SPURS RESIGNED TO LOSING BERBATOV
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly dismissed the suggestion that Sir Alex Ferguson will seek to sign Thierry Henry and expect the Manchester United manager to make another attempt to prise Dimi Berbatov from their grasp.
According to The Times, United 'are determined to complete the signing of Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur before the start of the new Barclays Premier League campaign this weekend', while The Independent declares: 'Spurs remain pessimistic that they will be able to hang on to their striker after another lacklustre display by the Bulgarian against Roma at White Hart Lane on Sunday suggested his heart is no longer in it.'
For more on this story, click here
SILVA FOR UNITED?
Baffling rumour doing the rounds in a few papers this morning, including The Times and The Daily Mirror.
They claim that Manchester United - despite being pretty well stocked on the wings and in midfield but chronically light up top - are interested in signing Valencia winger David Silva.
Quite why Fergie would spunk the £20million mentioned on a player he patently doesn't need, and after he's clearly stated that a striker is pretty urgently required at Old Trafford is beyond us, but we aren't quite as wise as those in Fleet Street, obviously.
However, the man himself doesn't seem all that keen on a move, as you can see by clicking just here.
WE'RE NOT CONVINCED BY THIS ONE
Joe Cole for Liverpool? That's the line being peddled by the Mail which claims the midfielder 'is demanding assurances over his future from Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari after Liverpool declared an interest in the England midfielder.'
He's also described - and we love this line - as being 'spooked by the potential arrival of Robinho'.
It's also worth repeating their claim that 'Scolari has not been convinced by the England midfielder in pre-season and has urged Chelsea to sign Robinho as a direct replacement'.
By the by, The Daily Mirror reckons Chelsea are set to make another bid for the Brazilian, worth around £25million this time.
Whether Liverpool would make a move for Cole is debatable, however, especially as it's doubtful that Rafa Benitez has the funds necessary to convince Chelsea to sell.
As an aside, one of the Birmingham local rags yesterday claimed Aston Villa were considering a move for Cole, and were counting out £15million of Randy Lerner's pennies in order to do so.
VILLA SIGN ANOTHER DEFENDER
Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar is poised to become Aston Villa's latest summer signing after the two clubs agreed a £7.8million fee.
Villa have had a bid accepted, confirmed by Rangers as 10million euros, which invoked the release clause in the Spaniard's contract.
Villa will now discuss terms with the 26-year-old but Rangers went a step further to claim the move was as good as complete, subject to a medical.
Cuellar, who was outstanding for Rangers after joining the Scottish club from Osasuna last season, expressed a desire to leave Ibrox last weekend.
His decision is a huge blow to the Scottish club coming just a week after a humiliating early exit from the Champions League at the qualifying stages.
SO WHO IS THAT MIDFIELDER?
It's not a new rumour this one, and it could well be the tabs groping in the dark in trying to identify who the midfielder wanted by Arsene Wenger is, but The Daily Mirror claims Arsenal are about to pay £8million for Man Citeh midfielder Michael Johnson.
Presumably it will be much easier, as apparently you don't need the manager's permission to buy players from Citeh these days.
Another name chucked into the old mixer by The Times is Marseille's Lorik Cana.
The paper reckons L'OM have told both Arsenal and Everton to come up with £20million for their man, something that means this rumour has started and finished in a mere two sentences.
AND THE REST...
Sunderland have launched a fresh bid for Leighton Baines...Portsmouth are set to beat West Ham and Spurs to the signing of Stephen Appiah...West Ham and Newcastle are battling it out for Diego Tristan...Wigan boss Steve Bruce is to snap up Ecuador's midfield star Segundo Castillo...Roque Santa Cruz has told Blackburn he wants to join Manchester City...Middlesbrough want an answer from Arsenal over their £3million offer for Justin Hoyte...Shola Ameobi has begged Newcastle not to price him out of a move away from St James's Park...Newcastle are closing in on a deal for Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock...Birmingham winger Seb Larsson says he wants to join a Premier League club...Chelsea are preparing to cut their losses by selling Branislav Ivanovic to AC Milan.