Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Manchester United face a fight to keep two of their brightest young stars from the hands of cross-town rivals City. Teenagers Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba, key figures in United's FA Youth Cup-winning team last season, are both out of contract at the end of the current season.
  (Daily Express)


• Bayer Leverkusen are desperate to take Dimitar Berbatov back to the Bundesliga and have been in contact with the Manchester United striker.
  (Daily Mail)


• Andrey Arshavin appears to be closer than ever to leaving Arsenal after dropping behind Yossi Benayoun and Tomas Rosicky in the pecking order, with Chelsea among the clubs who could be keen on him.
  (Metro)


• Arsene Wenger has refused to confirm or deny rumours that Arsenal legend Thierry Henry could make a return to the club on a short-term loan deal.
  (talkSPORT)


• Manager Arsene Wenger is set to consider offers for Arsenal trio Marouane Chamakh, Andrey Arshavin and Sebastien Squillaci as he looks to make way for possible additions to his squad next month.
  (Caught Offside)


• Arsenal will only make loan signings this January but are preparing a £30m summer spending spree on Lukas Podolski, Juan Vargas and Yoann Gourcuff.
  (Footy Bunker)


• AC Milan say they will wait until the end of the January window to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City. They want the striker on loan but are resisting City's demands for a clause vowing to buy Tevez at the end of the loan period.
  (The Mirror)


• Tottenham will consider a move for Blackburn defender Chris Samba when the transfer window opens next week.
  (Daily Mail)


• Blackburn set to make Fulham striker Andy Johnson the first signing of the winter transfer window in a £2m deal.
  (The Mirror)


• Blackburn boss Steve Kean's hopes of making January signings look forlorn after the club posted an annual pre-tax loss of £18.6m.
  (The Sun)


• Blackburn are lining up a bid for £5m-rated Watford striker Marvin Sordell.
  (Daily Star)


• Alex McLeish fears an Aston Villa striker shortage with Darren Bent and Emile Heskey both doubts for the New Year's Eve trip to Chelsea, meaning Gabriel Agbonlahor could be the only experienced senior forward available.
  ( Birmingham Mail)


• Florent Malouda will leave Chelsea in January after telling Andre Villas-Boas he is not getting enough game time.
  (Metro)


• FC Porto striker Hulk would welcome the chance to work under Andre Villas-Boas once again, the Brazilian's agent has revealed.
  (Inside Futbol)


• Inverness boss Terry Butcher wants to extend the loan deals of David Davis, Roman Golobart and Aidan Chippendale until the end of the season.
  (Daily Record)


• Bolton boss Owen Coyle will swoop for New York Red Bulls and USA defender Tim Ream as a replacement for Chelsea-bound Tim Cahill.
  (Daily Star)


• Stefan Savic's agent has claimed the Montenegro defender will be leaving Manchester City on loan next month.
  (The Times)

• Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp thinks Gareth Bale has "got the lot" after the winger scored a brace to beat Norwich 2-0 at Carrow Road.
  (talkSPORT)


• Bolton will give manager Owen Coyle the January transfer window to turn their fortunes around before deciding on their manager's future.
  (Daily Mail)


• Didier Drogba could soon be lining up against former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka in the Chinese Super League.
  (talkSPORT)

• Manchester City star Mario Balotelli enjoyed another late night before a big game - but this time it was at a Christmas midnight mass, where he left a £200 donation after enjoying a booze-free trip to a local pub and treating everyone to a round of drinks.
  (Metro)


• Rio Ferdinand loves a bit of grime and garage music before games to get himself in the mood to play.
  (The Sun)