Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Chelsea believe the turmoil at Liverpool means the Anfield outfit will be unable to resist their £70m bid for striker Fernando Torres. They are ready to fight Manchester City for the Spaniard by breaking the British transfer record.
  (Daily Mail )


• Manchester City are set to renew their interest in Aston Villa midfielder James Milner and are preparing a £30m bid for the 24-year-old England international.
  (The Sun)


• City meanwhile have denied bids for Lazio pair Mauro Zarate and Aleksandar Kolarov.
  (IMScouting)


• Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is hoping to tempt former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard to join him at the Bernabeu.
  (The Sun)


• Arsenal are standing firm over Barcelona's attempt to sign captain Cesc Fabregas. The Gunners say they will not do business at any price, having earlier rejected a £30m bid from the Spanish giants for the midfielder.
  (The Mirror)


• Despite Arsenal's defiance, Barcelona intend to go back to the Gunners with an improved offer for the Spanish midfielder.
  (The Sun)


• And Barcelona's president Joan Laporta has urged Arsenal to let Fabregas join the Catalan club this summer.
  (The Independent)


• However, would-be Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says the club will not be held to ransom despite their desire to sign Fabregas.
  (IMScouting)


• Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain has snubbed a move to England by signing a new deal with Real Madrid. Arsenal and Chelsea were said to be tracking the 22-year-old.
  (The Sun)


• Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan is fully focused on the World Cup with Uruguay despite the interest shown in him by Tottenham.
  (The Independent)


• Manchester United are considering a £25m offer for Wolfsburg's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko.
  (caughtoffside)


• Stoke boss Tony Pulis is preparing a £4m bid for Middlesbrough defender David Wheater, who is out of contract at the Riverside at the end of next season.
  (Daily Mail )


• Celtic have rejected an official approach from Spartak Moscow for winger Aiden McGeady who are believed to be preparing an £8.3m offer for the Irishman.
  (Daily Mail )


• Aston Villa are lining a £9m offer for Wolves striker Kevin Doyle.
  (caughtoffside)


• Portsmouth's Algeria World Cup defender Nadir Belhadj has spoken to new West Ham boss Avram Grant about a move to Upton Park.
  (The Mirror)


• Porto are set to pip Liverpool and West Ham to the signing of Atletico Mineiro's £6m-rated Brazilian striker Diego Tardelli.
  (Goal)


• Ipswich have increased their offer for £4m-rated Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra.
  (The Mirror)

• Sven-Goran Eriksson has thrown his hat into the mix to become Liverpool manager, admitting that it would be a dream come true to become boss at Anfield.
  (The Sun)


• Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish has put Fulham's Roy Hodgson and Louis van Gaal of Bayern Munich at the top of his shortlist of replacements for Rafael Benitez at Anfield.
  (The Mirror)


• Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is wanted by Japan as their national coach having previously coached club side Grampus Eight for two years.
  (Daily Star)

• Ex-United States defender Alexi Lalas is urging his team to wind up England striker Wayne Rooney in their World Cup group match - and wants to see him "act like a baby". Lalas said of the Group C qualifier on 12 June: "I hope Rooney has a temper tantrum, has a swing at someone and gets thrown out."
  (Daily Mail )


• Former Reds legend John Barnes reckons star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres should follow Rafa Benitez out of Liverpool if they are not happy at the club. "Any player who doesn't want to be at Liverpool should go... no matter who they are," said Barnes.
  (The Sun)


• Spain's World Cup stars will receive £512,000 in bonuses if they manage to win the World Cup. It is the highest amount offered to any of the 32 teams competing in South Africa.
  (The Times)