The top stories from papers and websites - 28 December 2012

• Referee Mike Dean has come under fire from his former colleagues for failing to stop Sir Alex Ferguson's tirade.


• Alex McLeish takes over as Nottingham Forest manager on Friday but will face a fans' revolt similar to that he had to deal with at Aston Villa.


• Harry Redknapp is plotting a move for Fulham linchpin Brede Hangeland when the transfer window opens on New Year's Day.


• Joey Barton could extend his stay at Marseille beyond the end of the season.


• Yossi Benayoun is set to return to Chelsea next week after being told his loan spell at West Ham will not be extended.

• Roberto Mancini is plotting a shock bid to beat Chelsea to the signing of Barcelona striker David Villa.


• Furious Sam Allardyce accused referee Anthony Taylor of costing his side vital points after Carlton Cole's red card was overturned.


• Norwich's Javier Garrido says Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini should be unsackable.


• Blackburn wants Mark Hughes to make a shock return to Ewood Park to replace Henning Berg.

• Rafa Benitez is in line to land the Chelsea manager's job permanently.


• Lionel Messi turned down a monster £460,000-a-week offer to quit Barcelona.


• Newcastle will bank just £5million when top scorer Demba Ba leaves next month.


• Leighton Baines has emerged as a shock £15million target for moneybags Paris St Germain.


• Robert Lewandowski is set to complete an £18million move to Manchester United in the summer.


• Salomon Kalou insists he is not interested in joining QPR next month.


• Chelsea want £10million-rated Lyon and France striker Bafetimbi Gomis, who is nicknamed 'Baby Drogba'.


• Jay Tabb is getting a new two-year deal off Reading.

• David Villa wants to quit Barcelona next month - and is targeting a move to Chelsea.


• Cristiano Ronaldo has put Manchester United on red alert by refusing to sign a new contract with Real Madrid.


• Radamel Falcao last night put Chelsea and Manchester City on hold by staying at Atletico Madrid for the rest of the season.


• Bolton boss Dougie Freedman is plotting an ambitious swoop for West Brom's England Under-21 star Craig Dawson.


• Reading contract rebel Simon Church is a £400,000 target for Millwall.

• Alex McLeish has returned to football as the new manager of Nottingham Forest.


• Arsenal have been quoted £16million for Barcelona striker David Villa.


• David Beckham is expected to pick his final club early in the new year.


• Robert Lewandowski will double his earnings as a Manchester United player after moving step nearer to landing his dream move.

• Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, 24, is on his way to Manchester United this summer in an £18million deal.

• Chelsea will rival Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in the hunt for Everton and England left-back Leighton Baines, 28, who is valued at around £15m by the Goodison Park club.