Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Spanish giants Real Madrid are ready to make the first move for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie.
  (Daily Mirror)


• Aston Villa have failed to extend the loan deal of LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane after the Major League Soccer side rebuffed their request to increase his stay.
  (Express and Star)


• Manchester United target Wesley Sneijder is being eyed up by Russian club Zenit St Petersburg - and they could sign the Inter Milan and Holland midfielder before their transfer window closes this month.
  (talkSPORT)


• Everton's Greek striker Apostolos Vellios, 20, will not be joining Leicester City on loan despite falling down the Toffees' pecking order recently.
  (Liverpool Echo)


• The agent of Udinese star Mauricio Isla has confirmed Liverpool are interested in the 23-year-old Chilean international, claiming the midfielder's future will be clarified in the summer.
  (International Business Times UK)

• Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he is not worried by Roman Abramovich's frequent visits to the Blues' training ground in the past week.
  (The Sun)


• Former Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira, now the club's football development executive, reckons the Premier League leaders are getting a raw deal from top-flight referees.
  (Daily Mirror)


• Chris Samba is facing a backlash from some Blackburn team-mates over his attempt to force through a move away from Ewood Park in the January transfer window.
  (Daily Mirror)


• Liverpool legend Tommy Smith is selling all the medals from his glittering Reds career, including league title, FA Cup, Uefa Cup and European Cup winners' medals.
  (Liverpool Echo )


• Former Manchester United and England midfielder Nicky Butt says he would not be surprised if former colleague Paul Scholes continued playing for the Red Devils next season.
  (Manchester Evening News)

• The Football Association will have to pay Tottenham a £5m 'transfer fee' to install Harry Redknapp as the new England manager.
  (Daily Mirror)


• But Spurs will reject any approach from the FA to appoint Redknapp before the end of the Premier League season.
  (Evening Standard)


• Redknapp will take the England job for Euro 2012 but will need persuading to take charge full time for the World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Fabio Capello is still set to go to Euro 2012 - as a pundit for Italian TV. But he won't be allowed to cover England matches under the terms of his £1.5m pay-off from the FA.
  (Daily Mirror)


• Britain may not have seen the last of Capello - he is Chelsea's choice of manager if Roman Abramovich decides to fire Andre Villas-Boas.
  (The Sun)


• Capello will receive a £1.5m pay-off from the FA and members of his backroom staff will receive around £1m for leaving with him.
  (Metro)


• Liverpool and former England defender Jamie Carragher says the FA should only target Harry Redknapp and Martin O'Neill.
  (talkSPORT)


• Conference Premier side Bath City are offering the rights to rename their Twerton Park stadium to fans - for £50.
  (The Guardian)


• Players and officials from Turkish top flight side Samsunspor escaped a potential disaster when their team bus was hit by a train on a railway crossing.
  (101 Great Goals)