The top stories from papers and websites - 20 December 2012

• Teenage striker Raheem Sterling last night pledged his long-term future to Liverpool after agreeing a new five-year deal.


• Meanwhile, the Reds and Merseyside rivals Everton are leading the chase for Birmingham City and England keeper Jack Butland.


• Mario Balotelli has backed down in his row with Manchester City in a bid to salvage his career.


• Adel Taarabt has pledged his future to QPR despite interest from Barcelona and Anzhi Makhachkala.


• Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is in talks with Manchester United about signing the Old Trafford club's Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez, 18, on loan.


• Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway is eyeing up Bristol City winger Albert Adomah as a replacement for Wilfried Zaha who is the January target of several clubs in the Premier League.


• Championship leaders Cardiff City want to sign right-back John Brayford from Derby County in a £1m deal.

• Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert could make a £2m bid for 29-year-old Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray.


• West Ham are lining up a £2m January move for Southampton winger Jason Puncheon and could also sign Seattle Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, 27, who has impressed during trials this week.


• West Brom have told Millwall and Brighton that they want £1.5m for 21-year-old New Zealand striker Chris Wood, currently on loan at the Lions.

• Striker Andy Carroll - currently on loan at West Ham - wants to return to Newcastle after being told his Liverpool career is over.


• Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Chelsea and Manchester City that former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has no interest in a return to management at present, after being linked with both Premier League clubs.


• West Ham, QPR and Wigan are all competing to sign former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou in a £3.3m deal from French side Lille.


• Once Chelsea offload Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool, they will embark on a £100m spending spree, with Porto star Joao Moutinho, Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Atletico Madrid’s goal sensation Falcao all in the Blues' sights.


• Sunderland are set to offload flop striker Ji Dong-Won to his former club Chunnam Dragons.

• Daniel Sturridge's £12m move to Liverpool could be in jeopardy following a dispute between Chelsea and the player's advisors over agents' fees, with the Reds eyeing up PSG's Kevin Gameiro should the Sturridge deal break down.


• Manchester City's Samir Nasri, 25, is struggling to be fit for any part of City's Christmas and New Year programme after the extent of the Frenchman's groin injury was diagnosed.


• Newcastle are looking to sign Ajax's Netherlands U21 international striker Jody Lukoki, 21, who is valued at £3.5m.


• Arsenal and Liverpool have been put on alert after Anderlecht told their Argentinian midfielder Lucas Biglia he can leave the club.


• Manchester City are eyeing a move for Colombian defender Pedro Franco, who plays for Millionarios.

• Mario Balotelli has backed down in his battle with Manchester City because he wants to save his career at the Etihad.


• Barcelona could look to bring back coach Pep Guardiola - a reported target for Chelsea and Manchester City - after current boss Tito Vilanova suffered a relapse on the cancer in his saliva glands.

• Aston Villa are looking to sign Manchester City striker John Guidetti, 20, on loan for the rest of the season but face competition for the Swede from Sunderland.


• Mario Balotelli has attempted to save his Manchester City career by belatedly accepting a club fine.


• Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has held a lengthy meeting with his defenders over putting a stop to the number of late goals Tottenham have conceded this season.

• QPR are holding talks with out-of-favour Marseille striker Loic Remy, who has only started two league games this season.


• Raheem Sterling has committed his future to Liverpool by signing a new long-term contract.

• Manchester City's Mario Balotelli has backed down from his decision to challenge a £340,000 club fine.


• England midfielder Jack Wilshere was one of five Arsenal players to agree new long-term contracts with the club yesterday.

• Loic Remy has hinted he would welcome a move to Newcastle in January.

• Derby County have placed a £5million price tag on midfield sensation and Liverpool and Arsenal target Will Hughes.