QPR - Sheffield United

Paul Hart will have his debut as a manager, but also will have to cope with bad shape of his players, injury worries and strong opponent. Rangers are in run of five games without a win, three defeat and two draws. More disturbing is a fact till the previous round their performances didn’t look as top club’s at all. At Monday against WBA on the road, Rangers were defending whole hour than took a lucky lead after an own-goal. With a wind in the back score another and were keeping the lead till 94^th minute when conceded for a draw. So, their shape is far from promotion chasers and with not so good dressing room atmosphere, Hart will have a difficult job to make a harmony in the team. Also, he will hand a number of players late fitness tests (didn’t precise who, but defender Matt Connolly is one of them). Key midfielder Akos Buzsaky is expected to miss out again with a knee problem. But, good news full-back Gary Borrowdale should return after missing Monday's draw and midfielder Steven Reid is also close after two weeks out with a hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Radek Cerny will be available despite jarring his ankle attempting a goal-kick against and striker Angelo Balanta is fit after a groin injury.Midfielders Gavin Mahon, Lee Cook and Martin Rowlands (all knee) are long-term absentees.

 

Before the season started, Blades were considered as one of the clubs that should fight for a direct promotion. Thankfully to injury crisis that was shaking the club in October, United noticed eight games without a win and dropped in the bottom half of the table. But as the players started to recover, United started to collect the points, have made a run of six games without a defeat (four wins and two draws) and have kept clean sheets in four of the last five. Currently hold eighth place and with a win today would make a break into top six. However, boss Kevin Blackwell also has some injury concerns and also refused to name them. The most important is condition of key striker Darius Henderson who missed the last three matches, but it seems he’ll appear today. Midfielder Nick Montgomery is back in contention after serving a one-match ban.

 

QPR have a quality for a top challenge for sure, perhaps syndrome of new manager will make some good impact, but problem with them is they don’t look as a squad. Most of their goals came after individual efforts, while defense line looks shaky and have been leaking a lot. They deserved this odd just for stopping WBA. Blades are permanently improving the shape and results and I expect them in top six very soon if not today. They also gain a style of play that doesn’t suit to QPR who also will have some problems with their passing play on the bad pitch. Pinnacle offer 3.09. Dnb 2 look safe, away win as a gamble.

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West Brom 2 - 2 QPR

Simon Cox scored an equaliser deep into injury time to salvage a deserved draw for West Brom against QPR.
The visitors, with Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham in charge, went ahead when Jonas Olsson's attempted clearing header looped into his own net. 
Kaspars Gorkss doubled the lead with a simple header after a mistake by Dean Kiely but Jerome Thomas pulled one back with a swivelling shot. 
And Cox snatched a point when he tapped in a rebound in the 94th minute. 
The result will be hard to take for Rangers' novice managerial duo, who took charge with Jim Magilton suspended following his alleged altercation with Akos Busaky after the defeat against Watford. 
West Brom, meanwhile, may have missed the chance to make up genuine ground at the top of the table but manager Roberto Di Matteo will be relieved to have taken anything from a game they seemed destined to lose.

West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo:
"The way the game went a point is better than nothing. I'm trying to look at the positive side of it.
"The players fought really hard for the point. I thought we deserved a little bit more as well, we had some very good chances but didn't quite manage to score. 
"We've definitely been leaking too many goals in the last three games." 
QPR temporary manager Steve Gallen:
"I don't know what is going to happen. I just got told last week and it feels like the longest week ever.
"I don't know if I'm charge for Saturday's game (at home to Sheffield United). 
"I don't know when I'll find out. I saw something yesterday and it said the club are meeting with Jim and something will be decided over the next 48 hours. 
"I welcome that, definitely. I'm sure people on the outside at QPR want to see things resolved quickly - we all do on the inside. 
"I also saw some things during the week about chaos at QPR - that's absolute nonsense. I've not seen any chaos at the training ground."

