Football rumours from today's newspapers

• David Beckham could sign for a Premier League side as early as next week with the 35-year-old midfielder eager to return to top-level action and his current club LA Galaxy likely to grant him permission to go out on loan within the next 48 hours.
  (Daily Mail)


• Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will try to convince Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, 23, to join him at the Bernabeu in the summer and is prepared to offer the Gunners £35m for the Spanish midfielder.
  (The Sun)


• Italian club Chievo Verona are leading the chase to sign Arsenal forward Carlos Vela with the 21-year-old Mexican having struggled to nail down a first-team spot since signing for the Gunners in 2005.
  (The Sun)


• Benfica claim they have turned down a bid of about £17m from Chelsea for Brazilian centre-back David Luiz, 23, insisting he will leave for no less than £43m.
  (The Guardian)


• Aston Villa will hold talks to try and keep hold of winger Ashley Young who is a £15m January target for Premier League leaders Manchester United.
  (Daily Star)


• Manchester United goalkeeping target David De Gea has made it clear he is eager to stay at Atletico Madrid, saying: "I am very happy ... when things are going well it is not necessary to change anything."
  (talkSPORT)


• Manchester City have turned down a bid from West Ham to take left-back Wayne Bridge on loan in January, even though the Hammers had offered to pay £95,000 a week towards his wages.
  (Daily Mail)


• West Ham will try to sign Manchester United's Michael Owen and Everton striker Yakubu as they look to drag themselves out of the relegation mire.
  (The Mirror)


• Swiss international Valon Behrami could be on his way out of Upton Park, with long-time admirers Roma ready to make a £4.5m offer.
  (talkSPORT)


• The Hammers are also tracking Barnsley midfielder Adam Hammill, 25, but will have competition from Nottingham Forest.
  (The Mirror)


• Liverpool could make Rennes midfielder Sylvain Marveaux their first January signing after he was a guest at their 1-0 home loss to Wolves on Wednesday.
  (The Sun)


• Dutch striker Eljero Elia could also be on his way to Anfield from Hamburg, which could pave the way for compatriot Ryan Babel to leave Liverpool.
  (talkSPORT)


• Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has targeted Blackburn's £8m-rated centre-back Chris Samba as the man to shore up his defence.
  (Daily Express)


• Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is planning a £12m offer for Aston Villa's 26-year-old winger Stewart Downing.
  (Daily Mail)


• Everton are in the hunt for Sparta Prague's Slovakian midfielder Juraj Kucka, 23, with Bayer Leverkusen and Parma also interested.
  (The Sun)


• Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish wants midfielder David Bentley and striker Robbie Keane to join Blues from Tottenham.
  (Daily Mail)


• Blackpool hope to agree a deal with Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston before the transfer window opens. The former Hearts player is available as a free agent after leaving Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.
  (talkSPORT)


• Wolves are interested in Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown, with the 33-year-old looking likely to have played his last game for Pompey after triggering a contract clause that would increase his salary to £35,000 a week should he play another match.
  (Daily Mail)

• Liverpool's owners have reached breaking point with Reds' manager Roy Hodgson and only a victory against Bolton on Saturday is likely to save him from being sacked.
  (Daily Mail)


• Sir Alex Ferguson has recalled two players to Manchester United from their loan spells at Preston after his son Darren was sacked as manager at Deepdale.
  (The Guardian)


• Billy Davies is a shock front-runner to become Burnley's next manager because the Nottingham Forest boss is in dispute with the east midlands club over its transfer policy.
  (Daily Mail)


• Wayne Rooney's 20-year-old brother John, a former Macclesfield midfielder, is flying to America on Sunday to take part in the Major Soccer League Superdraft.
  (Daily Mail)

• Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor says he thinks he would be easier for defenders to push around if he took manager Gerard Houllier's advice to lose weight.
  (Daily Telegraph)