Arsenal have made a �7.5m bid for 20-year-old Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano to replace Patrick Vieira. (Daily Mirror)

Apparently they have also targeted West Ham midfielder Michael Carrick as the man to replace Vieira if the captain moves to Spain. (The Sun)

Meanwhile Real have insisted they will not be held to ransom over Vieira and will not pay more than �25m for the Frenchman. (Daily Express, Daily Star)

Wayne Rooney wants an escape clause written into his contract before he will sign a new deal with Everton (Daily Express, Daily Mail, The Guardian)

Owen Hargreaves has decided to sign for Arsenal as a replacement for Vieira From Malbronque Rules Have your say on 606

Fernando Morientes has given up the Real Madrid number four shirt, fuelling speculation he may be leaving it open for Patrick Vieira. (Daily Mail)

Monaco boss Didier Deschamps is trying to sign Nicolas Anelka from Manchester City. (The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Star, The Guardian)

Paul Scholes is close to agreeing a new four-year deal worth �18m with Manchester United. (The Sun)

Paolo Di Canio has received an offer from Lazio, the club he has supported since he was a child, and wants to leave Charlton. (The Guardian)

Adrian Mutu's move to Juventus is in the balance because owner Roman Ambramovich wants a permanent rather than a loan deal. (The Times, Daily Mail, Daily Express)

Mutu will move to Juve in a unique deal which will see him on loan at the Italian club next season, with Juventus then having the option of buying 50% of the player next summer. (The Guardian)

Birmingham are close to signing former Tottenham midfielder Darren Anderton on a pay-as-you-play basis. (Daily Mirror, The Sun, Daily Express, Daily Star)

Milan Baros has set his sights on a move from Liverpool to Spanish giants Barcelona. (The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian)

David Moyes remains confident Michael Carrick will sign for Everton from West Ham. (The Times)

And he is also trying to sign former Rangers captain Craig Moore. (Daily Mirror)

Rangers meanwhile have taken Ricardo Corea from Porto and Nikolamr Vujadinovic of Red Star Belgrade on trial with a view to permanent moves. (Daily Record

Celtic have given Lens playmaker Charles-Edouard Coridon three days to prove he is worth a Parkhead deal. (Daily Record)

Gary Megson's position as manager at newly-promoted West Brom is on the line after a series of rows with chairman Jeremy Pearce. (Daily Express)

Aston Villa will complete the �1.5m signing of Nantes midfielder Mathieu Berson on Friday. (The Sun)