Paper Talk - 23 December 2011

• Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has labelled Arsenal striker Robin van Persie a "conman".


• Liverpool could take their case to Switzerland if they fail to get the Luis Suarez ban overturned here.


• Everton boss David Moyes insists the abuse dished out by Blackburn fans to Steve Kean is "disgusting".


• Emmanuel Adebayor will not open talks about staying at Tottenham until the end of the season.


• Chelsea are to loan out winger Gael Kakuta to Dijon.


• Adel Taarabt is still set to quit QPR next month - despite being welcomed back into the fold.


• Nick Barmby is set to have talks over becoming Hull's permanent manager.


• Everton's Diniyar Bilyaletdinov wants out after being benched for most of the season.

• Luis Suarez has been "crucified" following his eight-match ban, according to Liverpool team-mate Pepe Reina.


• Arsenal legend Robert Pires has backed David Beckham to be a huge hit in France - if he can prove age is no barrier.


• Fernando Torres has demanded respect from critics, despite his pitiful start record at Chelsea.


• Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is ready to offer £8million for Fulham's unsettled striker Bobby Zamora.


• Ex-Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb is being offered to QPR after his latest career setback.


• Aston Villa want to sign Fulham veteran winger Damien Duff - but must balance the books to make it happen.


• Blackpool want to bring Jason Puncheon back to Bloomfield Road when his loan at QPR ends next week.

• Sir Alex Ferguson is facing mounting pressure to go on a spending spree and keep alive Manchester United's title dream.


• Middlesbrough and Bristol City are tracking Ryan Stevenson after he told Hearts he will not play for them again until he is paid.


• Liverpool are keeping tabs on prolific Brighton youth striker Shamir Goodwin.

• Paul McGrath has launched a scathing attack over Liverpool's decision to wear T-shirts in support of Luis Suarez and denounced the gesture as "shameful".


• Alan Pardew is hoping to land a central defender in the January transfer window but has warned Newcastle fans not to expect any substantial spending.

• Lucas Biglia's agent claims Manchester United are interested in the Anderlecht midfielder.


• Manchester City held talks with AC Milan in London on Thursday over the proposed sale of Carlos Tevez.


• Rangers are trying to persuade Dundee United midfielder Scott Allan to snub a move to WBA.


• Doncaster are looking to pull off an ambitious triple deal for strikers Habib Bamogo and Mamadou Bagayoko and former Liverpool midfielder Damien Plessis.

• Gordon Taylor, the head of the Professional Footballers' Association, has criticised the "cultural differences" argument used by Liverpool's Luis Suarez to fight his racism charge and insisted it is up to clubs to ensure foreign players are aware of what is acceptable in this country.

• Alan Hansen, the BBC pundit, has apologised after he described black players as "coloured" on Match of the Day.

• Steve Kean's position as Blackburn Rovers manager appeared to be safe on Thursday night, with the club's matriarchal owner Anuradha Desai apparently of the view that she cannot afford to sack him.

• Manchester City have held fresh talks with AC Milan to try to reach a compromise that will allow the Premier League leaders to remove Carlos Tevez from their payroll.


• Manchester United are hopeful that Phil Jones can make a rapid return to their pursuit of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League despite sending him for an X-ray amid concerns he broke a cheekbone in their 5-0 win at Fulham.

• Neil Lennon has admitted Celtic would be interested in a sensational January move for former Rangers striker Kris Boyd.


• Ryan Stevenson has revealed he walked out on crisis club Hearts when doctors warned him the health of his unborn child was being put at risk. 

• Luka Modric will NOT make a second attempt to leave Tottenham for Chelsea, with the move being described as "dead".


• Arsenal are set to ship out striker flop Marouane Chamakh and replace him with Wigan front man Hugo Rodallega.

• Experienced striker Ivica Olic linked with a move from Bayern Munich, with Fulham one of the favourites to sign the Croatian hitman.


• Arsenal and Chelsea target Kaka considering a move from Real Madrid.

• Anderlecht midfielder Lucas Biglia's agent has stated that both Manchester United and Arsenal are keen to secure the player's services.