Football rumours from today's newspapers

• German striker Lukas Podolski is close to joining Arsenal from Cologne. The 26-year-old has apparently already agreed personal terms with the Gunners, although the two clubs are yet to agree a fee.
  (Bild)


• Napoli have issued a 'hands-off' warning to Manchester City and Chelsea over their pursuit of Ezequiel Lavezzi. The striker has impressed for the Serie A club but president Aurelio De Laurentiis says the club will ignore any offers.
  (talkSPORT)


• Asamoah Gyan is a wanted man in the Middle East. Al-Ain, the club where the striker is currently on loan, want to make the move permanent while at least one other United Arab Emirates-based side are interested in the Sunderland player.
  (Evening Chronicle)


• Spanish giants Barcelona are interested in Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The 16-year-old caught the eye of the Catalan side when he scored for England schoolboys against Wales last year.
  (Daily Mirror)


• Chelsea boss Andre Villa-Boas is hoping to lure Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder to Stamford Bridge this summer as he bids to add more creativity to the Blues midfield.
  (Caught Offside)


• Manchester United are the latest Premier League side to be watching Torino attacking midfielder Alen Stevanovic. Scouts from the Premier League's top six clubs were at a recent match to see the 21-year-old in action.
  (Daily Mail)


• Contract rebels Paul Pogba and Ezekiel Fryers have been told to sign new deals in the next 48 hours or forget about playing for Manchester United again.
  (The Sun)


• Leeds have handed a trial to Swedish midfielder and free agent Dulee Johnson, 27.
  (Daily Mirror)


• Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen has issued a 'come and get me' plea to Tottenham after Harry Redknapp watched him in action against Manchester United.
  (Daily Express)

• Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea have been put on alert after reports that ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho is returning to London.
  (Daily Mirror)


• Jose Mourinho is looking for a new house in London - fuelling talk of a return to Chelsea.
  (The Sun)


• Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is demanding £6m a year to stay at Chelsea after talks over a new deal at Stamford Bridge stalled.
  (Daily Mail)


• Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley is set for a quick return to action after scans revealed no serious damage to his ankle.
  (Manchester Evening News)


• Tottenham youngster Adam Smith could make his debut against Manchester United at the weekend after being recalled from his loan spell at Leeds. The defender could come in for Kyle Walker, who was forced to pull out of the England squad for the friendly with the Netherlands.
  (talkSPORT)


• Bolton midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has dubbed the next month as "March madness" because he believes that could be the spell that decides their Premier League fate.
  (The Bolton News)


• Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy could call time on his Wales career after leading his country in the Gary Speed memorial match against Costa Rica.
  (Daily Telegraph)

• Zamalek SC midfielder Ahmed Hassan , 36, is to become the most capped international footballer as he is set to make his 179th appearance for Egypt on Wednesday.
  (The Times)


• Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli could be set to star on the small screen after striking up an unlikely friendship with The Only Way is Essex star Mario Falcone.
  (Metro)