Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland is on the verge of signing a new contract at the the club, worth about £80,000 a week. (Various)

Good for Stephen Ireland. Despite all the money Manchester City has spent the last two seasons it’s a homegrown player in Ireland who has been their best player.

Manchester United are favourites to beat Liverpool in the £20m race for Wigan winger Antonio Valencia. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also interested in the Ecuadorian. (The Sun)

Wigan must of loved the fact Tottenham paid £15 for Wilson Palacios since it allows them to tack on a few million for any club after Antonio Valencia.

United are also set clinch the £6m signing of Brazil defender Dodo from Corinthians. (Daily Mirror)

One for the future as they say.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has his eye on former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan, who is now at Atletico Madrid. (Daily Star)

Forlan did have one of his few good games while playing in England against Liverpool. Once thing is for sure, Forlan has done his reputation a world of good since going to Spain. First at Villarreal and now at Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who has been linked with a host of top clubs, will not be leaving Anfield this summer, according to his agent. (The Guardian)

One of the few times you’ll hear an agent stating his client is staying put. Still won’t end the Alonso exit rumours. If Liverpool needed to sell before they can buy this summer Alonso would be one of the most valuable players they could cash in on.

Drogba will depart and the club are lining up Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor as his replacement. (Daily Mirror)

Can’t see Arsenal selling Adebayor to Chelsea. Fans are slowly running out of patience with Wenger as they see the gap growing between themselves and Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. It would send an awful signal to Arsenal fans if they then went out and sold Adebayor.

Carlo Ancelotti will bid for Aston Villa’s Ashley Young if the AC Milan coach takes the job as Blues boss this summer. (The Sun)

Ancelotti is not even the Chelsea coach and already newspapers are guessing his transfer targets.

Chelsea will send Ricardo Quaresma back to Inter Milan but the Portugal winger is then likely to make a permanent switch to Benfica. (The Sun)

Quaresma should of packed his packs and left London the second Guus Hiddink took over. Even with Joe Cole injured Quaresma couldn’t crack the starting lineup.

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz will turn down Arsenal and Tottenham if he can secure a move to Manchester City or Liverpool.
(The Sun)

But Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is determined to sign Cruz after putting the Paraguay forward top of his wanted list. (Daily Mail)

Roque Santa Cruz would turn down Arsenal for the simple reason that a club like Manchester City will over pay in order to sign him. If I’m in charge of a club I’m not running out to spend 20 million on a player who spent most of this year on the sidelines hurt.

One player on his way to Blackburn is defender Gael Givet, who will complete a £4m permanent switch from Marseille. It will also pave the way for Stephen Warnock to leave Ewood Park. (Full story: Daily Mirror)

The former Champions League finalist with Monaco has adapt to the English game well since his loan move started in January.

Newcastle manager Alan Shearer insists striker Michael Owen has a big part to play in their relegation battle. (The Sun)

It’s not like Shearer can tell the truth and say Owen has been a non factor the second half of this season who will sign with another club this summer.