Newcastle have snatched Chelsea winger Damien Duff from the clutches of Tottenham with a bid of �10m. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United will offer centre-back Mikael Silvestre in part-exchange for Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick. (Daily Mirror)

Blackburn are attempting an audacious bid for Argentina star Roberto Ayala. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham want to replace the banned Shaun Newton in their squad with former Spain international Victor. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth striker Lomana Lualua is threatening to walk out after talks on an improved deal broke down. (Daily Express, The Sun)

Aston Villa have rejected a �4.5m Pompey bid for Gareth Barry. (The Times)

Middlesbrough are trying to bring Sunderland full-back Julio Arca to the Riverside, although Espanyol are also interested in signing the player. (The Guardian)

Birmingham are preparing a �3.5m offer for Coventry striker Gary McSheffrey - their third attempt to buy the 23-year-old. (Daily Mail)

Martin O'Neill, Alan Curbishley and Sam Allardyce are the frontrunners for vacant Aston Villa post. (The Guardian)

Villa will have to move quickly if they want Curbishley, with the former Charlton boss about to go on a three-week trip to New Zealand. (Daily Mirror)

Former Villa boss Brian Little has put himself in the frame for a return to the job. (Daily Express)

Charlton striker Darren Bent will be out for several weeks - including England's friendly against Greece - after severing a tendon in his finger in a domestic accident. (Daily Mail, Daily Mirror)

Former Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy will take over as Wolves manager. (Various)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has concerns over whether his side will come through their Champions League qualifiers with much of his squad still recovering from the World Cup. (Various)

James Beattie will start the season as Everton's penalty taker, despite the arrival of Andy Johnson. (The Guardian)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says he is "ready for war" next season. Apparently, this is demonstrated by his new cropped haircut. (Various)