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English Press: Chelsea To Pip Man Utd To Berbatov
A report in The Sun this morning claims that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is ready to outbid Manchester United in the race to land Dimitar Berbatov.
Declarations from Berbatov's agent yesterday stating that the striker wanted to move to a club that could match his ambitions have sent the rumour mills spinning.
�If a club that corresponds to Dimitar�s class and ambition comes in with an offer that suits his current club in January, he would like to be allowed to go,� Emil Dantchev had said.
The Manchester Evening News subsequently reported that Manchster United were planning a �25m million bid for the Bulgarian, who has been unsettled since the start of the season despite scoring regularly.
A report in The Sun now claims that Chelsea - arguably in more desperate need of a front man - are ready to splash out �26m to beat The Red Devils.
Bolton's Nicolas Anelka was initially the number one target for The Blues, but the Frenchman is now supposed to be a back-up choice.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has insisted that they are not welcoming bids, �We are not a selling club, rather we are building for the future. When we have players on long contracts we have no need to entertain offers,� but speculation continues.
There's also rumours that Arsenal may sign Ognjen Vukojevic from Dinamo Zagreb. Dinamo has already signed Igor Biscan (a natural replacement for Vukojevic), so it seems as if he's definitely leaving. Whether to Arsenal, that's to be seen.
The 28-year-old Frenchman admitted that the two clubs are in talks over a possible transfer, but nothing has been agreed yet.
He told French newspaper L'Equipe: "The chairmen (of Bolton and Chelsea) are discussing it.
"I really hope it happens - and especially that I am eligible to play in the Champions League." <!-- E SF -->
He added: "But until the contract is signed and I am presented to the press in my new shirt, nothing is done."
Chelsea have agreed an �8.5m deal with Lokomotiv Moscow for Serbia international defender Branislav Ivanovic. (various)
Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka is also set to move to Stamford Bridge for a �10m fee. (various)
And Blues manager Avram Grant is considering making it a triple swoop by offering �26m for Tottenham forward Dimitar Berbatov. (various)
Sunderland are interested in Reading striker Leroy Lita. (The Sun)
Blackburn will assess Levski Sofia striker Valeri Domovchiyski during a five-day trial at Ewood Park. (The Sun)
Macedonia striker Goran Pandev, who plays for Lazio, has said he is interested in playing for Tottenham, Liverpool or Everton. (The Sun)
Sheffield United will pay �6.5m for three midfielders and two defenders. West Ham's Nigel Quashie, Derby's David Jones, Portsmouth's Richard Hughes, Man Utd's Phil Bardsley and Aston Villa's Gary Cahill are the targets. (various)
Derby and Fulham have joined the race to sign Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage, who is also wanted by Sunderland. (The Sun)
Leeds have had an offer of �250,000 for Barnet midfielder Jason Puncheon turned down. (The Sun)
Derby will sign former Newcastle winger Laurent Robert. (The Sun)
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is considering making a move for Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge. (Star)
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is preparing to offer former club Leicester �1m for 20-year-old defender Richard Stearman. (Star)
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is set for a major clear-out at the club, releasing five players. Martin Taylor, Rowan Vine, Olivier Tebily, Neil Kilkenny and Neil Danns are all on their way out. (Star)
Derby manager Paul Jewell is ready to pay �2m for Hull's American-born goalkeeper Boaz Myhill. (Star)
Charlton and Hull are fighting it out for the signature of versatile Colchester skipper Karl Duguid. (Star)
Ipswich have made an enquiry to Sunderland for 30-year-old striker David Connolly. (Star)
Wolves are keen on taking Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi on loan for the rest of the season and also want Derby's Robert Earnshaw. (Star)
Leeds are set to sign Luton striker Dean Morgan, who is currently on loan at Southend. (Star)
Everton are tracking Sheffield Wednesday's �1m-rated teenage centre-back Mark Beavers. (Star)
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray is preparing to bid �750,000 for Luton midfielder David Bell. (Star)
I was just reading nogonet.com, looks like Modric will be staying put until the summer.