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QPR - Peterborough

QPR made another disappointing start, in season where the expectations are higher than ever. Club have financial power (from Formula One) and lots of money have been invested in the squad so far. So, a win, a defeat and three draws is not something that Flavio Briatore and others in the club expected. Both games at their home, Loftus Road, ended with 1-1 draws (Blackpool and Nottingham Forest) and this is a nice opportunity for a first win. Team have been additionally strengthened with four loan players from Premier League. Last one is highly rated Arsenal’s teenager Jay Simpson which task will be to give Rangers more firepower. Before him, club have signed two midfielders, Ben Watson (from Wigan) and Adel Taarabt (from Tottenham) and goalie Tom Heaton (Man.Utd.). In last game, against Scunthorpe on the road, squad showed signs of progress beating the hosts 1-0. Mentioned Moroccan, Adel Taarabt, netted the only goal at Glanford Park with just three minutes on the clock and the rest of the game QPR successfully kept the result and important three points. Good news for boss Jim Magilton is skipper Martin Rowlands is back after an ankle injury. But Magilton will miss youngster Angelo Balanta (midfielder) who is still out with an ankle injury and defender Fitz Hall who has been sidelined by a groin problem.

Peterborough are noticing not so good debut in English Championship. Just two points from possible 15. Three defeats (Derby 1-2 away, WBA 2-3 at home and Preston North End 0-2 away) and two home draws (Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace, both 1-1). During the transfer market, club didn’t buy a lot, backing on own forces. That formula was bringing a success to Posh in lower divisions, but it seems, the second tier is to big obstacle for this players. Darren Ferguson’s biggest problem is shaky defense line which conceded nine goals so far (the most of them at the start of the match) and short bench. As QPR, they also made a good performance in last round, after being held to a 1-1 draw by favored Crystal Palace. Also, good news for Ferguson come from his medical service as winger Chris Whelpdale could make his first start of the season after a hernia operation, while defender Jamie Day is back in the squad after impressing in the reserve squad match and midfielder Dean Keates is close to match fitness. Today, Posh won’t attack to much. They’ll wait a chance for a counter attack through the flanks, using their key man George Boyd and attacking left-back Tommy Williams.

QPR definitely have the quality for the top half of the table, maybe even something more from that. Previous season was wasted, now it is the time for them to finally start to show their full potential. Better opponent for that, they couldn’t wish. Pinnacle offer 1.83. Home win.

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Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Tottenham have joined Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid in the race to sign Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez. (The Sun) 
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has refused to rule out signing the Argentine if the 25-year-old is allowed to leave Old Trafford. (The Times) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is eyeing Zenit St Petersburg striker Pavel Pogrebnyak as a potential replacement for Emmanuel Adebayor. (Daily Mirror) 
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has been priced out of a move for Rangers centre-back Madjid Bougherra but could still make a summer move for Ibrox striker Kris Boyd. (Daily Record) 
McLeish will battle Wigan and Bolton for the signing of Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis. (Daily Mirror) 
Marseilles striker Djibril Cisse, who has spent the season on loan at Sunderland, has told team-mates he is joining Tottenham in the summer. (Daily Mail) 
Celtic have rubbished reports that they want to sign striker Michael Owen on a pay-as-you-play deal from Newcastle. (Daily Record) 
Rangers will not consider selling Steven Davis, Kris Boyd, Pedro Mendes or Madjid Bougherra if they clinch the title. However, Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will be moved on for the right price. ( Daily Mail) 
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is ready to sign striker Oli Johnson from cash-strapped Stockport County. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn scouts were in Egypt on Sunday night to check on ENNPI right-back Ahmed Al-Muhammadi. (Daily Mail) 
Dundee United are interested in Spanish goalkeeper Alberto Marrama and Slovakian counterpart Dusan Pertis. (Scottish Sun) 
Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley will spark a bidding war after rejecting the offer of a new contract from the club. (The Sun) 
Giles Barnes is being offered to all clubs as Derby look to cash in on the midfielder. (Daily Mirror) 
Swindon manager Danny Wilson has placed West Brom and Leicester on red alert by conceding top scorer Simon Cox is likely to leave the County Ground this summer. (Daily Mirror) 
Ipswich defender Alex Bruce, who was a target for Hull, Wolves and Leeds, has agreed a new two-year contract at Portman Road. (Various) 
Millwall will sign Stevenage Borough striker Steve Morrison in an £85,000 deal this week. (The Sun) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit out at Chelsea striker Didier Drogba after his side's 4-1 defeat by the Blues on Sunday, claiming: "We live in a league now where the divers are rewarded." (The Times) 
Newcastle defender Fabio Coloccini, who claims he was "sold" a different club from the one he is playing for, is set to be dropped for the Magpies' relegation showdown against Middlesbrough on Monday. He said: "I was sold a club that would be challenging in the top half of the table with maybe a good chance of doing well in the cups." (Daily Star) 
Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios will not play again this season after returning to Honduras after the murder of his 16-year-old brother Edwin (The Sun) 
Brazilian midfielder Elano has threatened to quit Manchester City if the club do not open talks over a new contract. (Daily Mail) 
Chesterfield are interested in appointing Andy Richie as their new manager following the departure of Lee Richardson. (Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY 

