Paper Talk - 02 January 2012

• Wayne Rooney was axed by Sir Alex Ferguson after the Manchester United boss deemed he wasn't fit to train.


• Roberto Mancini openly questioned Manchester City's title credentials in a ruthless inquest after Ji Dong-won's last-gasp winner.


• Andre Villas-Boas reckons his Chelsea squad is not good enough to challenge for the title and wants reinforcements - starting with Porto striker Hulk.


• Tottenham are set to bid £8million for Blackburn defender Chris Samba.


• Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is ready to hand Robbie Keane a shock return to the Premier League.


• Everton have joined the race for Huddersfield hot shot Jordan Rhodes.


• Newcastle, Sunderland, West Brom and QPR are monitoring 6ft 2in striker Ederzito.


• Arsenal and Chelsea are battling it out for Crewe sensation Nick Powell.


• Unsettled Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner is tipped to sign for West Brom.


• Aston Villa have quoted Sunderland £6-8million for defender James Collins.


• Billy Sharp is set to quit Doncaster.

• Chelsea stars are in open mutiny over Andre Villas-Boas' management.


• Sir Alex Ferguson will smooth his bust-up with Wayne Rooney - by telling him to get Manchester United's title charge back on track.


• Manchester City are set to make Daniele de Rossi their first signing of the January window.


• Bolton are looking to League Two for a Gary Cahill replacement by bidding £1million for Crawley's Kyle McFadzean.


• Luis Suarez could follow John Terry into the courts to face a racism charge.


• Robin van Persie says Thierry Henry has made a "brave" decision to return to Arsenal.

• Angry Roberto Mancini last night questioned Manchester City's title credentials.


• Wayne Rooney was axed and fined £200,000 by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson because he was not in a fit state to train after a night out.


• Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is still prepared to back under-fire boss Andre Villas-Boas with transfer funds.

• Roberto Mancini questioned Manchester City's title credentials as they became the latest victims of a crazy weekend in the Premier League with defeat at Sunderland.


• Wayne Rooney was fined and dropped from Manchester United's team by Sir Alex Ferguson because he was not in a fit state for a training session after a night out.


• Chelsea are locked in talks with Real Madrid over a £25million move for Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain.


• Manchester United striker Frederico Macheda is set to joining QPR on loan.

• Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini questioned his players' title credentials after they blew their chance to open up a three-point gap over rivals Manchester United at Sunderland.


• Wayne Rooney was fined more than £200,000 and dropped by Manchester United because he was thought to be the worse for wear and unable to train properly after a night out.


• Andre Villas-Boas has been hit with an injury crisis for the Premier League clash at Wolves.


• Liverpool are interested in a deal for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.


• Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he would love to see Carlos Tevez join AC Milan.


• Stoke are ready to offload Jermaine Pennant as they target Blackburn's Junior Hoilett.


• Federico Macheda is poised to complete a loan move from Manchester United to QPR.


• Everton are tracking Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson.


• Arsenal are considering a loan move for AC Milan left-back Taye Taiwo.


• Wolves want West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne.

• Liverpool were under mounting pressure last night to issue an apology for Luis Suarez's conduct towards Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

• Wayne Rooney was fined a week's wages and dropped by Manchester United when a furious Sir Alex Ferguson accused him of being unfit to train after a Boxing Day night out.


• Roberto Mancini tore into his players for their reckless naivety as the Manchester City manager appeared to question his team's title credentials.

• Wayne Rooney was fined a week's wages and dropped from the Manchester United team for Saturday's defeat against Blackburn after angering Sir Alex Ferguson with a 'lethargic' display in training following a Boxing Day night out with team-mates Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans.

• Roberto Mancini was left reflecting, ruefully, on what might have been last night.


• Liverpool have been urged to abandon any thoughts of appealing against the eight-match ban and £40,000 fine that Luis Suarez received for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra, with a leading anti-racism campaigner warning the club that their vehement support of the Uruguayan is damaging their reputation.

• Ally McCoist will attempt to strike a bargain-basement deal to bring Nacho Novo back to Rangers.


• West Brom boss Roy Hodgson insists Graham Dorrans will not be joining Rangers. 

• Blackburn midfielder Stephen N'Zoni is a surprise target for Chelsea.

• Manchester United are monitoring £25m Lille playmaker Eden Hazard who is also a target for Arsenal.

• Gonzalo Higuain 's father says the player has no intention of leaving Real Madrid for Chelsea.