Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Fulham lead the race for the signature of Steve Sidwell after a move to West Ham for the Aston Villa midfielder fell through earlier this week.
  (The Mirror)


• Manchester United are tracking Brazil keeper Julio Cesar as boss Sir Alex Ferguson prepares for the retirement of Edwin van der Sar. Inter Milan's 31-year-old shot-stopper said recently: "England is sensational for football because of the atmosphere and fans' passion."
  (The Sun)


• Birmingham are looking to beat Blackburn to the signature of Blackpool's star midfielder Charlie Adam.
  (The Mirror)


• Sheffield Wednesday are going to make "at least" six new signings in January, their biggest recruitment drive in years.
  (The Mirror)


• Manchester City will not let striker Roque Santa Cruz return to Blackburn on loan until they agree to buy him in the summer.
  (The Mirror)


• Edin Dzeko's move to Manchester City has not been without its problems after the Wolfsburg striker was left stranded at Heathrow airport because he did not have the correct visa.
  (The Sun)


• Aston Villa look set to acquire the services of Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge.
  (The Mirror)


• Arsenal are weighing up another move for Porto striker Radamel Falcao, a year after an unsuccessful attempt to sign the Colombian, who has scored 18 goals in 24 games this season.
  (The Sun)


• Hamburg attacker Eljero Elia might be a target for Liverpool but Anfield is not one of the stadiums the Dutch international is dreaming of playing in. The 23-year-old said: "Clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United really are something special."
  (imscouting)


• Interest in Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is hotting up with Turkish side Galatasaray joining a list of teams that include Malaga and Atletico Madrid vying for the 33-year-old Spaniard.
  (goal)


• Aston Villa and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce are battling over the signature of Lyon and Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun.
  (insidefutbol)


• Arsenal are favourites to land Belgian winger Eden Hazard. Lille's 19-year-old has been a target for Manchester United and Real Madrid and is reported to be worth £15m.
  (caughtoffside )

• With less than 48 hours to go before their FA Cup third-round clash with Chelsea, Ipswich are desperate to find a replacement for Roy Keane and top of the list is former Derby boss Paul Jewell. Newcastle's old manager Chris Hughton is also in the hunt.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Roy Hodgson's days as Liverpool manager are also over after saying goodbye to the players on the back of the 3-1 defeat by Blackburn on Wednesday. In 20 matches at the helm, Hodgson has seen the Reds win seven times but suffer nine defeats.
  (The Sun)


• Speculation mounts regarding Hodgson's replacement but Marseille boss Didier Deschamps has ruled himself out of taking the Anfield hotseat.
  (Daily Star)


• Meanwhile, the new American owners at Anfield have been warned key players, such as striker Fernando Torres and keeper Pepe Reina, will leave in the summer if the right boss is not chosen and they don't get reassurances of major investment.
  (The Guardian)


• Bolton manager Owen Coyle has emerged as a surprise contender for the Liverpool job.
  (Daily Express)


• West Ham boss Avram Grant has been given two games to save his job, the FA Cup tie with Barnsley and Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Birmingham.
  (The Guardian)


• Chelsea are going to stick with their manager Carlo Ancelotti despite their disappointing recent form which has seen them slump to fifth in the table.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Fifa has withdrawn an offer to Interpol's Anti-Corruption chief to head their own new integrity unit.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Argentina's friendly against Portugal at the Emirates Stadium on 9 February has been moved to Geneva.
  (Daily Mail)


• Replays could be abolished in an attempt to revive interest in the FA Cup.
  (The Guardian)

• Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan had booked a winter break under the impression that English football stopped at Christmas.
  (The Mirror)