wondered if he was ready, rumours of injury, speculation over his commitment to training, his wavering form. But when that gun went in the Olympic Stadium, Usain Bolt delivered a weighty blow to anyone who had doubted or questioned, or thought they might beat him. Also: The Olympic Stadium in Stratford last night acclaimed one of its own as a local girl, Christine Ohuruogu, clawed her way back from fifth place in the women's 400m final to win a silver medal.

DAILY MAIL: Andy Murray and Ben Ainslie grabbed golds as Team GB racked up another eight medals on day nine of the London Olympics. Also: Fittingly, it was the day that celebrated 50 years of Jamaican independence. Here was just 9.63 seconds of it.

DAILY EXPRESS: Usain Bolt is still the incomparable king of the 100 metres after crushing his rivals last night. Also: Ben Ainslie sailed into history and a golden sunset when he took his fourth gold medal after a tense battle on Weymouth Bay.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Lightning Bolt has struck twice. Also: After four years in the wilderness since she won Olympic gold four years ago, Christine Ohuruogu was back on the stage she loves best in the town in which she was born and raised, performing a lap of honour with a Union Flag draped around her neck.

 

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THE SUN: Nick Skelton tasted Olympic glory at his sixth attempt and roared: "I've waited 54 years for this." Also: Jason Kenny roared to Britain's FIFTH track cycling gold yesterday; Police were last night hunting the yob who threw a banana at Manchester City's Gael Clichy during a match at Limerick on Sunday.

DAILY MAIL: Team GB can today record their biggest gold medal haul for more than 100 years. Also: Kevin Pietersen last night sensationally admitted his England career could be over following a breakdown in relations with his team-mates and the ECB, claiming: "It's tough being me."

DAILY MIRROR: Knight rider Sir Chris Hoy crowned his heir King Kenny as Britain's cyclists ruled the velodrome again last night. Also: Juventus are ready to switch targets - and try to snatch Luis Suarez from Liverpool.

DAILY EXPRESS: The big call paid off as Jason Kenny snatched his second gold of these Games in the Velodrome last night, backing the decision to pick him for the individual sprint ahead of Sir Chris Hoy. Also: Kevin Pietersen has dropped a bombshell by revealing he may quit playing Test cricket for England.

DAILY STAR: Usain Bolt last night insisted: you ain't seen nothing yet. Also: Jason Kenny grabbed his second gold of the Games yesterday when he stormed to victory in the men's sprint in the Velodrome.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Despite the lessons of history, it became clear yesterday that a British team can win a sudden-death sporting shoot-out after all. Provided, that is, horses are involved. Also: Gregory Bauge could not beat Jason Kenny in the sprint so he tried to defeat him in the press conference, turning journalist to demand why Britain are so indomitable in the Olympic Velodrome.

THE TIMES: The enormity of the moment struck Jason Kenny as he was about to ride for gold and glory in the Velodrome. Also: Kevin Pietersen may have played his last Test match after claiming that dressing-room politics lie behind part of his continuing dispute with England.

THE GUARDIAN: The king and the queen will take to the gleaming boards of an Olympic velodrome for the last time this evening. Also: Take cricket, or sport, for granted and you do so at your peril. The second Test match that had seemed all but dead and buried with 72 overs lost to the weather came alive during the final afternoon, as the sun blazed down.

THE INDEPENDENT: Twelve years after retiring with a broken neck, Great Britain's veteran showjumper Nick Skelton, who will be 55 this year, won his first-ever Olympic medal - and it was a gold one. Also: Kevin Pietersen's international career was heading to a dramatic close last night.

 

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THE SUN: Sir Chris Hoy became Britain's most decorated athlete of all time and declared: "This is the perfect way to end my Olympic career." Also: Victoria Pendleton was denied her golden send-off - but insisted she had no regrets as she said goodbye to cycling; Frank Lampard will be part of Roy Hodgson's England 'revolution'.

DAILY MAIL: Cycling superheroes Sir Chris Hoy and Laura Trott led the way as Great Britain won four more golds yesterday to bring their tally to an amazing 22 - the most in 104 years. Also: High jumper Robbie Grabarz took a third share of a bronze medal in the Olympic Stadium last night but it will be little more than a consolation prize to him.

DAILY MIRROR: The Queen has abdicated her throne - but the bloodline in British cycling's royalty is in safe hands. Also: A moped, or something that looks very like one, led the last race of the evening out in the Velodrome last night.

