Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Rafael Benítez is expected to make Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano his primary transfer target after agreeing a two-year deal to take charge of European champions Inter Milan.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Manchester United are lining up Palermo defender Simon Kjaer, with centre-back Nemanja Vidic set to leave Old Trafford.
  (Daily Mail )


• United are also rumoured to be considering a move for Juventus playmaker Diego this summer.
  ( Caughtoffside)


• Everton have rejected an improved offer of £7m from West Ham for striker Yakubu.
  (Daily Mail )


• Manchester City are battling it out with Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Juventus for Valencia's £30m-rated midfielder David Silva.
  (Daily Mail )


• Arsenal defender William Gallas is set to leave the club and turn down a chance to join Roma to sign for Juventus.
  (Daily Mail )


• Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has joined Tottenham and Manchester United in the chase to sign Joe Cole, who is a free agent after being released by Chelsea.
  (The Mirror)


• Wenger may also be preparing a bid for Everton's South Africa winger Steven Pienaar. The 28-year-old is entering the final 12-months of his contract on Merseyside and is yet to agree a new deal.
  (Daily Star)


• Yaya Toure's agent says Barcelona are asking for too much money for the Ivory Coast midfielder who has been linked with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
  ( sport)


• Chelsea are rumoured to be ready to make a move for Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland.
  ( Caughtoffside)


• Tottenham are said to be preparing a £10m bid for West Ham striker Carlton Cole.
  (Daily Star)


• Financially troubled Hull have put their entire playing staff up for sale.
  (Daily Mail )

• Kenny Dalglish is desperate to become Liverpool's manager again, claims his son Paul. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson remains the Reds number one choice, but 59-year-old Dalglish, who won a host of trophies as a player and manager at Anfield from 1977-91, has told friends he is waiting in the wings.
  (The Mirror)


• Nicolas Anelka is poised to sign a new two-year contract with Chelsea. The 31-year-old French striker, who scored 15 goals last season, has reached an agreement on an extension to his £90,000-a-week deal.
  (Daily Express)


• An Indian entrepreneur is close to completing a £25m takeover of Blackburn after targeting the Lancashire club because of the town's large Asian population. Blackburn's board has given Saurin Shah, little known outside his home city of Mumbai, permission to begin the due diligence process after several weeks of secret talks.
  (The Times)


• Ipswich manager Roy Keane has been spared the sack after a top-secret meeting with owner Marcus Evans.
  (Daily Mail )

• Rafael Benitez waved goodbye to Liverpool on Thursday by making a £96,000 donation to the Hillsborough Family Support Group charity. The Spaniard, who has been appointed as Inter Milan's new manager, flew back to England to say his farewells.
  (The Sun)