Aston Villa boss David O'Leary has emerged as the leading English-based candidate to take over at Chelsea if manager Claudio Ranieri departs in the summer. (Daily Mail & Daily Mirror)

The Blues will turn to O'Leary as a back-up should they fail to lure Porto boss Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge.

Juventus coach Marcelo Lippi is also in the frame.

But whoever is in charge of Chelsea will probably have to make do without David Beckham.

The England captain's advisers say reports he has had contact with the Champions League semi-finalists are "rubbish". (The Guardian)

Sources at Stamford Bridge say the club is interested - but only at a knockdown price of �10m. (The Sun)

And in any case, Beckham's Real Madrid team-mate Ronaldo has pleaded with him to stay at the Bernebau. (Daily Express and Daily Telegraph)

O'Leary's current club Villa are the latest Premiership side to be linked with PSV Eindhoven duo Mateja Kezman and Mark van Bommel (Daily Telegraph).

Southampton boss Paul Sturrock is planning a summer swoop for French midfielder Fabrice Colleau from Guingamp. (The Sun)