Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Arsenal are close to agreeing a deal to sign Velez Sarsfield midfielder Ricardo Alvarez, according to the president of Italian side Palermo. Maurizio Zamparini said: "At this moment he has already signed for the Gunners."
  (Metro)


• AC Milan want to sign five Chelsea players this summer, with Nicolas Anelka, Alex, Salomon Kalou, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien all wanted by Milan vice president Adriano Galliani.
  (talkSPORT)


• Liverpool are ready to offer Brazilian midfielder Diego an escape route out of Werder Bremen. Diego was handed a huge fine this week for storming out of the team hotel before the last game of the season.
  (CaughtOffside)


• Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is keen to lure Paris Saint-Germain's Turkish international Mevlut Erdinc and AIK Stockholm's striker Teteh Bangura to St James' Park. Full story: the Mirror But PSG - who are now bankrolled by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) - are keen on strengthening their squad and have started the bidding for QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt at £10m.
  (talkSPORT)


• New Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has set his sights on ADO Den Haag's Wesley Verhoek as he searches for a replacement for Ashley Young.
  (talkSPORT)


• But McLeish will not be allowed to spend all of the £20m Manchester United paid for Young on bringing in new players.
  (Daily Express)


• Stewart Downing could become the next big name to leave Aston Villa as he wants to join Liverpool.
  (The Mirror)


• Liverpool are close to agreeing a double deal for Aston Villa's Stewart Downing and Blackpool's Charlie Adam.
  (The Times)


• Samir Nasri has given Arsenal hope he may be willing to stay at the club by agreeing to talks with manager Arsene Wenger over a new contract.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Newcastle have yet to receive any offers for midfielder Joey Barton, who had previously indicated he was on his way out of the club.
  (Daily Star)


• West Ham midfielder Radoslav Kovac has become the latest departure post-relegation, joining Swiss side FC Basel.
  (Daily Mail)


• Wolves are interested in Manchester United defender Jonny Evans.
  (Daily Mail)


• Blackburn are ready to pay a club record £11m for Roma striker Mirko Vucinic.
  (The Sun)

• The judge who rejected Tottenham's legal attempts to block West Ham's move to the London Olympic Stadium has warned them against a "knee-jerk" appeal against his decision.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Guus Hiddink blew his chance of a return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea manager because he insisted on bringing Ray Wilkins back to the club if he got the job.
  (The Independent)


• Everton striker Louis Saha is sleeping in an oxygen tent to help him recover from an ankle injury in time to train for the new season.
  (Daily Star)


• Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell says he would love to be part of a Great Britain Olympic football team next year. "The chance to win an Olympic medal would be amazing," said the 20-year-old.
  (The Sun)

• League One side Leyton Orient are enjoying a holiday of a lifetime on chairman Barry Hearn in Las Vegas as a reward for their FA Cup draw with Arsenal back in February.
  (Daily Mail)