Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Chelsea will step up their pursuit of Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and have decided to bid a club record £50m for the Spain star.
  (The Sun)


• Meanwhile, Chelsea have told Real Madrid they will have to pay £30m to sign defender Ashley Cole. Full story: the Independent Manchester City hope to prise midfielder James Milner away from Aston Villa with a second offer worth £25m.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• But City have yet to secure the signing of Lazio's Serbian international defender Alexander Kolarov, with the Italian club insisting they have not received a written offer.
  (Daily Express)


• Forward Craig Bellamy could be on his way out of Manchester City to join Tottenham, who will make room for him by selling striker Robbie Keane to Aston Villa.
  (The Mirror)


• Arsenal are winning their battle to keep hold of star midfielder Cesc Fabreags, who is wanted by Barcelona.
  (The Sun)


• Portsmouth defender Tal Ben Haim is set to become West Ham's third signing of the week following the arrivals of Pablo Barrera and Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne.
  (Daily Mail)


• But West Ham appear to have missed out on the chance to sign Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell who looks set to join Fulham in a £2m deal.
  (Daily Mail)


• Inter Milan hope to spark a bidding war between neighbours Manchester United and City for striker Mario Balotelli.
  (The Mirror)


• Zenit St Petersburg hope to sign Porto defender Bruno Alves amid fears Manchester United could make a move if Nemanja Vidic should leave Old Trafford.
  (Daily Mail)


• Vidic wants to quit Old Trafford for Real Madrid with the Spanish club preparing an £18m deal for the Serbian defender.
  (The Sun)


• Newcastle's veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper has ended talk of a move to Celtic by saying he wants to remain with the Magpies "for as long as possible".
  (Daily Star)


• Tottenham winger Giovani dos Santos is wanted by Sporting Lisbon on loan and could be used to bring forward Yannick Djalo to White Hart Lane in a £4.2m deal.
  (Daily Mail)


• Sunderland have confirmed their interest in bringing Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck and Burnley winger Chris Eagles to the Stadium of Light.
  (Daily Mail)


• Bolton boss Owen Coyle has been given first option to bring midfielder Jack Wilshere back to the Reebok should Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger send him out on loan again.
  (The Mirror)


• Everton have been told to forget about bringing Landon Donovan back to Goodison Park on a full-time basis. LA Galaxy forward Donovan had a successful loan spell with the Toffees last season.
  (Daily Star)

• Ajax boss Martin Jol has agreed a deal to take over as Fulham manager, with former England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson missing out on the job.
  (The Mirror)

• Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he twice turned down the chance to coach the England national team.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• World Cup referee Howard Webb will miss the first fortnight of the new Premier League season so that he can recover from the strain of officiating the bad-tempered final between Spain and Holland.
  (The Mirror)


• New Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers, who was mentored by Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, says he can always turn to the 'special one' for advice.
  (The Mirror)