TheGame - Times Online - WBLG

The Rivals: Arsenal and Everton battle for Bordeaux striker

Everton join Chamakh battle - The Sun
Everton will battle it out with Arsenal to sign Marouane Chamakh (pictured), the Bordeaux striker, for £7m in the summer. David Moyes sent scouts to watch the Moroccan marksman play against Lorient on Saturday, while Arsene Wenger has been keeping tabs on the player for months.

Exit door opens for flop defenders - Daily Mirror
Roberto Mancini will sort out Manchester City's defence - and put huge question marks over the future of England stars Wayne Bridge and Joleon Lescott. Mancini has already given City chief executive Garry Cook names of targets, with Juventus left-back Giorgio Chiellini and Inter defender Maicon on the list.

Platt to join Mancini's coaching team - The Independent
David Platt, the former England midfielder, is to join his close friend at Eastlands. The pair played together at Sampdoria.

Curbs wanted - The Daily Express
Alan Curbishley could return as West Ham manager if David Sullivan's takeover of the Upton Park club goes through.

Trio battle for Anderlecht wonderkid - Daily Mail
Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan are all monitoring European football's latest teen sensation, 16-year-old Romelo Lukaku from Belgian outfit Anderlecht

The Rivals: Liverpool to announce fresh investment deal

Gillett and Hicks to gain £124m from share deal - Daily Telegraph
Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are closing in on a deal that will see them sell a significant share in the club to a new investor for around £124 million. 

Ferguson eyes Serbian starlet - Daily Mirror
Manchester United are targeting young Serbian central defender Uros Cosic - seen by his club CSKA Moscow as potentially a bigger talent than Nemanja Vidic. The 17-year-old may move to Old Trafford next year, despite CSKA’s desire to keep him, admitted club president Yevgeni Giner.

Bruce eyes Mayn man - The Sun
Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, is planning a January bid for Maynor Figueroa, Wigan's £4m-rated defender.

Wenger fearing Silv exit - Daily Mirror
Arsene Wenger fears he may lose Mikael Silvestre on a free transfer at the end of the season.

St Etienne eye Adams - The Sun
Tony Adams is poised to return to management with St Etienne. The former Portsmouth manager held talks with the French club yesterday.

The Rivals: Tottenham to offload Bentley after Redknapp 'row'

Bentley to get boot - Daily Express
David Bentley will leave Tottenham in January after a blazing row with manager Harry Redknapp.

I bitterly regret Notts County sale says trust chief - The Guardian
The former Notts County chairman who negotiated and recommended the handover of the club to Munto Finance in the summer yesterday said he feels he was "hoodwinked" into believing that Munto were backed by investors who would make huge money available.

Sell up Pompey, Pompey sell up - Daily Mirror
Crisis-club Portsmouth’s dire straits deepened last night as Avram Grant was told he will have to sell players next month to help keep the Fratton Park outfit alive.

You can't buy, Harry - Daily Mirror
Harry Redknapp has been told to deliver Champions League football on a budget after Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ruled out any spending in the January transfer window.

Wigan on the Ball - Daily Mail
Michael Ball is on the brink of resurrecting his career with Wigan. The 30-year-old former Manchester City and Everton full back has impressed while training with the club.

The Rivals: Manchester United in shock move for Sol Campbell

Sol Trafford - Daily Mirror
Manchester United are ready to make a shock move for free agent Sol Campbell to boost their injury-hit defence. Former England centre-back Campbell, 35, has finally reached an exit agreement with League Two Notts County following his ill-fated move.

Moyes sets sights on Donovan loan - The Guardian
David Moyes hopes to strengthen his injury-plagued Everton squad in the January transfer window with a loan move for the USA forward, Landon Donovan.

Anton is swapped for Hutt - The Sun
Steve Bruce is ready to offload Anton Ferdinand in a bid to land Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton. The Sunderland manager is desperate for defensive cover and wants to bring Hutton to Wearside in a swap deal with unhappy Ferdinand next month.

Under the Hammer - Daily Mirror
West Ham have set a deadline of Friday for takeover offers as the club’s crisis-hit Icelandic owners battle to fend off creditors back home. Icelandic investment bank Straumur, which owns West Ham, has employed prestigious private firm Rothschild to handle takeover bids for the club.

