Manchester City have joined Tottenham in the chase to sign �8m-rated Real Madrid striker Julio Baptista. (The Sun)

City are also interested in Russian midfielder Marat Izmailov, but face competition from Inter Milan to sign the �4m Sporting Lisbon player. (Daily Star)

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan expects to join Manchester City in the summer after claiming that transfer negotiations with his club Udinese are well advanced. (Times)

Middlesbrough are keen to sign Sheffield United striker James Beattie in the January transfer window. (The Sun)

Cardiff want to bring Derby striker Rob Earnshaw back to Ninian Park on a loan deal. (Daili Mirror)

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has been told by chairman Simon Jordan to sell �2m-rated midfielder Ben Watson to raise money for new players. (Daily Mirror)

Forest Green boss Jim Harvey fears he will lose star striker Stuart Fleetwood, who has scored 23 goals this season, in the January transfer window. Plymouth and Stoke are interested in the 21-year-old. (Various)

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has quashed rumours that he will take over as England manager should Steve McClaren be sacked. (The Times)

Scotland manager Alex McLeish is back on the list of candidates to succeed Steve Bruce as Birmingham manager. (Various)

Meanwhile, Blues co-owner David Gold is ready to try and seize control at St Andrews, buying out takeover bidder Carson Yeung and name Eric Black as the new boss. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City want to improve manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's contract which will amount to a �4m pay rise for the Swede. (The Sun)

Former Tottenham manager Martin Jol wants another job in the Premier League, but wants to stay in the south of England where his family are settled. (Daily Express)

Emile Heskey is back in training and set to make his Wigan comeback at Arsenal on Saturday. (The Sun)

Leicester owner Milan Mandaric expects to unveil Ian Holloway as City's new manager. (Various)

Burnley are set to appoint St Johnstone boss Owen Coyle as their new manager. (Various)

A selection of headlines from the papers after England lost 3-2 to Croatia and failed to qualify for Euro 2008: I'll Get My Croat - Daily Mirror. Out You Cro - Daily Star. A Wally With A Brolly - Daily Mail.