TRANSFER RUMOURS
Manchester City star Micah Richards' talks about a new contract have stalled over the club's refusal to grant him an escape clause. (Mirror)
QPR want former England boss Glenn Hoddle to succeed sacked John Gregory at Loftus Road. (Various)
Ajax boss Henk Ten Cate has agreed to work under Avram Grant at Chelsea as assistant coach and former Scotland captain Gary McAllister may also join the backroom staff. (Sun)
Ten Cate will not work under Grant and has demanded assurances he would be part of a Dutch team headed by Russia coach Guus Hiddink. (Guardian)
OTHER GOSSIP
Ajax have made Spurs boss Martin Jol their top target as current coach Henk Ten Cate prepares to join Avram Grant at Chelsea. (Mirror)
Former England keeper Peter Shilton has emerged as a surprise candidate to take over at Port Vale. (Mirror)
West Ham striker Craig Bellamy could be back in two weeks after having a groin operation performed by Michael Owen's surgeon in Germany. (Various)
Steve Bruce hopes to discover if he has a long-term future as Birmingham boss. A new two-year deal hinges on Carson Yeung's imminent takeover at St Andrews. (Sun)
Frank Lampard has told England boss Steve McClaren he will be fit for the crucial European Championship qualifiers against Russia and Estonia. (Sun)
Everton boss David Moyes and former star Wayne Rooney face a High Court date in May after talks aimed at settling a libel wrangle broke down. (Express)
AC Milan keeper Dida will face a Uefa investigation as well as Celtic after his altercation with a fan at Parkhead. (Independent)
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has urged Uefa to ban Dida after his theatrics at Celtic. (Daily Record)
AND FINALLY
A poll in Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport took more than 60,000 votes by noon on Thursday in an online poll on Dida - with 83% calling on Milan and Uefa to punish the Brazilian. (Mail)
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