Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing's switch to Liverpool has led to talks opening up between the clubs over a move in the opposite direction for midfielder Joe Cole.
  (Metro)


• Manchester United are ready to make a swift bid for Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik if they fail to sign either Wesley Sneijder or Samir Nasri from Inter Milan and Arsenal respectively.
  (Caughtoffside)


• Manchester United and Manchester City target Alexis Sanchez is finally set to end speculation over his future by signing for Barcelona this week. Both Manchester clubs had approached Udinese about signing the Chile forward.
  (talkSPORT)


• Manchester City have been told only a "huge bid will be enough to prise striker Samuel Eto'o away from Inter Milan.
  (The Sun)


• Leeds United winger Max Gradel is ready to snub West Ham and Fulham, for a shot at the Champions League with Lille.
  (Daily Mail)


• However, Chelsea have agreed a £5m fee with Belgian side Genk to make keeper Thibault Courtois the first signing of the Andre Villas-Boas era.
  (The Mirror)


• QPR winger Adel Taarabt is definitely leaving Loftus Road this summer, according to leading agent Marco Sommella.
  (Metro)


• Stoke chairman Peter Coates may have wrecked their £4.5m move for Carlton Cole by questioning the West Ham striker's injury record in a TV interview. Angry Cole could now stay at Upton Park or move to QPR instead.
  (The Mirror)


• West Ham expect to receive a £7m Aston Villa bid for midfielder Scott Parker once Stewart Downing makes his £20m move to Liverpool.
  (The Mirror)


• Reports from Italy indicate that both Milan sides, AC and Inter, are contemplating a bid for Tottenham's Gareth Bale.
  (footie-online)


• Manchester City have already identified the man they want to replace striker Carlos Tevez - Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller. City are lining up a £45million move for the 21-year-old.
  (Caughtoffside)


• Everton are again looking to take Real Madrid starlet Sergio Canales on a season-long loan. Aston Villa, QPR and Villarreal also want the young playmaker.
  (The Mirror)


• Tottenham are the latest side to express an interest in FC Basel midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri - who would cost around £5m.
  (talkSPORT)


• But Spurs and Sevilla are at loggerheads over a proposed deal to take Giovani dos Santos to Spain. The Mexican midfielder has failed to establish himself at White Hart Lane and Harry Redknapp is keen to off-load him this summer.
  (talkSPORT)


• Newcastle want to sell left-back Jose Enrique as soon as possible so they have time to buy a replacement. The Spaniard is a target for Liverpool and Arsenal.
  (The Mirror)


• Liverpool plan to continue to add to their squad and are preparing a bid for Barcelona attacker Jeffren.
  (Caughtoffside)


• Wigan have increased the asking price for Charles N'Zogbia. They now want over £9m for the winger, who is wanted by Aston Villa and Everton.
  (The Mirror)


• German side Schalke believe they have beaten Blackburn in the race to sign £10m-rated Freiburg hotshot Papiss Demba Cisse. The 25-year-old scored 22 goals last season.
  (talkSPORT)


• Fulham are watching 20-year-old Hajduk Split and Croatia Under-21 striker Ante Vukusic.
  (The Mirror)


• Spurs are racing to sign 16-year-old Ivory Coast striking sensation Souleymane Coulibaly from Italy's Siena for £2m before the transfer window closes at the end of August, but could be foiled by red tape.
  (The Mirror)

• Arsene Wenger say's it's Arsenal's destiny to win the Premier League after terrible end to last season.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Premier League managers in the will be free to field weakened teams next season without fear of reprisal.
  (Daily Mail)


• Sir Alex Ferguson has hit back at claims David De Gea is too young to be Manchester United's new number one keeper.
  (The Sun)


• Stoke manager Tony Pulis has told West Ham striker Carlton Cole his wage demands are scuppering a £4.5million move to the club.
  (The Sun)


• Michael Dawson has given his support to Tottenham's management over their tough stance towards Luka Modric and Chelsea.
  (Metro)


• Former Blackburn and West Ham striker Benni McCarthy is training with Ajax Cape Town as he looks to salvage his career. The 33-year-old struggled to make any impact at West Ham following his £2.5m move and was released.
  (talkSPORT)


• Emmanuel Adebayor says Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is a better manager than Arsene Wenger and Roberto Mancini.
  (Metro)

• Photos of Angelina Jolie's daughter Shiloh at Heathrow airport have outed her as a closet Liverpool fan.
  (Metro)


• Gael Clichy has been shocked by his tough-tackling new team-mates at Manchester City.
  (The Sun)