Manchester United have slapped a �75m valuation on Cristiano Ronaldo in a bid to ward off the unwanted attentions of Spanish giants Real Madrid. (Daily Express)
United, meanwhile, could hijack Tottenham's �8m move for Rangers full-back Alan Hutton. Newcastle, along with leading clubs on the continent, are also showing interest. (Times)
Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has had an audacious bid for Blackburn's Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz rejected. He will now turn his attention to Vagner Love and Peter Crouch. (Times)
Hot property Dimitar Berbatov will cost at least a British transfer record �35m if any of his suitors - Manchester United or Chelsea - are to prise the forward away from Spurs. (Various)
Bolton manager Gary Megson is closing in on Portsmouth utility player Matt Taylor. (The Sun)
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is primed to splash �5m on Watford striker Marlon King - and is also chasing Liverpool centre back Sami Hyypia. Fulham also want Czech giant Jan Koller from Monaco. (Daily Express)
Birmingham are keen to secure the services of occasional Man United midfielder Darren Fletcher and Spurs defender Anthony Gardner. The pair could cost �5m. (Express)
Seemingly disgruntled by his lack of opportunities at Upton Park, Dean Ashton could leave West Ham with Manchester City, Tottenham, Newcastle, Portsmouth and even Chelsea possibly interested. (Daily Star)
Blackburn's Robbie Savage tops Derby manager Paul Jewell's transfer window wishlist. Other targets include Savage's team-mate Jason Roberts, along with Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson, Tottenham's Hossam Ghaly and former Newcastle star Lauren Robert. (Daily Express)
Jens Lehman's proposed move from Arsenal to Borussia Dortmund has broken down because of his wage demands. (Times)
Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly monitoring the situation of Javier Mascherano at Liverpool. (Independent)
Italian giants Juventus are also tracking the Argentine international, who Liverpool have still not secured on a permanent deal. (Mirror)
Bolton are chasing Celtic's giant centre back I want to be banned I want to be banned. Boss Gary Megson also wants to raid his old club West Bromwich Albion for Zoltan Gera and Paul Robinson. (Mirror)
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is reviving his interest in Paris Saint-Germain defender Bernard Mendy. (Express)
Former Celtic player and ex-Norwich City boss Peter Grant is a shock candidate for the manager's job at Hearts. (Daily Record)
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England boss Fabio Capello will take in two FA Cup ties this weekend - most likely Man United v Villa and Liverpool v Luton - before he officially starts his new job at Soho Square on Monday. (Daily Mail)
Gary Neville could make his long-awaited return from injury when Manchester United meet Villa in the FA Cup on Saturday. (Various)
Chelsea fear John Terry could miss the rest of the season with his troublesome ankle injury . (The Sun)
Sven-Goran Eriksson reckons Man City keeper Joe Hart is the answer to the England goalkeeping crisis. (The Sun)
Steve Finnan says Liverpool's title hopes will be over if they suffer one more slip-up at Anfield. (Independent)
Joey Barton may now have been bailed from jail - but he will not be getting close to the Newcastle squad in the near future. (The Guardian)
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Steve Clarke - not Avram Grant or Henk ten Cate - tore into Chelsea's players at half-time against Fulham, questioning their commitment and demanding they raise their game to inspire their fightback which saw them take all three points at Craven Cottage. (Times)
Birmingham City have called 16-year-old midfielder Jordan Mutch into their squad for Saturday's match at Huddersfield Town and, if selected, he will break Trevor Francis' record as the youngest Blues player to play in the FA Cup. (various)
Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has warned his team-mates that they should not rile Manchester United when they meet them in the FA Cup this weekend by scoring a goal too early. (various)
He seems like to like his big squads, got bloody tons of strikers and midfielders, long overdue for an unnecessary amount of defenders!