Manchester United are set to make a second bid to land Southampton's Gareth Bale, with the defender being loaned back to the Championship club until the end of the season. (The Sun)

Meanwhile, United have told Real Madrid that they are wasting their time preparing a �45m bid for Cristiano Ronaldo. (Various)

Want-away Birmingham star Matthew Upson has blasted the Championship club for turning down West Ham's latest bid for him. (Various)

West Ham are ready to make a �14m bid for Charlton striker Darren Bent. (The Independent)

Hibernian have told Celtic and other interested clubs that Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson will not leave the Edinburgh club before the end of the season. (Daily Express)

Newcastle are closing in on a �5m deal for Ajax striker Ryan Babel. (Daily Mail)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may have to panic buy before the January transfer window closes because of mounting injury concerns. (Various)

Vyacheslav Hleb - brother of Arsenal star Alexander - is keen on a move to Hearts in the summer. (Daily Record)

Spurs will sign Derby County star Giles Barnes for �3m on transfer deadline day. (Daily Mirror)

Wigan are set to sign Nigerian World Cup striker Julius Agahowa in a �2m deal from Shakhtar Donetsk. (Daily Mirror)

Edgar Davids is to leave Spurs and join Ajax after a bust-up with boss Martin Jol. (Daily Mirror)

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon says he wants to stay with the club - but they want him to leave before the end of the transfer window. (Daily Record)

Chelsea are considering a fresh bid for Bolton's Tal Ben Haim. (The Guardian)

Italian midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi is a potential target for Blackburn if they are unable to persuade Lee Hendrie to move from Villa Park to Ewood Park. (Daily Mail)

Newcastle are set to seal a �2.1m deal for Standard Liege defender Oguchi Oneywu. (The Times)

Preston striker David Nugent has insisted he is happy to stay at the Championship club, despite interest from Everton and Fulham. (Daily Express)

Man City want to bring AZ Alkmaar left-back Tim de Cler on trial. (The Times)

Leeds want to sign Crystal Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly. (Daily Mirror)

Cardiff, Derby and Barnsley are all battling to land Dutch goal machine Cecilio Lopes from Dordrecht. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce is in a battle with his board over his acceptance of the position of England Under-21 manager, with the club not having yet given their permission and still holding talks with the Football Association. (Various)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has warned owner Roman Abramovich that he will be an impossible act to follow if he is forced out in the summer. (Various)

Tottenham defender Ledley King faces a scan amid fears that he has broken a bone in his foot. (The Sun)

Alex McLeish will urge fans to be realistic about their chances of Euro 2008 qualification when he is installed as the new Scotalnd coach. (The Herald).

Nancy Dell'Olio got affectionate with a Madame Tussaud's waxwork rendering of her ex-lover, former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, at a society bash this weekend. (Various)

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has splashed out on two executive boxes at Wembley - for a mere �4m. (The Sun)

Chelsea duo John Terry and Joe Cole treated friends to a VIP night out at fashionable London nightspot Paper on Saturday - but injury worries for Terry (calf) and Cole (foot) meant neither was able to hit the dancefloor. (Daily Mirror)