Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Manchester City are ready to outbid rivals Manchester United with a £35m offer for Benfica's highly-rated 23-year-old attacking midfielder Nicolas Gaitan.
  (Daily Mirror)


• Queens Park Rangers could reignite their interest in former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack after the 35-year-old was told he is free to leave Bayer Leverkusen.
  (talkSPORT)


• Former QPR manager Neil Warnock has been spotted with Leeds chairman Ken Bates outside a cafe in Monte Carlo. The Yorkshire club are still looking for a new manager after Simon Grayson's exit last month.
  (Daily Mail)


• Liverpool and Manchester United have been put on red alert after Udinese's 24-year-old Chilean defender Mauricio Isla confirmed he is set to leave the Italian club at the end of the season.
  (talkSPORT)


• Tottenham look poised to step up their interest in Ajax centre-back Jan Vertonghen after sending scouts to watch the Belgian against Manchester United on Thursday.
  (Inside Futbol)


• Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit says even the signing of 21-year-old Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard would not save the Gunners from their current poor form.
  (Metro)

• Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a knee injury and could return before the end of the season.
  (Daily Mail)


• Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has backed calls from Gunners legend Denis Bergkamp for the club to sign stronger players.
  (The Sun)


• AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, has urged van Persie to quit Arsenal to further his career.
  (The Sun)


• Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has told winger Matt Phillips, 20, to forget playing for Scotland because he will be an England star one day.
  (Daily Star)


• Everton must fight off interest from Manchester United for manager David Moyes when Alex Ferguson retires, according to Holloway.
  (Liverpool Echo)

• Hypnosis could help Birmingham shock Chelsea in the FA Cup. Winger Nathan Redmond has turned to a sports psychologist to help him prepare for games.
  (Daily Mirror)


• A man has been charged with criminal damage after the St James' Park name was painted on the wall of Newcastle's ground following the removal of a sign.
  (Metro)


• Gary Neville is on a collision course with former club Manchester United after the club opposed his plans to build a supporters' club opposite Old Trafford.
  (The Times )