Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Paris Saint-Germain have made a move to sign Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, 33.
  (talkSPORT)


• Championship side Brighton are preparing an audacious bid to land Manchester United and former England striker Michael Owen, 32.
  (The Sun)


• Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk claim they have turned down a £16.7m offer from Chelsea for 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder Willian.
  (The Independent)


• Mario Balotelli's agent expects the 21-year-old Manchester City striker to stay at Etihad Stadium until 2013 before assessing his future.
  (Sky Sports)


• Liverpool are believed to be in talks to sign attacking midfielder Esteban Granero, 24, from Real Madrid on loan.
  (The Mirror)


• But the Reds have denied claims from Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic's father that they are interested in signing the 26-year-old.
  (Liverpool Echo)


• Manchester United midfield target Wesley Sneijder, 27, has ruled out a move to the Premier League from Inter Milan in the January transfer window.
  (talkSPORT)


• Tottenham want to sign 24-year-old Mauro Zarate on loan. The Lazio striker caught Harry Redknapp's eye when on loan with Birmingham City three years ago.
  (The Mirror)


• Newcastle United have made a bid for Watford skipper Adrian Mariappa, 25,as boss Alan Pardew looks to strengthen his defensive options.
  (The Times)


• Swansea keeper Michel Vorm has dismissed speculation of a move to Chelsea or Manchester United, who are thought to have been impressed by the Dutchman.
  (South Wales Evening Post)


• Crystal Palace hope to fend off competition from Championship rivals to sign 25-year-old Jamie Vardyfrom Fleetwood.
  (The Guardian)


• After losing out to Newcastle for the signature of striker Papiss Demba Cisse, 26, Sunderland have switched their attention to another Bundesliga hitman, 26-year-old Hannover 96 star Mohammed Abdellaoue.
  (Footybunker)


• Blackburn outcast Jason Roberts, who has been sidelined by the Ewood Park club in a contract dispute, has been offered the chance to revive his career at Championship side Reading.
  (The Mirror)


• Barnsley boss Keith Hill wants to bring ex-Sheffield United midfielder Michael Tonge, 28, back to South Yorkshire from Stoke City.
  (Daily Star)

• QPR and Chelsea have asked Anton Ferdinand and John Terry to help defuse tensions ahead of Saturday's FA Cup tie by shaking hands before kick-off.
  (The Times)


• Manchester City hitman Sergio Aguero, 23, reveals that, as a youngster, he idolised Michael Owen, who proved that small strikers could make it big.
  (The Mirror)


• Jose Mourinho will quit Spanish league leaders Real Madrid in the summer amid reports of a training ground argument between the former Chelsea boss and senior players Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• Arsenal's Robin van Persie insists he did not question Arsene Wenger's judgement to substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the weekend defeat to Manchester United. The Dutchman, caught on camera voicing his disbelief, says he was simply "sad" to see the winger leave the field.
  (The Sun)


• But Wenger is close to losing the support of the Arsenal dressing room.
  (Daily Star)


• Mick McCarthy is the bookies' favourite to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked - after a flurry of bets on the Wolves boss' departure.
  (Racing Post)


• Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, 25, has returned to the club to continue his rehabilitation from a season-ending knee injury.
  (Daily Express)


• Sunderland defender John O'Shea has backed Craig Gardner, 25, to overcome his homesickness after experiencing similar problems when he upped sticks earlier in his career.
  (Sunderland Echo)


• Bolton have offered Sammy Lee the chance to return to the Reebok Stadium. Just over four years since he was axed as manager following a disastrous start to the 2007-08 season, the 52-year-old is being lined up to take a leading role in the club's youth set-up.
  (Bolton News)


• Veteran Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes admits he is still scared of Sir Alex Ferguson - even at the age of 37.
  (Daily Express)


• Preston players are fuming after new boss Graham Westley dropped four of them - in a 2am text message.
  (Daily Mail)

• Zambia keeper Kennedy Mweene was left red-faced in the Africa Cup of Nations when he caught the ball two yards outside of his area, but escaped a sending-off.
  (Metro)


• Diego Maradona has become an armchair Manchester City fan, according to son-in-law Sergio Aguero.
  (Daily Mail)