DAILY EXPRESS: Sir Chris Hoy won the sixth gold medal of his career last night to become Britain's most decorated Olympian, then revealed he does not expect to be in Rio in 2016. Also: Alistair Brownlee flew the Union Flag for Britain in Hyde Park yesterday in winning the Olympic triathlon and then revealed his next challenge is to take on Mo Farah over 10,000m.

DAILY STAR: Sir Chris Hoy capped another great day for Team GB by becoming our greatest-ever Olympian. Also: Luis Suarez last night snubbed the chance to quit English football to sign a new four-year deal with Liverpool.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Even for Britain's greatest Olympian there are some things that get harder the more you practise. Sir Chris Hoy had stood behind the middle step of the podium five times at three Games before last night, but experience was no help as he prepared to accept the medal that took the Scot past Sir Steve Redgrave's golden haul of five. Also: Laura Trott may look like the girl next door but she fought like an alley cat at the Olympic Velodrome last night to land her second Olympic gold medal in four days in a manner that confirms a major new star has well and truly arrived.

THE TIMES: Just as Victoria Pendleton was leaving the stage, British cycling found a new queen of the track last night as Laura Trott collected her second gold medal of the Games. Also: Lottery loser Robbie Grabarz won a bronze medal last night and then, having jumped one bar, probably headed for another.

THE GUARDIAN: Super Tuesday was everything it was expected to be, as the final session at the velodrome produced high drama, bucketfuls of tears and two gold medals and a silver for Great Britain, who continued their dominance to end the track programme with a total of nine medals from 10 events. Also: Ravi Bopara again pulled out of his return to competitive action yesterday to add to the uncertainty surrounding the England team.

THE INDEPENDENT: What a great way to leave the stage. Chris Hoy could not have rounded off his Games career in better fashion last night, smashing ahead of the opposition in the keirin for his sixth gold medal to become Great Britain's greatest Olympian in the most triumphant of styles. Also: England are ready to end Kevin Pietersen's international career to demonstrate that no man is bigger than the team.

 

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THE SUN: Usain Bolt says nothing can stop him becoming an Olympic legend tonight. Also: Alex Ferguson has blasted Arsenal over his attempts to sign Robin van Persie; Sir Chris Hoy is furious at France whingeing over Team GB's cycling glory.

DAILY MAIL: Usain Bolt last night proclaimed himself ready to achieve the legendary status he craves by winning gold in tonight's 200 metres final at the Olympic Stadium. Also: For an event that takes two hours and often sees athletes heading in the wrong direction, the open water 10km swim has seen some dramatic finishes.

DAILY MIRROR: Usain Bolt eyes double gold tonight - but the Beast is out to maul him. Also: Sir Chris Hoy has accused cycling's world governing body of trying to "manipulate" the Olympic medal table against Team GB; Manchester City claim they are being asked to pay a staggering £27million for Liverpool's Daniel Agger.

DAILY EXPRESS: Usain Bolt sets out tonight to achieve what no-one in Olympic history has done before, saying ominously: "I'm looking forward to it." Also: Mo Farah will have to fight off some of the toughs of the track to become a double Olympic champion on Saturday.

DAILY STAR: Cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy last night hit back at bad losers France and said: We're not cheats, we're just better than you. Also: Mo Farah and Usain Bolt stayed on track for double Olympic glory yesterday.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: So this is it. After all the declarations of intent from Usain Bolt that only the successful defence of both his Olympic sprint titles would ever be enough to confer legendary status upon him, the time has come for the athletic phenomenon of his era to record what ought to be seen as the greatest golden Olympian feat of all. Also: Sir Chris Hoy exuded a sense of utter vindication. Having defied both the onset of middle age and the best efforts of cycling's power brokers to derail his unprecedented gold rush, he stopped to drink in the adulation.

THE TIMES: Usain Bolt v David Rudisha. Now that would be a rivalry to savour. Also: The most infamous drug barron in sport is in London and working with athletes at the Olympic Games.

THE GUARDIAN: Great Britain has won more gold medals in different sports than any country bar China - and has even bettered the USA's total at London 2012. Also: Rory McIlroy has risked courting controversy on the eve of the USPGA Championship by claiming improved technology has played a key part in allowing what he described as "lesser players" to win major titles.

THE INDEPENDENT: The Jamaican party was put on hold at London 2012 last night. Two days on from the 50th anniversary Independence Day celebrations, Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake advanced to the men's 200m final without breaking too much sweat at the semi-final stage. Also: Rory McIlroy believes he has an edge at the 94th USPGA Championship which tees off today that will put his game on a different planet.

