All the latest football rumours from today's newspapers.
- Manchester City aim to reduce the original fee for Portsmouth striker Benjani but the on-off deal appears to be going ahead on Tuesday. (Various)
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Birmingham will open contract talks with midfielder Mehdi Nafti when the Tunisia international returns from the Africa Cup of Nations. (Daily Star)
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Chelsea are interested in signing IK Start's Ghana international midfielder Anthony Annan. (Daily Mirror)
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Liverpool are set to permanently sign Javier Mascherano. (Various)
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Crystal Palace have postponed contract talks with Julian Speroni after the Argentine goalkeeper demanded vastly improved terms. (Daily Star)
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Sheffield Wednesday will sign on-loan Sunderland midfielder Graham Kavanagh permanently in the summer. (Daily Star)
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Nottingham Forest want Watford striker Will Hoskins on loan. (Daily Star)
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Craig Armstrong is to rejoin Cheltenham on a free transfer after only five months at Gillingham. (Daily Star)
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Kevin Phillips is set to agree a new deal with West Brom. (Various)
OTHER GOSSIP
- New England boss Fabio Capello's first words to his assembled squad were: "I hate losing". The Italian addressed his player by their last names and laid down a number of rules, including banning WAGs. (Daily Star)
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Republic of Ireland will offer Giovanni Trapattoni the manager's job with a £1m bonus if he takes them to the World Cup in South Africa. (Daily Mail)
AND FINALLY...
- Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has celebrated becoming the Premier League's highest-paid player by splashing out £4m on a new home. The five bedroom mansion boasts an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, gym, cinema room and media suite. (The Sun)