Bolton will sign former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse from Marseille if Nicolas Anelka leaves the Reebok Stadium (Sun). Is Cisse a good enough replacement for the great striker? I think Reebok fans would be a tad disappointed with such a signing. Manager Gary Megson also says rumours about midfielder Stelios joining Sheffield United is all Greek to him (Daily Star).

Manchester City and Wigan are both interested in signing former Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek, who is now reserve goalie at Real Madrid (Daily Mirror). Bench warming at one of Europe's most vibrant capitals is surely more appealing than bingo in Wigan.

Fulham could make a £2.5m move for Liverpool's Harry Kewell (Daily Mail). This could be a good move for the Aussie, who has been off the pace at Anfield. He's got quality and Roy Hodgson is the kind of coach to make him shine.

'Kewell's got quality and Roy Hodgson is the kind of coach to make him shine'


Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has branded speculation linking Cristiano Ronaldo with Real Madrid "mischievous" and "a lie", and said he expected it at this time of year from Madrid (The Times). Real seem to be the default club for the biggest names in the rumour mill, but in football terms, a move there makes no sense for Ronaldo.

On the other hand, he might consider an offer from Martin Ling at Leyton Orient. The way Wayne Corden and JJ Melligan played against Gillingham, we'll have him at Brisbane Road.

Liverpool have rejected cash-strapped Luton's request to forego their share of the gate receipts for Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie. Luton, who are in administration, could go out of business on Monday (various). Added flavour to a tie that could produce the shock of the round, I am confident of making a rare visit to the pay-out window for a Luton win on this one.

Kia Joorabchian, who tried to buy West Ham last season, is involved in a consortium considering a bid to acquire Southampton (Daily Mirror). Should such a deal go through, the infamous link between the coastal city and the Titanic will be ever more apparent.

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce says fighting relegation when he was at Bolton was more stressful than his current situation (Daily Express). If Big Sam spent his time in  football chat rooms or Newcastle boozers he might revise that opinion.

Havant and Waterlooville's players have been promised an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas by one of their directors if they beat Swansea in the FA Cup (Daily Mirror). Yep, after a night at the Bellagio poker room the words 'Havant' and 'Waterloo' will be firmly on the agenda.

Comedian Frank Carson will be telling jokes in the Chasetown dressing room before their FA Cup tie with Cardiff to prevent the players getting too nervous (Daily Express). I'd have thought well-past-his-sell-by-date Frank would be nervy about a gig in front of 15 players and boss. Maybe the magnetic players on the whiteboard will raise a smile.

QPR winger Gareth Ainsworth's band Dog Chewed the Handle have an album coming out in the spring (Daily Express). I hope for his sake the club don't have a League One fixture list coming out in the summer.