Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Chelsea and Manchester City both want Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who is set to leave AC Milan on a free transfer after rejecting a new deal.
  (The Mirror)


• Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is a top transfer target for Arsenal, according to ex-Gunners stopper Bob Wilson.
  (Metro)


• Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of bringing Manuel Neuer to Manchester United have been hit after the Schalke goalkeeper claimed he only wants to leave Germany to go on holiday.
  (The Mirror)


• Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is considering a move for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, who he worked with when the pair were both at Birmingham. Wigan playmaker Charles N'Zogbia is also in Bruce's sights.
  (Daily Star)


• Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has joined Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan in the race for Roma defender Philippe Mexes - although Dalglish would prefer to sign Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill.
  (The Mirror)


• Birmingham City defender Scott Dann has also been targeted by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish.
  (caughtoffside)


• Spanish giants Barcelona are winning the race to sign coveted Fiorentina wing-back Juan Vargas - leaving Manchester City out in the cold.
  (talkSPORT)


• Defender Wes Brown is considering leaving Manchester United at the end of the season as the 31-year-old believes he stands a better chance of signing a long-term deal elsewhere.
  (Daily Mail)


• Arsenal will conduct a major clear-out in the summer in order to reinvest in big name signings.
  (caughtoffside)


• Arsenal's pursuit of Dutch youngster Stefan de Vrij has been dealt a major blow after the Feyenoord defender revealed his desire to play for Barcelona.
  (talkSPORT)


• Tottenham will battle Ajax and Borussia Dortmund for VVV Venlo striker Ahmed Musa. It is expected to take more than £5m to secure the 18-year-old Nigerian.
  (Daily Star)


• Ipswich's £10m-rated striker Connor Wickham has dampened speculation that he may make a summer switch to Arsenal, Liverpool or Tottenham by insisting he wants to secure promotion from the Championship with his current club.
  (Metro)


• Bolton are poised to make a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Andreas Ottl.
  (talkSPORT)


• Arsenal are to make a shock move for Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
  (caughtoffside)


• As many as eight senior players - including winger Ashley Young and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor - are considering their Aston Villa futures after growing unhappy with manager Gerard Houllier's strict regime. The Frenchman has banned mobile phones from the dressing room and imposed a system of fines for those breaking his rules.
  (Daily Mail)


• Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Hamburg striker Mladen Petric as manager Alan Pardew looks to bring in new attacking options following the sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool in January.
  (caughtoffside)


• Bolton defender Ricardo Gardner is set to end his 13-year spell at the club by signing for Preston in the summer.
  (talkSPORT)


• Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has claimed no club could bid enough money to convince him to part with Luka Modric - not even if they offered a billion pounds.
  (The Mirror)


• AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi's son has claimed Manchester City's Italian striker Mario Balotelli would be a great signing for the Italian giants.
  (The Mirror)

• Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is considering retiring from England duty amid rumours he will be axed for the game against Wales.
  (Metro)


• Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has denied that left-sided star Gareth Bale was injured before he joined up with the Wales squad. Bale, 21, has pulled out of Saturday's match against England with a hamstring injury which international boss Gary Speed claims he picked up with his club.
  (Daily Mail)


• Tottenham defender William Gallas is poised to sign a new two-year deal at White Hart Lane.
  (The Sun)


• Scotland midfielder Scott Brown says he will approach Sunday's friendly against Brazil in the same determined, competitive way as he would a Sunday League match.
  (Daily Record)

• Qatar 2022 World Cup organisers are designing cloud-like craft that will hover between stadiums and the sun to stem the summer heat.
  (Metro)


• Manchester United winger Nani claims that manager Sir Alex Ferguson has made him cut out the tricks that he used when playing on the streets as a youngster.
  (The Mirror)


• Former Aston Villa and England midfielder Lee Hendrie, 33, is currently plying his trade at Indonesian side Bandung. His new team are bottom of their division after just one win in their first nine games of the season.
  (The Independent)


• West Brom defender Jonas Olsson has paid Stoke a bill of £200 after he smashed a picture in the Britannia Stadium tunnel following January's 1-1 draw.
  (Daily Mail)