Full story: talkSPORT
Dinamo Zagreb defender Sime Vrsaljko is being tracked by Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton, Manchester City and Manchester United, according to the president of the Croatian club.
Full story: Daily Mail
OTHER GOSSIP
Newcastle right-back Danny Simpson, 23, has caught the attention of England boss Fabio Capello, who has been impressed enough by the former Manchester United trainee to consider him for inclusion in the squad for the friendly against France on Wednesday. Simpson's team-mate Andy Carroll will definitely be called up by Capello.
Full story: Daily Mirror
AND FINALLY
The president of Croatia's football federation, Vlatko Markovic, could face sanction after telling a newspaper he would not allow gay players to represent the country. Full story: Guardian
UK PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND UP
The spoils were shared in the Manchester derby as Manchester City ground out a 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Eastlands.
Carlos Tevez was named in the starting line-up against his old club, but the City skipper failed to find his way through as both sides had to settle for a point in a match of few chances. Tevez's first-half free-kick forced a save from Edwin van der Sar, and he was involved in a scrap with Rafael.
United enjoyed most of the possession, but neither side were able to carve out clear-cut scoring opportunities in a tactical stalemate.Michael Essien scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea edged past Fulham 1-0. The champions got back to winning ways after their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend, but it was a far from convincing display from Carlo Ancelotti's side, who had Essien sent off in the final minute for a two-footed challenge on Clint Dempsey.
Essien drifted into the penalty area to meet Salomon Kalou's cross from the near post as Chelsea took an early lead, but Fulham kept the Chelsea front line quiet for much of the match. Didier Drogba was named in the starting line-up by Ancelotti, but he looked far from his best as he continues his recovery from malaria.
Aston Villa claimed their first win in six games with a 3-2 win at home to a Blackpool. Blackpool twice came from behind to level, but a late goal from defender James Collins sealed all three points for Gerard Houllier's side. Stewart Downing's opener was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by Marlon Harewood, but Villa youngster Nathan Delfouneso looked to have sealed the win with his first goal of the season.
Just moments after having a goal disallowed, Delfouneso had the ball in the back of the net, and this time it was legitimate, beating the offside trap to meet Ashley Young's throughball and poking the ball past Richard Kingson, making his first Premier League start of the season. DJ Campbell's late equaliser looked to have salvaged a point, but Collins' powerful header from a corner was enough as Villa took the spoils.
Fernando Torres scored his fourth goal in as many matches but it was not enough as Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Wigan. Torres showed the sharpness that has been missing for much of the season, controlling Steven Gerrard's inch-perfect pass in behind the Wigan defence and rifling the ball home for an early lead. But his efforts were cancelled out by Hugo Rodallega, who scored his fourth goal of the season to rescue a point for Roberto Martinez's side.
Arsenal maintained the pressure on leaders Chelsea with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Wolves. Marouane Chamakh scored in the first and last minutes of the match to condemn Mick McCarthy's side to a fourth straight defeat.
Wolves have narrowly lost to Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City in their last three league matches, but were left to rue an early lapse. Chamakh got Arsenal off to a flying start in the opening minute, rising high to head home Tomas Rosicky's cross. He then doubled his goal tally on the final whistle but Arsenal had Lukasz Fabianski to thank for a series of crucial saves.
Newcastle were brought crashing back down to earth after they were beaten 2-1 at home to Blackburn. Flying high after their win at Arsenal on Sunday, they suffered an early reality check when Morten Gamst Pedersen caught the Magpies defence napping.
In-form striker Andy Carroll continued his impressive run with another goal, but Sam Allardyce left his old stomping ground with all three points after Jason Roberts' late winner.
Pablo Ibanez scored his first Premier League goal to rescue a point for West Brom against West Ham with a 2-2 draw. The Baggies went ahead through a Peter Odemwingie penalty after Luis Boa Morte tugged back Steven Reid during a corner, but their lead was shortlived when Scott Parker rocketed the ball into the top corner to mark his 100th Hammers appearance
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Frederic Piquionne put the Londoners ahead from the spot after Kieron Dyer was brought down by Gabriel Tamas, but Ibanez's powerful header from Chris Brunt's cross salvaged a draw for the Baggies.
Jermaine Beckford scored a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw for Everton at home to Bolton at Goodison Park. Ivan Klasnic looked to have snatched the win for the visitors, and when Marouane Fellaini was sent off for Everton, it looked to have sealed the Toffees' fate, but a stunning strike from Beckford snatched a point at the death.
SERIE A ROUND UP
Alexandre Pato got his fifth goal in seven games as AC Milan went top of Serie A as previous leaders Lazio suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Cesena.
Pato opened the scoring for AC Milan but Armin Bacinovic equalised for opponents Palermo with just under half an hour left. A Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty and a late goal by Robinho ensured Milan claimed all three points with a 3-1 win at San Siro.
A stoppage-time goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi saw Napoli snatch a narrow 1-0 victory at Cagliari which moves them up to third.
Lecce denied Inter Milan a first win in November with a late equaliser at Via del Mare. Ruben Olivera levelled 11 minutes from time to rescue a point for the hosts with a 1-1 draw, just three minutes after Diego Milito had broken their resistance.
Veteran Alessandro del Piero was unable to celebrate his birthday with a goal as Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw at Brescia.
Del Piero turned 36 on Tuesday but the talismanic striker and his side had to settle for a point at lowly Brescia after two goals in two second-half minutes lit up an otherwise uninspiring contest. Fabio Quagliarella gave Juve the lead in the 71st minute, but the home side responded almost immediately through the influential Alessandro Diamanti.
Roma claimed their third straight win with a 3-2 home triumph over Fiorentina. Fabio Simplicio and Marco Borriello made it 2-0 to Roma before Alberto Gilardino and Simone Perrotta traded strikes to make it 3-1 with 13 minutes remaining. Substitute Gaetano D'Agostino then set up a tense finish with a fine free-kick.
Catania claimed their first win since September 22 by edging past Udinese 1-0 at the Stadio Angelo Massiminothanks to Maxi Lopez's goal on the hour mark, while Chievo and Bari drew 0-0.
Davide Ballardini's tenure as Genoa coach started with a 1-0 success over Bologna as the Rossoblu won their first Serie A game since October 3. Omar Milanetto was the hero as he scored the decisive goal in the 81st minute of a tense encounter at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
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