TOUCHLINES

MANCHESTER CITY are planning a £25m(RM125m) bid for Everton’s 26-year-old leftbeck Leighton Baines.

TOTTENHAM attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, 28, has dismissed fears he will try to engineer a move so he can play Champions League football next season.

NEWCASTLE are lining up a bid for West Ham striker Carlton Cole. The 27-year-old could be available for £7m (RM35m).

BARCELONA forward Jeffren Suarez, 23, has dampened interest from Liverpool by insisting he wants to stay at the Nou Camp.

MANCHESTER CITY defender Jerome Boateng, 22,  could be on his way out of Eastland in an £8m (RM40m) move to Bayern Munich.

LIVERPOOL and Everton have been warned by West Brom boss Roy Hogson that he will fight to hold on to star midfielder Chris Brunt, 26, if they make an approach.

NEWCASTLE leftback Jose Enrique, 25, reportedly a target for Liverpool, is being chased by French side Lyon.

STRIKER John Carew, 31, has said he wants to quit Aston Villa and make his loan move to Stoke City permanent.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON may escape Premier League sanctions if he field a weakened side in their final game of the season against Blackpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

HOWEVER, United’s boss has promised Blackpool’s relegation rivals that whatever team he picks on Sunday will play to win.

BLACKPOOL could have been ahead of Fulham in the fair-play standings that will decide an additional Europa League place had their coaches scored as highly as Cottagers’ boss Mark Hughes and his backroom staff.

BIRMINGHAM owner Carson Yeung has warned fans there will be little money to spend on players next season with the club facing relegation.

MANCHESTER CITY are plotting an audacious bid to bring Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Premier League. The Portuguese winger was to replace another Manchester United old boy, Carlos Tevez, at Eastlands – until Tevez decide to stay.

TOTTENHAM will allow Gareth Bale to decide his own future if, as expected, they receive an offer of around £40m (RM200m) for the leftsided star from Manchester City.

MANCHESTER CITY are also in a bidding war with Inter Milan for Udinese and Chile winger Alexis Sanchez. The price is likely to rise to £30m (RM150m).

JUVENTUS are mulling over moves for Manchester City attackers Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko and Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.

LIVERPOOL have made a formal approach to Lille for Belgian play maker Eden Hazard. Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea are also circling.

AC MILAN are ready to use former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini as a makeweight in an offer for Brazilian anchorman Sandro.

BOLTON defender Gary Cahill has told friends that he is optimistic about securing a move to Arsenal over the summer.

EVERTON are believed to be the unnamed English club who have had an offer rejected for Sporting Lisbon forward Yannick Djalo.

MANAGER Sven Goran Eriksson wants to bring Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey back to the striker’s hometown club Leicester.

SUNDERLAND are to recruit Senegalese forward Demba Ba from relegated West Ham to help fill the gap left by loanee Danny Welbeck’s return to Manchester United.

DEFENDER Paul Konchesky could end his miserable spell at Liverpool with a return to Fulham as Carlos Salcido seeks a move back to his native Mexico from Craven Cottage.

ASTON VILLA are monitoring Everton manager David Moyes abd Fulham’s mark Hughes as they prepare for the possibility that Gerard Houllier may not return to the dug-out after his latest hearts problems.