Angry Chelsea supporters want to get their own back on Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, who made a number of controversial decisions in the Blues' Champions League semi-final, second leg against Barcelona. They have set up an internet campaign to stop Norway winning the Eurovision song contest. (Daily Star) 
Armed officers in gas masks foiled a samurai sword gang's raid on a jeweller's used by the wives of England footballers in upmarket Wilmslow, Cheshire. The store's celebrity customers include Victoria Beckham and Coleen Rooney. (The Sun) 
Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar has become the 16th Premier League victim of burglars who strike while footballers are playing. Thousands of pounds in cash and valuables were taken from his Liverpool home just before the Toffees' match against Tottenham kicked off on Saturday. (The Sun)
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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Fulham are lining up a double summer bid for Tottenham pair Tom Huddlestone and Gareth Bale. (Daily Express) 
Huddlestone could leave unless he is guaranteed first-team football. (The Times) 
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is chasing Athletic Bilbao's Spanish under-21 midfielder Javi Martinez. (Daily Mirror) 
Hull manager Phil Brown is hopeful of signing Angola striker Manucho, currently on loan from Manchester United, in a permanent deal for £750,000. (Daily Mail) 
Celtic and Rangers are chasing Hamilton Accies goalkeeper Tomas Cerny. (Scottish Sun) 
Rangers have targeted Northern Ireland duo Warren Feeney, the striker on loan at Dundee United from Cardiff, and Chris Brunt, the West Brom midfielder. (Scottish Daily Mail) 
Nottingham Forest hope to make the loan signing of Brighton defender Joel Lynch, 21, permanent. (Daily Mirror) 
Barcelona are in pole position to sign Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery this summer, though Bayern are demanding a world record fee. (The Guardian) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Sunderland are ready to ask Alan Curbishley to become their emergency new manager - once he settles his dispute with West Ham this week. (Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth could accept a reduced overall fee from Manchester City for the striker Benjani because of cash woes. (Daily Mail) 
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is battling growing unrest in his squad over Robinho's attitude. (The Sun) 
Manchester United will offer striker Federico Macheda a long-term deal when he turns 18 in August. (The Sun) 
Colin Kazim-Richards - a target for Hull and Portsmouth - is desperate to return to Premier League football, but Fenerbahce want £3m for him. (Daily Mirror) 
Robin van Persie is ready to sign a new contract at Arsenal despite turning down a £65,000 deal in March. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak will watch the club play on Thursday and decide whether Mark Hughes retains the support of fans. (The Guardian) 
Aberdeen cannot afford to offer new deals to midfielder Jamie Smith and defender Lee Mair. (Daily Record) 
Celtic are set to be priced out of a move for Rayo Vallecano's defensive midfielder Mohamed Diame. (Scottish Daily Mail) 
Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas insists he may yet stay at Tynecastle despite failing to agree new terms. (Various) 
Former Hearts and Inverness manager John Robertson has been approached to coach the national side of Liberia. (Scottish Sun) 
 
AND FINALLY 

Oldham Athletic's mascot, Chaddy the Owl, had to be carried from the pitch after falling off a BMX bike during the pre-match entertainment at Carlisle. (Daily Telegraph) 
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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has told Chelsea he is ready to take over from interim manager Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge this summer. (The Sun) 
However, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has insisted that neither Ancelotti nor their Brazilian playmaker Kaka will be leaving the Italian club. (The Times) 
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is planning a £5m swoop for highly rated Porto left-back Aly Cissokho, who impressed in the Portuguese side's 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Tuesday. (The Sun)  
Another Porto playing who could be heading to Tottenham is striker Wason Renteria, who says that the London club have contacted him about a possible summer transfer. (Setanta) 
Manchester City have set their sights on cash-strapped Atletico Madrid's Argentine striker Sergio Aguero. (The Sun) 
Everton right-back Lars Jacobsen could be leaving the club in the summer to join Bayern Munich after making only one appearance for the Blues in last month's 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth. (The Sun) 
Zenit St Peterburg striker Pavel Pogrebnyak is keen on a move to England, so long as it is to "one of the strongest teams". (Daily Mail) 
West Brom midfielder James Morrison says he would have to weight up his options should an offer from another Premier League team should West Brom be relegated. (Guardian) 
 
