Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Midfielder Javier Mascherano has been told he can leave Liverpool, having held talks with the club's hierarchy.
  (The Mirror)


• And Inter Milan are thought to be lining up a £25m bid for the Argentine international.
  (Daily Mail)


• Inter striker Mario Balotelli has rejected a bigger pay packet at Manchester United to join former boss Roberto Mancini at Manchester City.
  (The Mirror)


• Italy international Balotelli's £25m arrival at Eastlands will spark a transfer merry-go-round, with Emmanuel Adebayor joining Juventus on loan and Mascherano, Liverpool team-mate Dirk Kuyt and Uruguay and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan moving to Inter Milan.
  (The Mirror)


• Meanwhile, Manchester City are offering England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips as part of a deal to sign James Milner from Aston Villa.
  (The Mirror)


• The Premier League are keeping close tabs on Chelsea's £20m pursuit of Benfica's Brazilian midfielder Ramires, who is involved in a third-party ownership deal with agent Kia Joorabchian.
  (The Sun)


• Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will step up his pursuit for Mexico international Carlos Salcido. Dutch club PSV Eindhoven are likely to demand about £3m for the defender.
  (The Sun)


• Manchester United are monitoring the progress of Belgium international Steven Defour, with the club weighing up a £13m bid for the Standard Liege midfielder.
  (The Sun)


• Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is wanted by his first club Osasuna, a transfer that could rekindle the Gunners' move for Fulham's Mark Schwarzer.
  (Daily Mail)


• Ajax manager Martin Jol wants to sign Middlesbrough striker Mido.
  (Daily Mail)


• Fulham, Sunderland and Bolton are chasing Portsmouth striker John Utaka. The Nigeria international is also interesting German clubs Cologne and Bayer Leverkusen.
  (Daily Star)


• Hull striker Kamel Ghilas is a loan target for French side Arles-Avignon.
  (Daily Mail)


• Roma are stepping up their efforts to sign midfielder Valon Behrami from West Ham and could offer goalkeeper Doni or striker Stefano Okaka in exchange.
  (Daily Mail)

OTHER GOSSIP

• Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes says he regrets not coming out of international retirement to play for England at the World Cup in South Africa.
  (Daily Mail)


• Scholes said he had only two hours to consider whether to join England boss Fabio Capello's squad in South Africa.
  (The Sun)


• Injured Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate has five weeks to save his career before new Premier League rules consign him to the sidelines.
  (Daily Express)


• Manchester United have similar worries over Owen Hargreaves and Anderson as the Premier League introduces new regulations that state clubs must name a 25-man squad by 31 August.
  (Daily Express)


• London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said England's build-up to the World Cup was disrupted by too much travelling and being overworked in training sessions.
  (Daily Telegraph)

AND FINALLY...

• Netherlands international Royston Drenthe claims he is on the verge of joining Liverpool. He announced it on his Facebook page and said: "I will soon be joining Liverpool FC. I hope I will have a good season." Full story: the Independent X Factor favourites and Manchester United fans Jedward have offered Wayne Rooney a cameo appearance in an upcoming documentary and the England striker says the Irish twins can use his box at Old Trafford after they bumped into each other in a London hotel.
  (The Sun)