Man United to make shock bid for Micah Richards

Meanwhile, Manchester United could make a shock crosstown swoop for City's out-of-favour defender Micah Richards, according to the Daily Mirror. The 21-year-old England man has only started half of City's Premier League matches this season, and is thought by manager Mark Hughes to have a suspect temperament. Alex Ferguson has always been an admirer of the player, who can play in midfield or at right back, where Man Utd have long-term issues. Ferguson had previously tried to bring the youngster to Old Trafford earlier in his career...

Manchester City could throw the cat among the pigeons and make a £50m for Liverpool hotshot Fernando Torres, the Mail on Sunday claimed yesterday. The move would be a key test of the resolve of the Anfield club's American owners; struggling with debt and a season without any more Champions League revenue, the temptation to cash in on their prime asset could become unbearable. However, Torres' departure would swiftly be followed by that of manager Rafa Benitez, who confirmed last week that the sale of his compatriot would occasion his own quitting the club...

The Sunday Express reported yesterday that Tottenham's five-star striker Jermain Defoe has aroused interest from the European champions Barcelona following his heroics against Wigan last weekend. The 27-year-old shot himself into contention for a place in England's starting line-up with his five goals, and now the Camp Nou club are tracking the Londoner with an eye to bringing him in as a replacement for Thierry Henry in the summer...

Gennaro Gattuso looks to be heading for the exit at the San Siro after talks with the AC Milan hierarchy failed to convince the combative midfielder that there was still a place for him at the rossoneri. Gattuso, 32, has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City but a hook-up with his old boss Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea could also potentially be on the cards. His agent Claudio Pasqualin, told Calciomercato.it: "We will see what happens. We cannot exclude anything. What is true today could be false tomorrow"...