OTHER GOSSIP 

Former Tottenham manager and current Hamburg boss Martin Jol has put Premier League clubs on alert by stating he would like to return to England. (Various) 
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor says the spectacular overhead kick he executed against Villarreal on Tuesday night is the best goal he has scored. (Various) 
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock says he has no intention of quitting this summer, despite the club's poor season. (The Sun) 
QPR boss Paulo Sousa is on the verge of being sacked after his position at the club was weakened by the termination of assistant manager Bruno Oliveira's contract on Monday. (Various) 
Former England manager Steve McClaren, who is currently at the helm of FC Twente, has backed his former club Middlesbrough to escape relegation this season. (Daily Express) 
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has insisted he was right to splash out £5.5m on winger Savio and has backed the 19-year-old to come good. (The Sun) 
Former Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has refused to rule out a return to the Saints if it would help the club. (Guardian)  
 
AND FINALLY 

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell has revealed that his players have transferred their desire to win go-karting races during the team's trip to Malta last month into a drive to succeed in their chase for an automatic promotion spot. (The Sun) 
Manchester City's £10m striker Craig Bellamy says he is ready to get back in touch with his trainee roots and in order to prove his worth to the club he would gladly clean the boots of any big-name signings who force him out of the team. (Various) 
Rangers manager Walter Smith will let Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor save their careers if they apologise for their part in the 'Boozegate' incident. (Daily Record) 
Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink says he would like to go back to Holland and rejoin his old club PSV Eindhoven, but he's not in a hurry to do so. (Daily Record) 
Clyde will be unable to switch grounds unless the Scottish Football League give them permission to do so as the Broadwood club face eviction from their current home. (Daily Record) 
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has blasted the SFA over a rule which sees midfielder Scott Brown banned for two matches, one of which has yet to be scheduled. (Daily Mail) 
Hearts winger Deividas Cesnauskis has instructed his agent to find him a new club outside of the UK for next season. (Daily Express)
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Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Brazilian star Kaka has opened the door to a potential move to the Premier League by admitting his desire to play in England when he leaves current club AC Milan. (Daily Star) 
Fulham striker Bobby Zamora is a target for Spanish side Villarreal. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham's on-loan striker Fraizer Campbell admits he is unsure if he will remain at Spurs next season or return to Manchester United. (Daily Star) 
Sunderland have targeted Spurs striker Darren Bent but only if the Black Cats avoid relegation. (Daily Star) 
Everton have made inquiries about Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Moutinho. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City will offer contract rebel Daniel Sturridge a take-it-or-leave-it final £40,000 a week offer. (Daily Star) 
Or 19-year-old striker Sturridge will be offered a contract worth £30,000 to stay at Eastlands, with Chelsea and Aston Villa keen on the youngster. (Daily Mirror) 
Birmingham and Reading will battle it out for Stoke striker Dave Kitson. (Daily Express) 
Derby manager Nigel Clough will offload up to 12 players at the end of the season in a massive clear-out at the club. (The Sun) 
Dexter Blackstock, who is on-loan at Nottingham Forest, will return to QPR to see out the final year of his contract. (Daily Mirror) 
Celtic are on the trail of Rayo Vallecano midfielder Mohamed Diame. The SPL champions watched the Frenchman in their weekend draw with Tenerife. (The Star) 

 OTHER GOSSIP 

Former Manchester City chairman John Wardle is in talks with Oldham about helping out the club financially. (Daily Mirror) 
Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney has shelved plans for a salary cap in the Championship. (Daily Mail) 
Blackburn have terminated the contract of Swiss international midfielder Johann Vogel. (Daily Mail) 
Celtic coach Neil Lennon says keeper Artur Boruc has replaced him as the Scottish Premier League's panto villain following recent public incidents involving the Polish goalie. (The Scotsman) 
Aberdeen are casting an eye over former Feyenoord defender Pieter Collen after joining the club on a week-long trial. (Scotsman) 
Rangers stars Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley have revealed that they were caught up in the Nashville tornado. (The Sun) 
East Stirling boss Jim McInally has told Colin Cramb he will never kick another ball for the club after being sent off against Dumbarton for dissent. (The Sun) 
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies has handed club skipper James Fowler a new contract at Rugby Park for another two years. (The Sun) 
Former Rangers star Andrei Kanchelskis says Barry Ferguson is the man to replace outgoing midfielder Anatoly Tymoschuk at Zenit St Petersburg. (Daily Express) 
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood is keen to retain the services of skipper Scott Severin and Jamie Smith by earning a place in Europe next season. (Daily Express) 
 