 

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THE SUN: Usain Bolt defended his Olympic 200 metres title last night - and finally achieved the legendary status he so craved. Also: Wayne Rooney has urged Robin van Persie to join him at Manchester United.
Usain Bolt: The main man in the morning papers
Usain Bolt: The main man in the morning papers

DAILY MAIL: Usain Bolt declared himself the greatest athlete in history last night after becoming the first man to win the Olympic sprint double-double. Also: Kevin Pietersen has risked further damaging his relationship with England after it emerged he sent text messages to members of the South Africa team during the Headingley Test.

DAILY MIRROR: Usain Bolt cemented his place in Olympic history after completing an astonishing back-to-back sprint double. Also: Nicola Adams celebrated being crowned the first women's Olympic boxing champion with a meal fit for a queen at Nando's.

DAILY EXPRESS: Showman Usain Bolt had the Olympic Stadium on its feet last night as he roared into history. Also: Nicola Adams proved she is The Greatest yesterday as she became the first woman to win a boxing gold medal in Olympic history.

DAILY STAR: Usain Bolt struck at the double in stunning style to achieve legendary track status last night. Also: Nicola Adams went down in history yesterday by becoming the first woman to win an Olympic boxing medal; Wayne Rooney has told Robin van Persie: Come and join me at Manchester United.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Now there are no arguments. Now it is up there written in huge gold lettering, the eulogy that he has coveted for so long. Usain Bolt can at last satisfy himself that he is a legend, the only man ever to defend both the 100metres and 200m titles in the same Olympic Games.

THE TIMES: Nicola Adams kept Great Britain's gold rush going yesterday, making history by becoming the first women's Olympic boxing champion. Also: On a day made for low scoring, Rory McIlroy threw down an immediate marker in the first round of the USPGA Championship at Kiawah Island last night.

THE GUARDIAN: Crossing the line to win his second gold medal of these Games, Usain Bolt put his finger to his lips. Critics silenced. Job done. Also: Nicola Adams is a flat-footed asthmatic, a bubbling flyweight confection of unaffected charisma who makes every room and boxing ring she enters her personal property with a smile of serious wattage; Rory McIlroy is not only determined but now perfectly placed to improve upon his season's self-assessment.

THE INDEPENDENT: Now that he has exhausted the world's capacity to be surprised, Usain Bolt trades on certainty. Also: One was born on a housing estate and excelled at the roughest of sports. The other worked her way up from being a stable hand to compete in a more genteel discipline. Yesterday, both Nicola Adams and Charlotte Dujardin won gold for Britain.

 

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THE SUN: Usain Bolt last night insisted 'We're clean' as Jamaica's incredible gold medal haul was hit by a drugs slur. Also: Mo Farah has pledged to give his all in tonight's Olympic 5,000m final.

DAILY MAIL: Britain's sprinters crashed out of the 4x100 metres relay at the scene of so many golden triumphs. Also: England yesterday launched an inquiry into the latest twist in the Kevin Pietersen crisis and were last night meeting to decide whether to end his international career.

DAILY MIRROR: Usain Bolt could switch to long jump and challenge Britain's Olympic champion Greg Rutherford at Rio 2016. Also: Roberto Mancini has again hit out at Manchester City bosses over a lack of new signings.

DAILY EXPRESS: Lord Coe is banking on Mo Farah making it the perfect Olympic Games tonight with another gold medal. Also: Lutalo Muhammad bravely defied the critics to become the first British man to collect an Olympic taekwondo medal despite the added pressure of his controversial selection.

DAILY STAR: Manchester City have rejected a £40m bid for Mario Balotelli from Paris St Germain after Roberto Mancini threatened to quit. Also: Team GB's sailors kept the flag flying yesterday when they grabbed two silvers in the 470 class at Weymouth.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: He was the daft kid who jumped naked off Kingston Bridge into the Thames after a drunken night out. Tonight, if you believe in fairytale endings, he will be the mature dad who plunges headlong into history as the man who put the golden seal on Britain's matchless festival of sport. Over to you, Mohamed Farah.

THE TIMES: Lisa Dobriskey last night accused some of her rivals in the Olympic Stadium of taking performance-enhancing drugs. Also: Luke Donald's hopes of breaking his duck in major championships looked to be in tatters last night when he found himself way down the field in the second round of the USPGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

THE GUARDIAN: Charles van Commenee insists he has never had any trouble dropping off at night. "Nothing keeps me awake," the UK Athletics head coach said a few weeks before these Olympics. "I always sleep like a baby." You wonder if he slipped off so easily last night, or whether he was tossing and turning as he mulled over the permutations for the final 24 hours of athletics competition at these Games. Also: The bitter controversy over the exclusion of the taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook from Britain's Olympic squad was reignited yesterday, after Lutalo Muhammad, the man selected in his place, was defeated in the quarter-finals by a fighter whom Cook beat in May.

