SPORTS AND GAME, GOSSIPS AND TRANSFERS (Tuesday)

Juventus are eyeing up a bid for Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, whose form has dipped dramatically after a solid start to the season.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester City are watching Udinese centre-back Cristian Zapata.
Full story: Daily Mail
Meanwhile, neighbours Manchester United look set to land Leeds teenage midfielder Elliot Kebbie after an 18-month pursuit.

 Full story: Daily Mail



Everton target Yannick Djalo says he is interested in joining the Toffees from Sporting Lisbon in January but only if it is for the good of the Portuguese club.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier could be lining up a move for Brazilian midfielder Juninho, 35, who played for the Frenchman at Lyon.

Full story: Daily Mirror



Houllier also has his eye on Middlesbrough centre-back David Wheater, whose contract with the Championship strugglers ends in June.
Full story: Daily Mail

Bolton are to hold last ditch talks with Swedish forward John Elmander on Wednesday about signing a new deal at the club.
Full story: the Sun
Fulham are keeping tabs on Freiburg's 25-year-old Senegal striker Demba Cisse.
Full story: Daily Mail

Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is being lined up for a loan move to Portsmouth. (Daily Star)
Leicester are poised to sign Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland on loan. (Daily Star)

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea's stars fear for the future of manager Carlo Ancelotti who they feel is being seriously undermined.
Full story: the Sun

Inter Milan are preparing a shock bid to replace manager Rafael Benitez with England coach Fabio Capello.
Full story: talkSPORT

Raul Meireles believes he can fill the gap left by Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard during the captain's absence through injury. The Portugal midfielder was moved from the right to the centre in the Reds' 3-0 win against West Ham on Saturday.





West Ham are on the verge of sacking assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic following the Hammers' dire start to the season but boss Avram Grant is set to stay put.
Full story: Daily Mail

Petrovic's departure will pave the way for Hammers hero Paolo Di Canio to make a sensational return to Upton Park as Avram Grant's number two.
Full story: Daily Star

The Hammers could also turn to former Upton Park captain Steve Lomas as a potential replacement for Petrovic.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool legend Ian Rush is out of the running to become the new Wales manager with former Sweden boss Lars Lagerback the favourite to take over from stand-in Brian Flynn.
Full story: the Sun


Or, former Coventry boss Chris Coleman is the favourite to become the new Wales manager. (The Times)

 

AND FINALLY

Tottenham defender Gareth Bale has the potential to be as good as Lionel Messi, according to Brian Flynn, who hopes to manage Bale as Wales boss. "Comparisons with Messi wouldn't faze him a little bit," says Flynn. "He wouldn't be worried by that sort of adulation because of his intelligence, as he can handle being a big star."

Full story: Daily Mirror



Eto'o faces ban for headbutting

Italian champions Inter Milan will find out on Tuesday whether their Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o will be suspended for headbutting an opponent.

 

The pair clashed in the 38th minute when Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar threw a weak punch that hit the 29-year-old in the face.
Eto'o jogged away before turning around and headbutting Cesar in the chest.

"It could lead to a heavy ban. I hope nothing happens, but it's difficult," Inter president Massimo Moratti said.
The Italian Football Federation has requested TV evidence of the incident and the BBC African Footballer of the Year nominee could be banned for between two to four games.
An Eto'o ban would be a huge blow for Inter coach Rafael Benitez who has had to cope with injuries to key players including Diego Milito.
Inter have also suffered a loss of form and currently lie in sixth place in Serie A, nine points behind their cross-city rivals, AC Milan.

Eto'o has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season.
The Italian league has used video evidence to ban Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino for two games after he scored a goal with his hand.
Inter host Dutch side FC Twente in the European Champions League on Wednesday.



REAL MADRID DREAMS LAST 16
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas hopes that the Blancos can break their Round of 16 hoodoo in the Champions League.

Madrid travel to Amsterdam to take on Ajax on Tuesday evening safe in the knowledge that they have already qualified for the second round. However, the concern for Casillas is their inability to make it beyond that round for the past six years.

"It has stuck in our heads like a little trauma, but this has happened to the players – me more than anyone – who have been here a few years," Casillas told Uefa.com.

"I've experienced and suffered this situation but the new, young players have their own experiences with previous clubs, so it's not necessarily something the squad as a whole think about. It's more the club which has suffered this setback in the last six years.

"The arrival of Mourinho also meant the arrival of new players – young players with a lot of talent, who want to do things right, have a lot of hope and are very committed. It's like a renewal."

Casillas is also highly appreciative of the injection of fresh blood into the squad and underlined the importance of Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira.

"Mesut and Sami are serious boys who have tried to integrate as quickly as possible," said the World Cup winner.

""It's not easy for them as they speak a different language and it's difficult to learn a new one, but the team have supported them as much as possible to help them settle.

"The team are acting like a family, laughing a lot and taking care of each other, particularly the younger lads."

Full story: Daily Mirror