Paper Talk - 01 January 2012

• Wayne Rooney was sensationally axed from Manchester United's squad for yesterday's Premier League clash with Blackburn after a bust-up with manager Sir Alex Ferguson that throws the controversial Old Trafford striker's future into doubt.


• Robin van Persie has given the biggest hint yet that he wants to stay at Arsenal when his contract ends in 2013.


• Arsenal are ready to bid £10million for Germany star Lukas Podolski.


• Premier League stars and their clubs are being investigated by the taxman over the secret perks enjoyed by players and their families.


• Steve Kean last night called for a truce with the fans who have been calling for his head all season.


• The Gunners are pondering a loan move for Manchester City's Wayne Bridge as their defensive crisis mounts.


• Rangers want West Brom's Graham Dorrans but could lose Nikica Jelavic to Atletico Madrid.

• Theo Walcott and Arsenal are at WAR over his demand for a new £85,000-a-week four-year deal.


• Arsene Wenger will offer Arsenal legend Thierry Henry the job as his new assistant at The Emirates.


• Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will snap up Daniele De Rossi if Roma put him up for sale.


• Doncaster have turned down a bid from Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson for striker Billy Sharp.


• Newcastle are monitoring Montpellier's France Under-21 international defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, but are no longer interested in his team-mate Olivier Giroud.


• Everton boss David Moyes is keen on a move for Catania striker Maxi Lopez.


• Chelsea were foolish to force Jose Mourinho out of the door, says former Stamford Bridge ace Joe Cole.


• Petr Cech says Andre Villas-Boas must be given an entire season to prove himself at Chelsea.

• Harry Redknapp and Fabio Capello are being linked in an incredible job swap.


• Chelsea can terminate John Terry's contract without paying a penny in compensation - if he is found guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.


• Luis Suarez has been branded as an "unreliable" and "inconsistent" witness by an FA tribunal.


• If Harry Redknapp had his way the January transfer window would be abolished.


• Andre Villas-Boas apologised to irate Chelsea fans after their team's shock 3-1 home defeat against Aston Villa.


• Robin van Persie set an Arsenal goalscoring record - then took a volley of abuse from QPR boss Neil Warnock.


• Manchester City have asked police to keep Manchester United's travelling fans locked in the Etihad Stadium when the two teams face each other in the FA Cup next week.


• David Moyes admits he had sympathy for Roy Hodgson when he was sacked by Liverpool.


• Roberto Mancini has warned Sir Alex Ferguson that the Premier League title will not be won by mind games.


• Martin O'Neill has revealed his desire to mastermind a Manchester City-style revolution at Sunderland - but admits it will have to be done without the riches at Roberto Mancini's disposal.


• Unsettled Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon is a target for French side Marseille.


• Jordan Rhodes has been rocked by an injury that dents Huddersfield's promotion charge and shatters West Ham's hopes of signing him for £3million this month.


• Bolton will use the £8million they receive from Chelsea for defender Gary Cahill to make a bid for Fulham striker Bobby Zamora.


• Everton are set to take up an option to keep Sylvain Distin at Goodison until the summer of 2013.


• Manchester City's £17.5million misfit Roque Santa Cruz is wanted by Brazilian club Cruzeiro.


• Manchester United are in danger of losing teenage attacking sensation Ravel Morrison to Europe's biggest clubs for just £300,000 in compensation.


• Qatar-based Al-Sadd are ready to match QPR's £15million valuation of unhappy midfielder Adel Taarabt.


• Sir Alex Ferguson has predicted another January transfer window spending bonanza as the recession shows no signs of hitting football hard.


• Inter Milan boss Claudio Ranieri is involved in a battle to keep Wesley Sneijder at the San Siro.


• Sevilla are hoping to finalise a move for Tottenham midfielder Giovani dos Santos in the next few days.


• Clubs hoping to take Manchester United's fringe players on loan must wait until the end of the transfer window for a decision from Sir Alex Ferguson.


• Alan Curbishley has named Scott Parker as the bargain of the season - and is backing his former charge to fire Tottenham into the Champions League for the second time in three seasons.


• SUNDAY

• Liverpool are ready to test Aston Villa's resolve to hang onto their England striker Darren Bent.


• Luka Modric will seek a clause in his next Tottenham contract insisting he has pay parity with any future big-money signings at White Hart Lane.


• Andy Johnson is on a collision course with Fulham after neighbours QPR lodged a £1.3million bid for the striker.


• Mario Balotelli was the worst room-mate in the world - according to the poor bloke he used to bunk down with.


• Juan Sebastian Veron has given a fascinating insight into the mind of Roberto Mancini - and revealed how the Manchester City boss once tried to knock him out after a game.


• Carlo Ancelotti will step up PSG's interest in AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato after being installed as the club's new manager.


• Andre Villas-Boas is keeping tabs on Valencia star Roberto Soldado as he prepares to revamp his Stamford Bridge strikeforce.


• Blackburn boss Steve Kean is making an ambitious bid to sign Real Madrid's unwanted star Esteban Granero on loan for the relegation battle.


• Billy Sharp is available in a cut-price January deal, as a £1.85million release clause kicks in today.


• Nedum Onuoha is facing decision time as he looks for first-team Premier League football. Blackburn and Bolton are interested with QPR and West Brom also waiting in the wings.


• Manchester United superkid Will Keane is wanted on loan by Carling Cup conquerors Crystal Palace - with Dougie Freedman desperate on a deal.


• Stoke are plotting a move for Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell. He's rated at £3million.


• Bolton boss Owen Coyle will be given his pick of a Chelsea youngster to take on loan next season - as Gary Cahill heads the other way.


• Newcastle will only be making one signing this transfer window - at best. United plan to bring in a replacement for injured centre-back Steven Taylor.


• Danny Rose is in line for January loan move from Tottenham - to keep alive his Olympic dream.


• Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio has played in Rome and Milan - and now he pretends he is in charge of Barcelona.


• QPR face a crunch decision over Adel Taarabt - with Al-Sadd ready to meet his £15million valuation.


• Jason Roberts admits he is frustrated by a lack of football at crisis-hit Blackburn - and insists he is not ready to swap football for a career in broadcasting.


• Premier League stars John Obi Mikel and Peter Odemwingie have been threatened with international exile - for wearing the wrong earrings.


• Sunderland are being linked with a move for Tottenham midfielder Stephen Pienaar.


• Blackburn's unwanted man Keith Andrews could price himself out of a move with his wage demands.


• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to send midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong to Wolves - to the fury of Bolton.


• Sir Alex Ferguson was choking on his birthday cake last night as Manchester United did their best to hand the title to great rivals City.

• John Terry is a target for China's top two clubs, who will offer him an escape route from the unsavoury row overshadowing his season.


• Roberto Mancini has vowed not to become a victim of Sir Alex Ferguson's mind games in the title race.


• Andre Villas-Boas last night appealed to Chelsea fans to save him from the sack.

• Ally McCoist last night admitted Scotland star Graham Dorrans could figure highly on Rangers' winter window wishlist.


• Atletico Madrid are considering making a move for Nikica Jelavic.


• Hearts are set to end their media ban at tomorrow's Edinburgh derby with Hibernian.


• Swedish club Hacken last night beat the Old Firm in the race to sign Emilio Izaguirre's Honduran superkid team-mate - 20-year-old Eddie Hernandez. 

• Arsene Wenger is mulling a £15m bid for Schalke forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.


• Carlo Ancclotti is poised with a £25m bid for Manchester United's Nani.