Arsenal defender Sol Campbell is on the verge of signing a �50,000-a-week deal with Portsmouth. (Daily Express)

Big Phil Scolari has overtaken Sven-Goran Eriksson as favourite to become Real Madrid's next boss. (The Sun)

Manchester United are ready to up their bid for Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick to more than �15m. (The Times)

Lorenzo Sanz, the Real Madrid presidential candidate, also wants to sign Carrick if he gets elected on Sunday. (The Times)

Niall Quin will offer Martin O'Neill �2m to manage Sunderland. (Daily Mirror)

Valencia defender Fabio Aurelio is set to sign for Liverpool on a free transfer. (The Times)

Sir Clive Woodward will follow Rupert Lowe out of the door and possibly out of football if the Southampton chairman is deposed this week. (Daily Express)

West Ham are set to sign Chelsea's Carlton Cole for �2m. (The Sun)

West Ham will also sign Luke Young from Charlton for about �4m. (The Times)

West Brom are offering Spurs �1.3m for defender Calum Davenport, 23. (The Sun)

Charlton defender Chris Powell is to join Watford on a one-year loan. (The Sun)

Liverpool have set their sights on World Cup stars Hatem Trabelsi and Dirk Kuyt. (Daily Express)

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has made a late swoop for striker Francis Jeffers. (Daily Mirror)

Frank Lampard twisted his ankle in training on Thursday but should be fit for England's quarter-final against Portugal. (Daily Star)

David Beckham, Gary Neville and German legend Franz Beckenbauer have all hit out at Fifa boss Sepp Blatter for criticising England's performances. "I don't listen to Sepp Blatter and I don't want to listen," said Neville. (various)

Portugal have not practised a single penalty in Germany, according to captain Luis Figo. (Daily Star)

Gary Neville's return at right back means Owen Hargreaves will be England's midfield enforcer against Portugal at the expense of Michael Carrick. (Daily Mirror)

France's most-capped player Lilian Thuram denounced National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen for saying there were too many "players of colour" in the national side. (The Guardian)

German legend Franz Beckenbauer hinted he will stand for Uefa president next year. (The Guardian)

Brazil legend Pele: "England have not played as badly as some critics suggest. The fans expect too much sometimes. (Daily Telegraph)

Tough-guy actor Ray Winstone has written and filmed a rousing motivational speech, including lines from Churchill and Shakespeare's Henry V, to be played to the England team ahead of the Portugal quarter-final. (various)

Oddsmakers Paddy Power have opened a book on which legend will appear more times on TV during the Germany v Argentina game - Franz Beckenbauer (13-8) or Diego Maradona (4-9). (Daily Mirror)

The high-profile activities of England's WAGS (wives and girlfriends) are to be discussed at an FA summer meeting next month. (Daiy Mail)

Sven-Goran Eriksson's belief in David Beckham has been vindicated by World Cup technical committee statistics which show 15 goals so far have come from a set-piece on the left by a right-footed player. (various)

Rio Ferdinand's gran, Joan Lavender, 77, says England "should get a bit dirtier" in their style of play. (The Sun)

Brazil's team bus rings to the sounds of Ronaldinho on bongos, Gilberto Silva on guitar and Robinho on vocals. (The Sun)