Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Ashley Cole is desperate to quit Chelsea after England's World Cup disaster, with Real Madrid putting together a package worth £30m for the left-back.
  (The Mirror)


• Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is also keen to secure the signature of Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, and is willing to offer midfielders Rafael van der Vaart and Fernando Gago in part-exchange.
  (The Mirror)


• Liverpool are reportedly ready to make a move for Japan international midfielder Yashuhito Endo from Gamba Osaka, who impressed for his country at the World Cup in South Africa.
  (Caughtoffside)


• The Anfield club may also swoop for £9m-rated winger Royston Drenthe, who is reportedly surplus to requirements at Real Madrid.
  (Caughtoffside)


• In addition, the Merseysiders have joined Arsenal and Tottenham in the race to sign midfielder Joe Cole, who was recently released by Chelsea.
  (footylatest)


• West Ham have tabled an improved £11.1m offer for Nice striker Loic Remy, and are also maintaining their interest in Santos forward Neymar.
  (Daily Mail )


• Manchester City are ready to continue their summer spending spree with a £15m-move for Lazio's Aleksandar Kolarov.
  (The Mirror)


• Everton are closing in on a deal for Neftchi Baku's 18-year-old Azerbaijan midfielder Araz Abdullayev.
  (Daily Mail )


• West Brom have made a late move to sign Cardiff's out-of-contract Wales international midfielder Joe Ledley, who would cost around £750,000 in compensation.
  (Daily Mail )


• Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is ready to sign Rangers and Scotland striker Kris Boyd on a free transfer, who has also been tracked by Birmingham boss Alex McLeish.
  (The Mirror)


• Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli, 19, admits he is flattered by rumours he is attracting the interest of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
  (footylatest)


• Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits he has spoken to England midfielder Joe Cole and insists there is "a very good chance" of bringing his former West Ham protege to White Hart Lane after he was released by Chelsea.
  (Talk Sport.net)

• Following his appointment as Liverpool boss, Roy Hodgson has wasted no time in trying to convince star forward Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard to stay at Anfield. Hodgson has already outlined his vision for the future with Gerrard and is planning a face-to-face meeting with Torres when he returns from the World Cup.
  (Guardian)


• Reds defender Jamie Carragher is confident both Gerrard and Torres will still be at the club next season. "The aim for the club will be to try and get back in the Champions League," Carragher told talkSPORT.
  (The Mirror)


• Hodgson has also urged Liverpool's bosses to speed up the search for new owners, even though it may cast a shadow over his own future at the club.
  (Daily Mail )


• Hull midfielder Nick Barmby says he is not retiring from playing after accepting a coaching role under new Tigers boss Nigel Pearson.
  (The Mirror)