Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Joe Cole will be the first victim of a "purge of older players" at Chelsea now that their Champions League dream has ended for another season.
  (The Times)



• Alex McLeish admits Birmingham's move for Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has been shelved because of the ­striker's red-hot form.
  (The Mirror)



• Derby boss Nigel Clough wants to sign old boy Tommy Smith from crisis-club Portsmouth on loan for the rest of the season.
  (The Mirror)



• Blackburn are keen on 24-year-old Egyptian playmaker Shikabala.
  (Daily Mail)



• Roma and Celtic are lining up to swoop for Portsmouth full-back Nadi Belhadj, thought to be available for £2m.
  (Daily Mail)

• Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney raised concerns over his fitness as he limped away from Old Trafford after his side's 2-1 victory over Liverpool.
  (Daily Mail)



• Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has hit out at England boss Fabio Capello for snubbing keeper Chris Kirkland.
  (Daily Mail)



• West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola paid Arsenal the ultimate tribute by claiming they are a better footballing team than his beloved Chelsea.
  (The Mirror)



• Lionel Messi underlined the Champions League task Arsenal face with a hat-trick in Barcelona's 4-2 away win over Real Zaragoza - but Manchester United fans may take heart from Bayern Munich's 2-1 defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt, the former's first Bundesliga defeat in 20 games.
  (The Times)

• If England reach the 2010 World Cup final, fans watching them go all the way could pay as much as £6,400 - or £3,000 just to see one group game.
  (The Sun)



• A band of 180 Rochdale fans walked the 14 miles to see their side face Accrington Stanley on Saturday, to be rewarded with six goals and two sendings-off in a 4-2 victory.
  (Daily Mail)



• Reading's Matthew Mills, under fire having gestured obscenely at a section of the club's own supporters in their midweek victory over QPR, vaulted advertising boards to hand his shirt to fans as a peace offering after their 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.
  (Daily Express)