The top stories from papers and websites - 25 February 2013

• Newcastle want French winger Hatem Ben Arfa to sign a new contract and stay at St James' Park, after Liverpool enquired about the 25-year-old.


• West Ham boss Sam Allardyce could move for ex-Bolton defender Ricardo Gardner who is now a free agent.


• Middlesbrough are close to agreeing the loan signing of Newcastle forward Sammy Ameobi.


• Boss Phil Parkinson paid tribute to Bradford's supporters after their fairytale run in the Capital One Cup was ended in the final by Swansea.


• Striker Emmanuel Adebayor will be handed the job of lifting Tottenham into third place.

• Nathan Dyer defended the astonishing tantrum which threatened to take the gloss off Swansea's Capital One Cup glory.


• Southampton midfielder Gaston Ramirez is a target for Italian trio Inter Milan, Juventus and Fiorentina.


• Dagenham & Redbridge boss John Still, 62, is set to quit the League Two club and become Luton Town's new manager in a £1m deal.

• Manchester City are ready to open talks with Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure about a new five-year deal worth £55m.


• Michael Laudrup watched five-star Swansea make history, then hailed it as his biggest achievement in football.

• Manchester United striker Robin van Persie will be fit to face Real Madrid in next week's Champions League clash, despite picking up a bizarre hip injury against Queens Park Rangers.


• Fulham boss Martin Jol is considering offering an extended contract to veteran 35-year-old Greece midfielder Giorgios Karagounis.


• Michael Laudrup admitted responsibility for Swansea's penalty mix-up after they crushed League Two side Bradford City to win the Capital One Cup at Wembley.


• Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has stepped up his search to find Jamie Carragher’s successor by running a personal check on Feyenoord defender Stefan De Vrij this weekend.

• Michu revealed Swansea City took it easy after going 4-0 ahead against Bradford City out of "respect" - but that did not stop them going on to a record 5-0 win at Wembley.


• Rafa Benitez saw Chelsea fall to defeat at Manchester City then admitted they are sweating on qualifying for the Champions League next season.


• Arsenal will go head to head with Manchester United in a bid to land Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

• Swansea City made history, elegantly winning the League Cup by the biggest margin ever and effortlessly lifting their first major trophy, and they drew on their own past in doing so.


• Roberto Mancini could have thanked Joe Hart for saving a penalty, he may have counted his blessings that Chelsea were quite so bad, but after seeing Manchester City keep their faint title hopes alive, he instead thanked the Pope.


• Dennis Wise is the latest name to be linked to the vacant manager's post at League One side Swindon Town.

• Michael Laudrup described lifting the Capital One Cup as his finest achievement after his Swansea City side thrashed Bradford City 5-0 at Wembley.


• Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has stepped up his interest in Feyenoord defender Stefan de Vrij, 21, by travelling to the Netherlands on Sunday to watch him play against PSV Eindhoven.

• Swansea face a summer scrap to keep hold of Capital One Cup final hero Ashley Williams with Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham all keen on the defender.