AND FINALLY 

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen McLoughlin has confirmed that she is expecting the pair's first baby. She also revealed they may adopt a child. (The Sun) 
Shy Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has revealed his scariest moment came when he was forced to sing for his team-mates following his £15m move from Bolton. (The Sun)
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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Tottenham are lining up a bid for Wigan striker Amr Zaki, who missed the defeat by Everton at the weekend after failing to return from international duty with Egypt. (Daily Mirror) 
Spurs are set to offload striker Darren Bent in a summer shake-up. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is also tracking Serbian international left-back Ivan Obradovic, who plays for Partizan Belgrade. (Daily Express) 
Portsmouth midfielder Nico Kranjcar is being lined up for a £10m move to Greek side Panathinaikos. (The Sun) 
Pompey are set to offload striker Theofanis Gekas at the end of the season, with Zenit St Petersburg interested. (Daily Mirror) 
Fulham will battle it out with Celtic for Coventry midfielder Aron Gunnarsson. (The Sun) 
Everton are keen on Huddersfield goalkeeper Alex Smithies. (The Sun) 
Wolverhampton Wanderers are lining up a £1m bid for Bristol Rovers' 26-goal striker Ricky Lambert. (Daily Mirror) 
PSV Eindhoven hope landing Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's former coach Frank Rutten will help persuade the Dutch start to return to Holland. (Daily Star) 
Dundee have targeted Queen of the South's Stephen Dobbie to spearhead their attack next season. (Daily Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Chelsea players are campaigning for the return of former manager Jose Mourinho, who is coach of Inter Milan, if interim Blues boss Guus Hiddink leaves Stamford Bridge in the summer. (Daily Express) 
But Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has identified AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti as the next boss of the Blues if he cannot convince Hiddink to stay. (Daily Mail) 
Newcastle will pay former executive director of football Dennis Wise a £1.5m pay-off to leave the club. (Daily Mail) 
West Ham are set to claim compensation from the Football Association following Carlton Cole's groin injury while on England duty. (Daily Express) 
Manchester United have been accused of turning football into a "cattle market" by Lazio over the deal that brought striker Federico Macheda to Old Trafford as a 16-year-old in 2007. (The Times) 
Rangers' injury woes have worsened with Kirk Broadfoot and Lee McCulloch joining the Ibrox casualty list ahead of Wednesday's meeting with St Mirren. (Daily Star) 
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Caldwerwood has backed his keeper Jamie Langfield to take the Scotland jersey from banned Rangers goalie Allan McGregor. (Daily Star) 
Kilmarnock midfielder Allan Johnston has been told he needs an operation on his hamstring to save his career. (The Herald) 
The SFA have denied rumours that Celtic's Scott Brown was involved in the drinking session which cost Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor their Scotland careers. (Daily Mail) 
Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati has appealed to Italian clubs to end his exile in Glasgow. (Daily Mail) 
St Mirren have handed a trial to French youth midfielder Malik Hioume. (Daily Express) 
Clyde are set to plunge into liquidation at the end of the month with mounting debts of almost £300,000. (Daily Express) 
Celtic's Scott Brown is at the centre of another public row after being warned by police over an incident on a train bound from Newcastle to Glasgow with his fellow team-mates. (The Sun) 
Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson could escape his Scotland hell 10,000 miles away in Australia as three clubs down under bid for his signature. (The Sun) 
Former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat says he has no room for Barry Ferguson at Zenit St Petersburg. (Daily Record) 
Former Celtic hero Tommy Burns is to be immortalised with a permanent memorial at the club's stadium in Glasgow. (Daily Record) 
Rangers have missed out on the opportunity to sign Manchester United's hot-shot Federico Macheda on loan next season following his wonder goal against Aston Villa. (Daily Record) 

