What The Sports Papers Say

Latest Paper Talk
Friday January 3

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer walked into the Cardiff lions' den last night - insisting he had got the green light from mentor Sir Alex Ferguson.
Raheem Sterling could be set for a loan move to Swansea once Liverpool land Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah.
West Ham are plotting moves for Nikica Jelavic and Asamoah Gyan as the club's owners back under-fire boss Sam Allardyce.
Goal-shy West Ham and Stoke are leading the race to sign Manchester City starlet John Guidetti on loan.
Rafa Benitez wants to end Juan Mata's Chelsea misery and offer him a World Cup rescue at Napoli.
Joleon Lescott is willing to take a pay cut on his £90,000-a-week Manchester City wages to move to Tottenham on loan.
Arsenal have been told that they will have to buy Mirko Vucinic if they are to convince Juventus to part with the Montenegrin striker.
Inter Milan are set to put Manchester United and Chelsea on alert by releasing midfielder Esteban Cambiasso this summer.
Hull's Steve Bruce aims to land Jake Livermore from Tottenham for £3million after selling Tom Cairney to Championship promotion hopefuls Blackburn.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted he will have the final say on all footballing matters at Cardiff City after he was confirmed as their new manager yesterday.
Wayne Rooney would prefer to put off any decision on a new deal at Manchester United until after the World Cup.
Chelsea defender David Luiz is attracting fresh enquiries from Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Luke Shaw has told Southampton he does not want to leave St Mary's this month.
Juan Mata looks set to stay at Chelsea - at least until the end of the season - despite his angry reaction to being substituted at Southampton.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert could be forced into the transfer market for a striker after Libor Kozak broke his leg in a training game and looks set to miss the rest of the season.
Johnny Heitinga has opted to stay in Everton's reserves rather than sign for West Ham after the two clubs agreed terms.
Hull City and Celtic are willing to test Sunderland's resolve to hold on to striker Steven Fletcher.
Cardiff City have been offered former Everton defender Joseph Yobo, 33, by Fenerbahce.
Manchester City are ready to grant Joleon Lescott's wish to leave the club on loan, with Tottenham and Newcastle leading the chase to sign the England defender until the end of the season.
Mark Clattenburg is being investigated by referees' chief Mike Riley after Southampton accused him of 'abusing and insulting' their captain Adam Lallana.
Celtic look set to be priced out of a renewed move for Alfred Finnbogason after the striker's agent claimed Heerenveen value him at more than £8million.

Sepp Blatter has branded the Premier League's serial divers as "deeply irritating cheats".
Rafa Benitez is preparing a £20million bid to rescue Juan Mata from his Chelsea nightmare.
New Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will make Blackpool's £8million-rated winger Tom Ince his first transfer target.
Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis is eyeing a move for Cardiff defender Mark Hudson to bolster his defensive options
Reading forward Adam le Fondre expects to leave the Madejski Stadium this month
Joleon Lescott has told Manchester City he wants to quit the club so that he can play regular first-team football with Tottenham, Newcastle, Monaco and Besiktas all keen on the England international
Stoke midfielder Wilson Palacios is a target for La Liga outfit Real Betis.

Arsenal are ready to pull out all the stops to land hot-shot Diego Costa.
Sam Allardyce looks set to escape the West Ham axe - because the club can't afford to sack him.
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini could still slam the door shut on Joleon Lescott's hopes of joining Tottenham.
Manchester United are set to focus their search for a new left-back on Everton's Leighton Baines and Southampton's rising star Luke Shaw after losing interest in Spanish international Alberto Moreno.
Inter Milan are readying an audacious bid to take Tottenham misfit Erik Lamela back to Italy on-loan for the rest of the season.
Liverpool have been installed as favourites in the race to secure the signing of promising Barcelona star Cristian Tello ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal and Tottenham.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists he is not mad to take over at Cardiff City - and says he will have full control.
Juan Mata's days at Chelsea appear to be numbered after his agents rang the club to demand answers after he was substituted again by Jose Mourinho.
West Brom's players are ready to back Keith Downing if he changes his mind about becoming the club's new manager.

Sam Allardyce has survived West Ham United crisis talks as the club attempt to plot a way out of their deepening hole.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was persuaded to take the manager's job at Cardiff City after chairman Mehmet Dalman gave him assurances that owner Vincent Tan would allow him to be "the most important person at the football club".

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is adamant he has no qualms about working with Cardiff owner Vincent Tan and insisted that the Malaysian's controversial image is exaggerated.
Swansea City have made an approach for Raheem Sterling and hope that Liverpool will allow the winger to leave on loan if they sign Mohamed Salah from Basle this month.

Juan Mata's advisers have sought assurances from Chelsea that Jose Mourinho is not planning to sell the Spain international this month after the player showed his frustration with his substitution in the victory over Southampton on Wednesday.

THE SUN: 
Wayne Rooney's Manchester United future was plunged into fresh doubt last night. Also: Manuel Pellegrini ripped into the 'cheats' who are ruining football.


DAILY MAIL:
David Moyes admits there is no guarantee Wayne Rooney will sign a new contract at Old Trafford if Manchester United fail to qualify for the champions League this season. Also: Southampton are demanding a full FA inquiry into Mark Clattenburg after referees' chief Mike Riley dismissed a complaint that the official swore at forward Adam Lallana.


DAILY MIRROR: 
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says the Premier League is rife with cheating players. Also: Southampton will take their battle with referee Mark Clattenburg to the FA, after claims of "abuse" aimed at Adam Lallana were dismissed.


GUARDIAN: 
David Moyes has concerns over Wayne Rooney's immediate and longer term future, with the Manchester United manager admitting he must wait and see if the striker will consider signing a contract extension in the summer should they fail to qualify for the Champions League. Also: Southampton do not want Mark Clattenburg to officiate any of their games until the latest controversy surrounding the referee has been resolved.


DAILY STAR: 
Southampton will take their war with top ref Mark Clattenburg to the FA after their complaint against him was thrown out yesterday. Also: Rio Ferdinand has been placed on trial between now and the end of the season as he battles to earn a new contract at Manchester United.


THE INDEPENDENT: 
Tim Sherwood has warned Arsenal that they will not get their wish of Emmanuel Adebayor being absent from today's derby FA Cup tie at the Emirates. Also: Mark Clattenburg will continue to referee Southampton matches despite the club asking for the referee to be barred from officiating at their games in the wake of him "insulting" Adam Lallana after last Saturday's defeat at Everton.


THE TIMES: 
Jose Mourinho insists that Juan Mata could still have a future at Chelsea but said there is no room for sentiment in his dealings with the Spain midfielder, who has been the club's player of the year for the past two years. Also: While England gave the opportunity to three new players to begin their Test careers, rumours persist that two veterans - one from either side - are to retire at the end of this match. Kevin Pietersen is the England player in question and Brad Haddin the Australia one.


DAILY TELEGRAPH: 
Southampton were preparing for a battle with England's elite referees last night after refusing to accept the decision to clear Mark Clattenburg of abusing a player for the second time in just over a year. Also: Manuel Pellegrini says "cheating" footballers are making life even more difficult for Premier League referees.


DAILY EXPRESS: 
Southampton refused to admit defeat last night after their complaint about referee Mark Clattenburg was dismissed out of hand. Also: Oldham manager Lee Johnson has branded Liverpool striker Luis Suarez a "dirty rat" ahead of their FA Cup third-round clash - and insists it is meant as a compliment.