Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure is desperate to join Manchester City with his agent already in talks with the Premier League club.
  (The Mirror)


• But both Manchester United and Arsenal are waiting in the wings to pounce if City and Toure fail to come to an agreement.
  (The Sun)


• Manchester City look set to miss out on the signing of Valencia winger David Silva.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Tottenham are preparing a £20m bid for Atletico Madrid's Uruguay striker Diego Forlan.
  (Daily Star)


• Arsenal could offer £7m plus youngsters Francis Coquelin and Armand Traore for FC Lorient defender Laurent Koscielny after an initial £4m bid was rejected.
  (The Mirror)


• The Gunners are also interested in Barcelona's Israeli playmaker Guy Assulin - who has been dubbed 'the new Messi.'
  (IMScouting)


• Inter Milan's Brazilian defender Maicon says he is not interested in joining Manchester City and wants to follow former Inter coach Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid.
  (The Guardian)


• Chelsea have given up hope of keeping Joe Cole and have withdrawn their contract offer for the England star.
  (Daily Star)


• Fulham manager Roy Hodgson says Hannover's German international striker Jan Schlaudraff "could add something" to their squad.
  (Daily Mail )


• Portsmouth captain Aaron Mokoena could leave Fratton Park to join Wolves after he has played for South Africa at the World Cup.
  (Daily Mail )


• West Ham are battling it out with Fulham for the signing of Portsmouth striker Frederic Piquionne.
  (The Mirror)


• Bolton face a fight with Benfica to sign Real Madrid left-back Marcos Alonso.
  (The Mirror)


• Bolton also hope to sign Chelsea striker Franco di Santo for around £2m.
  (The Mirror)


• Newcastle are opening contract talks with striker Andy Carroll to ward off interest from Birmingham and Stoke.
  (Daily Mail )


• Birmingham are considering an offer for Palermo's 5ft 6in striker Fabrizio Miccoli.
  (The Sun)


• Wigan hope to seal a club-record £5.7m deal with Estudiantes for Argentine striker Mauro Boselli.
  (The Mirror)


• Sheffield United want Stoke goalkeeper Steve Simonsen if current first-choice Blades keeper Paddy Kenny decides to join QPR.
  (The Mirror)


• Premier League newcomers Blackpool could sign Richard Chaplow after he was released by local rivals Preston.
  (The Mirror)

• Liverpool fans burned American flags in a protest against the club's owners outside Anfield, following the departure of manager Rafael Benitez.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Former manager Kenny Dalglish will be given the responsibility of drawing up a shortlist of names to replace Benitez at Anfield.
  (The Mirror)


• Ex-Wales, Blackburn and Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is the man Liverpool want to replace Benitez.
  (Daily Star)


• Or, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is the favourite to become the new manager of Liverpool.
  (The Sun)


• Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is also in the running although Dalglish himself could take over the reins at Anfield.
  (Daily Mail )


• However, former Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini is also in the running to get the top job.
  (IMScouting)


• Liverpool could be heading for an exodus of key players following Benitez's departure on Thursday.
  (The Independent)


• Benitez's exit has opened the door for Real Madrid to sign midfielder Steven Gerrard.
  (IMScouting)


• But Benitez himself may not have to wait too long to find a new job with European champions Inter Milan interested in taking the Spaniard to the San Siro.
  (The Sun)


• New West Ham manager Avram Grant is expected to try to bring his old backroom staff from Portsmouth to Upton Park, but former West Ham player Kevin Keen could be kept on.
  (Daily Mail )


• Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is set for clear the air talks with manager Arsene Wenger after being left in limbo by the club's strong stance over his proposed move to Barcelona.
  (The Mirror)


• Former Crystal Palace defender Chris Coleman is in line to become the club's new manager.
  (The Mirror)

• Former captain David Beckham has sent axed England winger Theo Walcott a text message to help him get through the agony of missing out on selection for the 2010 World Cup. Arsenal star Walcott was one of seven players to miss out on Fabio Capello's 23-man squad.
  (The Mirror)