Sunday paper round up

[Jimbo 175]

TRANSFER RUMOURS

 

Liverpool have joined the race to sign Charlton's £15m-rated striker Darren Bent. (Sunday Mirror)

Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy have again hinted at the capture of Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham after saying they are poised to sign a player who will make a "monumental impact" on and off the field in the United States. (The People)

 

West Ham will compete with Chelsea for Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim. (Sunday Mirror)

 

Newcastle are planning a move for Manchester United midfielder Kieran Richardson. (The People)

Sunderland may snatch striker Anthony Stokes, who has been on loan to Falkirk from Arsenal, from under the noses of Charlton. (Sunday Mirror)

 

Southampton defender Gareth Bale will decide in the next 48 hours whether to join Manchester United. (The People)

 

Charlton have failed in a bid to land Portsmouth striker Andrew Cole because they cannot match his terms. (The People)

 

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Heard a transfer rumour? Let us know ...

 

OTHER GOSSIP

 

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's future is in doubt and he may walk away from Stamford Bridge in the summer. (Various)

 

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[Scottish Mag 3]

TWO IN FOR LUCAS

 

LIVERPOOL and Newcastle are locked in a straight fight for Blackburn defender Lucas Neill.

 

The Australian World Cup star, who turned down a new three-year deal with Rovers, is out of contract in the summer but set to move during the window for a cutprice £1million.

 

Anfield boss Rafa Benitez had been leading the race. Liverpool's initial move collapsed last August when they couldn't agree a valuation with Blackburn in a part-exchange deal for left-back Stephen Warnock.

 

Neill, 28, has attracted attention from the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona, whose No.2 Johan Neeskens was on Australia's staff at the World Cup.

 

But Neill looks set to settle for a future in the Premiership and sources close to Newcastle have confirmed that they are now serious contenders to sign him.

[Scottish Mag 3]

PARKER TOP OF CURBS' HIT LIST

 

WEST HAM boss Alan Curbishley wants to bring Newcastle United skipper Scott Parker back to London in a £10million swoop.

 

Curbishley would love his old Charlton captain to join him as part of an Upton Park dressing room revolution.

 

Parker is a Toon hero since his £6million move from Chelsea and the club will fight hard to stop him leaving.

 

However, Curbishley has money to spend and a unique bond with Parker, a player he groomed for the top.

 

The Hammers transfer kitty could be boosted by the departure of several players - skipper Nigel Reo-Coker is a surprise £6million target for Bolton.

 

He will be allowed to go, with Curbishley hoping Parker will fill the midfield gap.

 

He would be the ideal skipper for Curbishley, who has declared war on some of his players and their big-time attitude and the way they live on past glories.

 

If Parker hints that he fancies the move, Newcastle could launch a bid for Manchester City's Joey Barton, who has a £5.5million clause in his contract.

 

West Ham will also try to prize Lauren away from Arsenal as Curbishley continues his spending spree.

 

The Hammers are desperate for a top class right-back and have identified the Cameroon international as their main target.

 

Lauren has been plagued by injuries for the past two seasons and although he is now fit, has been unable to win back his place in the Arsenal line-up.

 

Curbishley would be willing to pay around £3m for the experienced full-back and is hoping he can tempt Lauren away from the Emirates stadium.

[Scottish Mag 3]

IT'S TAKE THREE FOR SWP

 

CHELSEA have accepted THREE £10million bids for Shaun Wright-Phillips, writes NEIL SILVER.

 

Blues boss Jose Mourinho will allow his England winger to talk to West Ham, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

 

However, People Sport understands that Wright- Phillips, 25, does not fancy any of them and would prefer a move to Newcastle.

 

Toon boss Glenn Roeder would love to have him in his team but could only take Wright-Phillips on loan at the moment because he needs to divide his transfer funds between two defenders and a goalscorer.

 

Meanwhile, Mourinho has knocked back Newcastle's bid to take French midfielder Lassana Diarra on loan until the end of the season.

 

Roeder contacted Stamford Bridge last week to inquire about the 21-year-old but with mounting injury problems, Mourinho refused to sanction the move - although a deal could still be struck before the transfer window closes if Chelsea's injury crisis eases.

[Baggio 0]

Mourinho might have changed his mind about Diarra after yesterday.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Real Madrid are keen on signing misfiring Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko and are offering Ronaldo in exchange as part of the deal. (Various)

 

Ronaldo has also been offered, along with fellow Bernabeu striker Antonio Cassano, to AC Milan but they have rejected any deal for the pair. (AS in Spain)

 

West Ham have upped their bid for Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and are now chasing Arsenal right-back Lauren as well as Man City's Joey Barton. (The Daily Star on Sunday)

 

Real Madrid are set to sign Arsenal target Franck Ribery from Marseille for £15m. (The Star)

 

Reading and Charlton are competing for the services of Colchester defender Greg Halford. (The Star)

 

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is lining up a £4m bid for French Under-21 and Auxerre defender Younes Kaboul. (The Star)

 

Chelsea could ease their defensive problems by luring Sylvain Distin from Man City for £3m.

 

Arsenal are ready to let Freddie Ljungberg leave the club. (News of the World)

 

Sven-Goran Eriksson is set to take over as manager at Marseille and wants David Beckham to join him at the French club. (News of the World)

 

Wigan will renew their interest in Man Utd striker Alan Smith by tabling a £6m bid. (News of the World)

 

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho wants Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe to boost his side's assault on the Premiership title. (Sunday Times)

 

Mourinho would have played Lassana Diarra instead of Frank Lampard in the FA Cup win over Macclesfield but the French youngster missed the pre-match briefing after turning up 40 minutes late. (News of the World)

 

Bradford City could be set to bring Peter Reid back into the managerial ranks as they look to replace current boss Colin Todd. (The Star)

 

Arsenal will offer striker Emmanuel Adebayor a new deal to fend off any advances from Manchester United. (News of the World)

 

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack's first-team place has been questioned by some of his team-mates. (Sunday Times)

 

We could do worse than have a bit for him ourselves.