SPORTS AND GAME, GOSSIPS AND TRANSFERS (Tuesday)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

West Ham are set to take Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane on a six-month loan deal in bid to beat the drop
Full story: Daily Telegraph

But Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has turned down the opportunity to move to relegation threatened West Ham in a similar deal.
Full story: talkSPORT

West Ham's current star striker, Frederic Piquionne, has rejected reports that he will leave the Hammers for Aston Villa when the January transfer window opens.
Full story: Goal.com

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are poised to make a £1m for Lokomotiv Moscow star Alan Gatagov.
Full story: talkSPORT

Barcelona are considering a £10m move for Arsenal midfielder Denilson after conceding Cesc Fabregas' price tag could once again spiral beyond their means.
Full story: Daily Mail

Alan Pardew insists it is time for Newcastle to prove they are a big club and hang on to £20m star striker - and Tottenham target - Andy Carroll.
Full story: Daily Mail

Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson concedes his bid to sign David Beckham on loan is doomed to fail.
Full story: The Mirror

Manchester City are scouting Espanyol duo Pablo Osvaldo and Victor Ruiz.
Full story: The Mirror

Liverpool are set to tie Jay Spearing to a new long-term contract as new recruitment supremo Damien Comolli steps up his youth policy.
Full story: The Mirror

Tottenham are leading the chase to sign Saint Etienne midfielder Dimitri Payet for £7m.
Full story: talkSPORT

Birmingham owner Carson Yeung has been forced to clarify ­the club's spending plans after manager Alex McLeish bemoaned a lack of cash.
Full story: The Mirror

Manchester United's now longest-serving manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he has shelved all thoughts of retirement.
Full story: The Mirror

Rafa Benitez has returned to Liverpool for Christmas insisting he has not been sacked by Inter Milan.
Full story: The Mirror

Liverpool's academy manager Josep Segura is pleased with the quality of young players in his charge at the club.
Full story: The Mirror

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is warning of "managerial carnage" unless something is done about the number of new owners coming into the Premier League.
Full story: talkSPORT

Samuel Eto'o wins record fourth African Player award

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o has become the first man to be named African Player of the Year for a fourth time. The striker, 29, enjoyed little success with his country in 2010 but helped his club Inter Milan become European and Italian champions last season. Eto'o also won the prestigious award in 2003, 2004 and 2005 while playing in Spain, latterly with Barcelona. He finished ahead of Ivory Coast and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Ghana and Sunderland forward Asamoah Gyan. The forward also scored one and created one in Inter's 3-0 win over Congolese side TP Mazembe to seal the Club World Cup final on Saturday. Eto'o's fourth African crown takes him past other three-time winners Abedi Pele and George Weah. Tevez & Man City Stifled Manchester City took on Everton with the knowledge that star striker Carlos Tevez had withdrawn his transfer request and committed to the club. However, they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat to the Toffees, who played the last 30 minutes with ten men. The Citizens spurned the chance to go top of the table... I'm Still The Inter Coach Rafael Benitez could be forced to clear his desk by the end of the day, with some reports claiming he has already been sacked. But the Spaniard himself has remained defiant, reminding everyone that he is still the Inter coach before revealing his surprise at the sack stories that have been circulating. President's Choice Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed that the Rossoneri will indeed be signing Sampdoria's talented star Antonio Cassano in the winter transfer window. He also expressed some disappointment regarding struggling playmaker Ronaldinho. Click here for his comments...