Carsley set for exit in Birmingham shake-up - Daily Mail
Lee Carsley will be an unexpected casualty of Alex McLeish’s rebuilding campaign at Birmingham City when the transfer window opens.

Arsenal are a Roman target - Daily Express
Roman Pavlyuchenko, the Tottenham striker, is being targeted by north London rivals Arsenal, according to the Russian's agent Oleg Artemov.

The Rivals: Manchester City in £12m bid for Germany defender

Lahm is on the menu for Sparky - The Sun
Manchester City are plotting a £12million January swoop for Germany defender Philipp Lahm. Mark Hughes watched the left back in action for Bayern Munich last month, as part of a trip to watch target Franck Ribery.

Zola in shock bid for Adriano - The Sun
The West Ham manager is planning a move for Brazil superstar Adriano in an effort to halt West Ham's slide towards the Championship. Adriano, 27, is available on a free transfer from Flamengo after his 19 goals fired the Brazilian club to their first league title in 35 years

Celtic so Keane on a loan - Daily Mirror
Celtic boss Tony Mowbray is making a new move to sign Tottenham's out-of-favour Robbie Keane - in an ambitious loan deal to cope with his huge wages.

Pompey Zak race - The Sun
Amr Zaki is in talks with Portsmouth three weeks after making a racist attack on Avram Grant. The Egypt striker said he could not work with Grant because he was Israeli, but club chairman Sulaiman Al Fahim held talks with ex-Wigan striker Zaki, 26, at the weekend.

Carew's Fen club - Daily Mirror
Aston Villa striker John Carew is a £5m target for Turkish club Fenerbahce.

Ice-cool Emilsson heads for Liverpool - Daily Mail
Iceland wonderkid Kristján Gauti Emilsson, 16, is set to sign for Liverpool later this week. The centre back, who also had trials with Manchester United and Rangers, was offered a contract after impressing Rafa Benitez.

The Rivals: Arsenal pull out of deal for Van Nistelrooy

Wenger writes off Ruud - Daily Mirror
Arsene Wenger will not make an emergency move for Ruud van Nistelrooy, but says he needs a Christmas miracle to solve his striker crisis. The former Manchester United striker is being offered round the Premier League by Real Madrid who are anxious to offload the 33-year-old Dutchman in January.

Head banger - Daily Mail
James Beattie's future at Stoke City has been thrown into doubt after he came to blows with manager Tony Pulis during an amazing bust-up at Arsenal. According to a source at Stoke, Beattie believes he was the victim of an unprovoked attack - Pulis is alleged to have tried to butt the striker - after an argument about the players’ Christmas party.

Harry's in battle for Doumbia - Daily Mirror
Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, is in a transfer battle with Hoffenheim to sign Seydo Doumbia from Young Boys of Berne. The German club are prepared to pay £8 million for the Ivory Coast striker.

McLeish mulls over £750k Kon - Daily Mirror
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, wants to sign Paul Konchesky, the Fulham left back.

We have no reason to panic, says Ancelotti - The Guardian
The Chelsea manager is confident his side have no reason to worry despite seeing their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League cut to two yesterday after losing 2-1 at Manchester City.

Ahead of TheGame: Aston Villa need a top-class striker

In today's e-mail bulletin, Leon Sinclair asked: "Considering Aston Villa's inconsistent form and lack of goals compared to the other top four pretenders, is a prolific striker or a more dynamic midfield player needed? And without either of these are Villa really likely to break into the top four ahead of Liverpool, Tottenham or Manchester City?"

Peter Lansley responded: "Villa look very solid, especially with Richard Dunne on his game, Carlos Cuellar and James Collins playing well and Stiliyan Petrov screening the back four. But they do need to retain possession higher up the field if they are to compete with the other top-four contenders.

"With Stewart Downing, Ashley Young, James Milner, they do not lack dynamism from the wings. But while Gabby Agbonlahor is enjoying a good season, with a decent goals return and a consistent burst of pace that tests the very best, I don't think either John Carew or Emile Heskey have been punching their weight this season.

"Carew is not far off world class when he's in the mood, but the Norwegian seems to float his way through other games. It may be time to start with Heskey, who looked much sharper against Tottenham and scored against Burnley.

