Paper Talk - 20 January 2012

• Neil Warnock believes his position at QPR was "slowly poisoned" by players and supporters.


• Andre Villas-Boas insisted Fernando Torres has not developed a "mental weakness" after being forced to play second fiddle to Didier Drogba.


• Roma have joined the race for Manchester United youngster Ravel Morrison.


• Alan Pardew wants to seal his next £9million signing by landing Fabricio Coloccini on a long-term deal.


• Stoke want a sky-high £12million fee for striker Kenwyne Jones - and have turned down an offer from Arab side Al Hilal.

• David Beckham last night revealed his desire to skipper Great Britain's football team at the London Olympics.


• Five Brighton players have been arrested after police waited for their team bus to return from their FA Cup win at Wrexham early yesterday.


• Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong is wanted on loan by French side Lille.


• Blackburn risk Chris Samba not playing for them again after taking a tough line with their captain.


• Manchester United and rivals City are set to battle it out for 23-year-old Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan . They are also both tracking St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma , 17.


• Newcastle will make an improved offer of £5million for West Ham's James Tomkins.


• Swansea City manager Brendon Rodgers has opened contract negotiations with the club over a new deal.


• Ravel Morrison has stunned Manchester United by demanding £30,000 a week, despite making just three first-team appearances.


• West Ham have had a loan bid for Southampton's Jason Puncheon rejected.

• David Beckham last night declared: "I would love to captain Team GB at the Olympics."


• Axed QPR boss Neil Warnock believes he was "poisoned" by tweeters.


• Carlos Tevez is ready to pick up £43million in wages if his £31million move to Paris St Germain goes ahead.


• West Ham slapped in a £6million bid for Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic.


• Bolton are set to sign Stoke defender Danny Collins.


• QPR are eyeing a £3million swoop for Tottenham fringe player Niko Kranjcar.


• West Brom are eyeing moves for Cardiff's Peter Whittingham and Bristol City's Nicky Maynard.

• David De Gea has been recommended to undergo laser treatment on his eyes in the summer after it emerged that the Manchester United goalkeeper suffers from a long-standing defect to his vision.

• Didier Drogba is poised to sign an incredible £270,000-a-week deal to quit Chelsea and join Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in the summer.

• Nemanja Vidic yesterday taunted Manchester City, saying: You won't be top dogs in your own backyard - let alone England.


• Mark Hughes last night gave the all-clear to the police to deliver a team talk to his players before QPR's FA Cup clash with Chelsea.


• Leicester boss Nigel Pearson is signing Manchester United midfielder Danny Drink- water for £750,000 after losing Wales international Andy King for three months with an Achilles injury.

• Andre Villas-Boas said yesterday that the development of young English footballers is so flawed that top clubs should be allowed to feeder teams in the lower divisions to enable the likes of Chelsea to bring players through from their academies.

• Leicester are set to sign Man United's Danny Drinkwater for £750,000.

• Neil Lennon revealed last night he is ready to tie Fraser Forster to a long-term deal at Celtic.


• Mervan Celik last night revealed Ally McCoist is the reason he's chosen Rangers. 

• Bayer Leverkusen have ruled out a move for their former striker, Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov.