Rumour of the day
Barcelona will step up their £35m move for Cesc Fabregas after missing out on Franck Ribery.
The Spanish and European champions feel the French midfielder Ribery will join Real Madrid.
So they will now turn their focus to Fabregas, who has been on the Nou Camp club’s wanted list since last summer (Daily Star)
Best of the rest
Manchester United were said to be moving closer last night to signing Karim Benzema, the France striker, from Lyons (The Times)
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has revealed he has received offers from AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid but although his wife doesn't like Manchester he will be staying at Old Trafford (The Sun)
Arsene Wenger turned down the chance to manage Real Madrid because of joy that comes from watching Arsenal's young team play the beautiful game (Daily Telegraph)
Carlo Ancelotti starts his new job at Chelsea today worried that the superstar promised to him has not yet materialised (The Sun)
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will bid £6m for England U21 keeper Scott Loach (The Sun)
Tottenham are weighing up an approach for Lokomotiv Moscow and Switzerland goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic (The Times)
Real Madrid want to delay their offer for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso to prevent Real Sociedad claiming 20 per cent of any transfer fee (Daily Mail)
Having been frustrated in their pursuit of Felipe Melo, Arsenal will go head to head with Tottenham for the signature of Marseille midfielder Loik Cana (Daily Express)
Samuel Eto'o's mega move to Manchester City is turning into a war of words as he fights for a £15million pay-off from Barcelona.
Eto'o's lawyer accused Barca president Joan Laporta of lying about the sale to City - digging in for a fight that could yet wreck the transfer (Daily Mirror)
Cardiff are close to netting Charlton defender Mark Hudson for £800,000 (The Sun)
Aston Villa are keeping tabs on Arsenal's Philippe Senderos as well as fellow defenders Sylvain Distin of Portsmouth and David Wheater of Middlesbrough (Daily Mail)
Bolton will confirm today that former Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis has signed a three-year deal (Various)
Eidur Gudjohnsen's father and agent, Arnor, says Aston Villa, Everton and Fulham have all inquired about the Barcelona striker (Daily Mail)
Benni McCarthy may quit Blackburn to revive his World Cup dream, with former club Celta Vigo interested in taking him back (Daily Mirror)
Manchester City misfit Jo is set to return to Everton on a season-long loan (The Sun)
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants to resurrect the career of Everton flop Andy van der Meyde (The Sun)
Paul Ince will be offered a chance to turn back the clock and return to MK Dons as their new manager - after Roberto Di Matteo headed to West Brom (Daily Mirror)