AND FINALLY 

It has been revealed that Manchester United's teenage sensation Federico Macheda earns 'only' £35,000 a year. (The Sun) 
The 17-year-old Italian was offered a job as a pizza delivery boy by a friend in Sale as a fall-back if his football career failed. (Daily Star)
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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Barcelona have warned Chelsea and Manchester City that Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is not for sale at any price. (The Sun) 
The Spanish side are also hoping to fend off interest in Thierry Henry by offering the French striker a new three-year contract. (The Sun) 
AC Milan have reignited their interest in Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor after failing to land him last summer. (Daily Express) 
Liverpool are favourites to sign £20m-rated Spain midfielder David Silva after Valencia indicated they would prefer to sell him abroad. (Various) 
West Ham are prepared to break their transfer record by bidding more than £9m for Atalanta striker Sergio Floccari. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham have been told by Genoa to forget about signing their Argentine striker Diego Milito, saying £10m would not even buy his ear. (The Sun) 
Aston Villa have been alerted to the availability of Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour. (Daily Mirror) 
David Beckham will stay at AC Milan rather than return to LA Galaxy when his loan spell ends in May, according to his Milan team-mate Paolo Maldini. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has insisted he "does not want to go anywhere at this point" despite him being linked with Chelsea. (Daily Express) 
Stoke want to sign Manchester City striker Benjani and will move for him at the end of the season. (Daily Mirror) 
Burnley striker Ade Akinbiyi is heading to the US to tie up a deal to play for MLS side Houston Dynamo next season. (Various) 
Doncaster striker Jason Price is set to join Millwall on loan for the rest of the season. (Daily Star) 
Brighton's top scorer Glenn Murray will snub a summer move to Cardiff and stay with the Seagulls, even if they are relegated to League Two. (Daily Star) 
Spanish outfit Sevilla are set to cast an eye over Celtic winger Aiden McGeady at Saturday's Republic of Ireland international against Bulgaria. (Daily Express) 
Rangers have targeted the twin brother of Manchester United's Brazilian sensation Rafael de Silva to solve their left midfield problem. (Various) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has stepped up his bid to sell his 50% stake in the club, instructing financial giants Merrill Lynch to find a buyer. (Daily Mirror) 
Sir Alex Ferguson will quit as manager of Manchester United next year, according to his son Darren. (Various) 
Manchester United are in advanced talks with Saudi Telecom to replace shirt sponsor AIG. (Daily Mail) 
David Beckham has warned England coach Fabio Capello that he will not be able to curb the temper of striker Wayne Rooney. (Various) 
Capello has told his England players not to treat Saturday's clash with Slovakia as just a friendly. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal are on a collision course with Togo, who have vowed to play Emmanuel Adebayor against Cameroon on Saturday. The striker has not played for his club for six weeks because of a hamstring injury . (Daily Mirror) 
Gunners striker Robin van Persie has revealed he almost joined Rangers before he switched from Feyenoord to the Londoners in 2002. "I sat by the phone, hoping it would ring and that it would happen," he said. (Daily Star) 
Japanese business tycoon Yasuaki Kagami is set to take control of Plymouth when his real-estate form raises its stake in the club past the 50% mark in a seven-figure deal. (The Sun) 
Former Hearts defender Christophe Berra looks set to start for Scotland against Holland on Saturday in Amsterdam (Various) 
Cash-strapped Livingston failed to pay their players' wages on time again on Thursday, sparking further fears about the club's financial stability. (Daily Record) 
Brian McLean reckons Motherwell will bag a European slot after going on a run of sparkling form recently. (Daily Record) 
Dundee's financial future looks secure after welcoming one of Scotland's richest men, Calum Melville, to their board of directors. (Daily Record) 
Meanwhile, East Stirling have welcomed local businessman Hugh Henderson to their board to represent fans. (Daily Record) 
Robbie Winters is set to sign for Clyde in a bid to help the club win their fight against relegation from the First Division. (Daily Record) 
Queen of the South star Stevie Tosh says Aberdeen fans should lay off Jimmy Calderwood after calling for the manager's head this week (Daily Record) 
St Mirren keeper Chris Smith could be out for a year with a cruciate ligament injury. (Various) 
Robin Van Persie claims he almost signed for Rangers when Dick Advocaat was manager in 2002. (Various) 
Hearts sporting director Anatoly Korobochka has returned from a whistle-stop tour of Europe hunting for a pre-season training camp. (Daily Express) 
Fifa has ordered the four home nations to come to an agreement over a Great Britain football team for the London Olympics in 2012. (The Scotsman) 

AND FINALLY 

The Premier League's biggest clubs unveiled early designs for new kits for next season to negative reactions from supporters. Manchester United's shirt was described as "vulgar" and a "disgrace", Chelsea fans said their club's new kit would make them look like "muppets" and an Arsenal fan said his side's new shirt would be "one of the most unpopular ever". (Daily Star)

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