"Locating a top-class alternative, meanwhile, and persuading him to come to Villa Park, is the challenge that awaits Martin O'Neill if he is to take the club up to the next level. In other departments, he has strengthened the squad notwithstanding the loss of the brilliant Gareth Barry. Put Didier Drogba on the top of this Villa team and they'd crack the top four."

We also reported on Lionel Messi winning the European Footballer of the Year award and Everton chairman Bill Kenwright's backing for manager David Moyes.

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The Rivals: Manchester United eye January deal for Micah Richards

Fergie eyes Micah deal - Daily Mirror
Manchester United are ready to move for Micah Richards if rivals Man City finally lose patience with the defender. Richards, 21, has only started eight Premier League games for City this term under manager Mark Hughes.

Carlo: deal me out - The Sun
Carlo Ancelotti does not expect to make any new signings in January. Chelsea have had a Fifa transfer ban lifted. But despite losing the likes of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien to the African Nations Cup, their boss insists he will look at new buys only if his side suffers injuries

Green light to sell Rob - Daily Mirror
West Ham are ready to sell England World Cup keeper Robert Green in the transfer window - if they get the right bid. The cash-conscious Hammers will look to bring in money for Green in January and the word is out among potential bidders that he can go for around £4 to £5 million.

Grant seeking reinforcements - The Guardian
The Portsmouth manager says that he will be searching for new players to help strengthen his side in January and boost their hopes of avoiding relegation this season.

Cole out for four months - The Sun
Carlton Cole's World Cup hopes have taken a major knock after he suffered ligament damage to his right knee during Saturday's 5-3 trouncing of Burnley and could now be out for four months.

The Rivals: Tottenham close in on deal for Vieira

Tottenham offer Vieira pay-as-you-go - Daily Mail
Tottenham have opened talks on the controversial signing of former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. Harry Redknapp has sanctioned talks with the 33-year-old French star and hopes a free transfer can be completed.

Forlan's Premier promise - Daily Mirror
Former Manchester United flop Diego Forlan would relish a return to the Premier League. The Atletico Madrid front man spent two years at Old Trafford, but failed to make any impact, managing just 17 goals in 95 appearances. He said: "England, and the Premier League, gave me things and I thank them for that. If I have the chance to return I would like to go."

O’Neill is a Mig fighter - The Sun
The Aston Villa manager is leading the chase for Valencia ace Miguel. The Portugal right-back, 29, wants to leave in January after a bust-up with boss Unai Emery

Fergie in swoop for teen star - The Sun
Manchester United have wrapped up a deal to sign 17-year-old Welsh wonder Adam Matthews. Alex Ferguson's champions have nipped in ahead of Arsenal to take the Cardiff defender to Old Trafford

Redknapp is Mad for it - The Sun
The Tottenham manager has tied up a £4million deal to sign Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra in January. Redknapp wants more defensive cover as neither skipper Ledley King nor Jonathan Woodgate are able to train flat out.

League renews inquiries into Notts County - The Guardian
The Football League has renewed its inquiries into Notts County's ownership. Lord Mawhinney, the Football League chairman, confirmed to the Guardian yesterday that the Meadow Lane club has been sent a series of questions relating to its ownership structure.

The Rivals: Van Nistelrooy 'would favour' Liverpool move

Van Nistelrooy to snub Arsenal in favour of Liverpool - Daily Telegraph
Ruud van Nistelrooy is prepared to turn down the chance to join Arsenal in the January transfer window in an attempt to secure a move to Liverpool-  his preferred destination if he is allowed to leave Real Madrid.

Spurs to rescue Micah - Daily Mirror
Tottenham want to sign Micah Richards in January. The Manchester City defender is unhappy at Eastlands and, although fit, was nowhere near making the squad that drew with Liverpool last weekend.

Zenga tops Bolton list - Daily Mirror
Walter Zenga, the former Inter Milan goalkeeper, is being lined up as Gary Megson's replacement.

Zabby in Robinho plea - The Sun
Pablo Zabaleta has urged Manchester City not to sell the club's record signing in the New Year.

Walcott eager to take on central role - The Guardian
Theo Walcott wants to prove that he can deputise for the injured Robin van Persie in the central striking role he has long craved at Arsenal. The England international is intent upon winning a regular first-team place to justify his inclusion in Fabio Capello's World Cup plans.