THE INDEPENDENT: It was not the best of nights for Britain on the relay front. Also: Some are born great; some achieve greatness; and some have greatness thrust upon them. And then there is Mo Farah, who stands around 13 minutes away from joining the all-time greats of distance running.

 

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THE SUN SUNDAY: Mo Farah pledged to give one gold medal to each of his twin daughters when they are born next month. Also: Tom Daley defied the odds to earn a stunning bronze - and made it Super Saturday II for Team GB.

SUNDAY MIRROR: Mo Farah won his second gold medal and Usain Bolt took his third on another astonishing night of athletics. Also: Controversial batting star Kevin Pietersen has made a sensational U-turn and said he wants to return to all three forms of cricket for England.

DAILY STAR SUNDAY: Mo Farah made Olympic history last night as he became only the seventh man to win gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m. Also: Man City owner Sheikh Mansour last night told his Premier League champs: Spend my money!

SUNDAY EXPRESS: Unbeatable Mo Farah put the finishing touches to an unforgettable London 2012 as the medals kept on coming for Britain on the penultimate day of the golden Games. Also: Ed McKeever said he felt like "a kid at Christmas" after winning gold for Great Britain in the men's kayak single 200m race.

MAIL ON SUNDAY: Mo Farah and Usain Bolt provided an extraordinary finale to the track programme of the Olympic Games last night with a fourth athletics gold medal for Britain and a relay world record for Jamaica. Also: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson skipped his side's final pre-season friendly in Hannover last night as his long-running feud with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger threatened to wreck a £15million move for Robin van Persie.

THE SUNDAY TIMES: It was the most astonishing race, an epic to compare with anything we have seen in the history of athletics. When it ended, Mohamed Farah had taken his place in the pantheon of truly great distance runners. Also: These Olympic Games deserved a thundering climax on the track and who better to provide it than the greatest showman and the greatest sprinter of all time.

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: It was the perfect ending to the perfect Games, just as Lord Coe hoped it would be. A capacity home crowd on its feet and roaring itself hoarse as Londoner Mo Farah tore down the finishing straight for his second Olympics gold and a place at the very pinnacle of British sporting history. It does not get much better than this. Also: Just in case anybody wanted to argue the point, Usain Bolt stamped himself as the supreme performer of the XXX Olympiad by achieving the unprecedented feat of successfully defending all three of his crowns and anchoring his Jamaican sprint buddies to a sensational world record.

INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: As a youngster growing up in Hounslow on the west side of London, Mohamed Farah had posters of Muhammad Ali covering his bedroom wall. Also: Oh yes. It had to be. Usain Bolt galloping down the home straight at a record lick. Gold would never be sufficient to substantiate this legend.

THE OBSERVER: Before this race Mo Farah had expressed his doubts. The 29-year-old Briton who had so charmed the nation with his elegance of stride and the greatest of smiles, triumphing in the 10,000m a week before, had said he was tired. Also: How else did you think it would end? How else could it end? With the greatest sprinter of all time dipping for the line, raising 80,000 people to their feet.

THE PEOPLE: Mo Farah stormed into the history books last night by claiming his second gold medal of London 2012. Also: Anthony Joshua will have the backing of the entire Olympic Village, as well as the nation, when he goes for boxing gold this afternoon.

 

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Latest Paper Talk
Monday August 13

Fulham boss Martin Jol is lining up a £3m bid for Bolton's former Liverpool striker David Ngog after being priced out of a move for Huddersfield hitman Jordan Rhodes.
Wolves have told West Ham they want £10m for winger Matt Jarvis.
John Toshack has been sacked as the manager of Macedonia after just one win in eight games during his 12-month reign.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is likely to step up his efforts to sign Liverpool defender Daniel Agger this week after insisting he needs more additions.
Kolo Toure has been involved in an angry bust-up with Mancini over being snubbed in Manchester City's 3-2 Community Shield win over Chelsea on Sunday.
Newcastle have agreed fee of around £6m for Ajax defender Vurnon Anita.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says striker Carlos Tevez is like a new signing in their bid to retain their Premier League title.

Tottenham are rivalling Arsenal for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila.
Wigan are finalising a loan with Arsenal for Ryo Miyaichi, 19, in a move which is likely to hasten the departure of striker Victor Moses to Chelsea.

Inter Milan fear they will be priced out of a move for Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong who expects to be paid £70,000 per week after tax.