World Soccer News - 2/9/07

[Cigar_Ben]

I think I beat Tommy this time.

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Atletico Madrid are lining up a £5m bid for Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta in the summer. (Sun)

Cristiano Ronaldo's agent watched Portugal's win over Brazil with Barcelona's director of football. (Sun)

Manchester United will offer Ronaldo an improved deal to try to persuade him to stay at Old Trafford. (Times)

Bolton fear Nicolas Anelka will quit the club unless attendances improve at the Reebok Stadium. (Daily Mirror)

Leeds boss Dennis Wise is trying to secure loan deals for Liverpool's Gabriel Paletta and West Brom striker John Hartson. (Daily Mirror)

Leeds also want Blackburn defender Michael Gray. (Daily Mail)

Tottenham are ready to sign struggling Everton striker James Beattie for a cut-price deal in the summer, but Blackburn are also keen. (Daily Mirror)

Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta wants a move to the US. (Independent)

Jonathan Woodgate is still hopeful of returning to Real Madrid - even though the Spanish club are keen to sell him to Middlesbrough. (Independent)

Boro's Mark Viduka is wanted by Tottenham but has not ruled out a move back to Australia. (Independent)

Transfer-listed Dunfermline winger Owen Morrison has been offered a contract by Chinese Super League outfit Qingdao Zhongneng. (Daily Mail)



OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City will force Stuart Pearce to sit in the stands when the England Under-21s take on Italy on 24 March. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa may offer injured striker Chris Sutton a new contract - even if he does not play again this season. (Daily Express)

Iain Dowie will be asked to take over as Leicester boss if Milan Mandaric completes his takeover. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham are considering building a new stadium next to the tube station. (Daily Mail)

Chelsea will make a formal complaint to Fifa after Nigeria selected Mikel Jon Obi for a friendly despite the club saying he was injured. (Daily Mail)

Dado Prso wants to stay at Rangers next season. (Daily Record)

Rangers defender Stevie Smith could miss the rest of the season if it is decided he needs surgery to a groin injury. (The Sun)

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel could be recalled from his loan with Falkirk because of an injury crisis at Manchester City. (Daily Express)

Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper Ian Mackay, born in Spain but of Scottish parents, wants to play for Scotland. (Various)

Icelandic billionaire Thor Bjorgolfsson has denied he is funding a takeover bid for Hearts. (The Scotsman)

Hearts will double their board's borrowing powers despite a large increase in debts. (The Scotsman)


AND FINALLY...

Cristiano Ronaldo is planning to move into acting once his playing career is over. He said: "I could see myself as an actor. Playing the role of a comedian is more difficult but I might be capable of doing anything."