Spurs will finalise the signing of Didier Zokora from St Etienne for around �5.7m - this clears the way for Michael Carrick to move to Manchester United. (The Independent)

Liverpool have been given permission by Benfica to make a new bid for Portugal star Simao Sabrosa. (Daily Mirror)

Atletico Madrid have put a �41.4m price tag on striker Fernando Torres, with AC Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle all tracking him. (The Sun)

Manchester United number two Carlos Queiroz will be given the task of convincing his Portuguese compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Old Trafford. (The Sun)

Portsmouth are told they will have to raise their bid for Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov to �4.5m. (The Independent)

Gerard Houllier, the Lyon manager, has ruled out the chance of Mahamadou Diarra joining Manchester United this summer. (The Guardian)

Crystal Palace are set to sign Hull defender Leon Cort for �1.2m after failing with a lower offer. (Daily Mail)

Spurs defender Calum Davenport is being chased by Birmingham, Reading and now West Brom. (Daily Express)

Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari claims Bolton are interested in signing him. (Daily Mirror)

Norwich manager Nigel Worthington wants to sign Stoke's former Manchester United winger Luke Chadwick. (Daily Mirror)

The US want Jurgen Klinsmann to take over as their coach after the World Cup is over. (Daily Express)

England practised penalties in training on Wednesday and only David Beckham and Steven Gerrard scored all of their attempts. (Daily Mirror)

Sven-Goran Eriksson is talking to publishers about a tell-all biography that could earn him as much as �2m. (Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, The Sun)

Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo is winning his race to be fit to play England on Saturday. (The Sun)

Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer says his country should opt for a foreign coach again to replace Guus Hiddink. (The Sun)

Argentina play-maker Juan Roman Riquelme has had the most touches of the ball at the World Cup with 399, Italy's Andrea Pirlo is second with 365. (The Independent)

Wayne Rooney has revealed that England fans sent him weird "cures" to help his foot heal faster. (The Sun)

Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo, who will officiate England's quarter-final against Portugal, enjoys writing romantic poetry in his spare time. (The Sun)

Jurgen Klinsmann arranged for Germany's national archery coach to give his players some tips to help them concentrate - as well as archery, Klinsmann has tried go-karting and a watch-making course as alternative training methods. (Daily Mirror, The Sun)

Adidas are beating Nike in the battle of the brands as they supply shirts to three quarter-finalists and Nike only two. (Daily Mail)

Ronaldinho has been repeatedly playing as Manchester United in computer football game competitions within the Brazil camp. (Daily Mirror)

England fans will be cheering on Germany to win the World Cup if Sven-Goran Eriksson's men crash out against Portugal. A surprising 36% will put aside old rivalries to support the home nation, with Italy attracting 29% of the vote and Brazil just 18%, according to a poll in Nuts magazine.