Sven rules out Beckham swoop
Sven-Göran Eriksson says he won't try to make David Beckham and Michael Owen part of his Manchester City revolution - despite being sorely tempted, writes Jonathan Northcroft. Eriksson admits he has had 'many contacts' with agents over players he might buy as he seeks to spend a £50m transfer budget given to him by City's new owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, but that he has no intention of bidding for his two former England stars. It is believed Beckham, right, will be made available on loan by LA Galaxy during the MLS close season, which runs from November until March, while Owen has a £9m get-out clause in his Newcastle contract. Eriksson said: 'Michael has been injured a lot. He will always score goals if he's fit, but I don't want to read that I'm thinking of signing him.' As for the possibility of borrowing Beckham, he said: 'He was a big favourite of mine [with England] but at Manchester City we are trying to build a great team, and when you're trying to do that you don't take a player for a couple of months'
Bent off to flyer for Spurs
Darren Bent scored on his Tottenham debut as Spurs began their preseason schedule with a 3-1 win at Stevenage. Bent, left, a £16.5m summer signing from Charlton, tucked away Spurs' second goal, but was replaced after 68 minutes by Andy Barcham after Adel Taarabt's 25-yard drive had put the visitors 3-1 ahead. Robbie Keane scored from the spot for the first and Ollie Allen equalised before Bent and Taarabt sealed the win. Liverpool's Besian Idrizaj helped himself to a hat-trick in a 3-2 over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground
Consortia gang up on Bates
At least two of the consortia trying to buy Leeds United are likely to join forces to mount a knockout offer for the club, insiders predicted this weekend. Redbus, a corporate turnaround specialist, and Leeds-based property group SR Morris are among the bidders most likely to mount a joint offer. Leeds went into administration in May, when chairman Ken Bates immediately offered to buy it back - leaving creditors with just 1p in the pound. The plan was challenged in court by Revenue and Customs last week, and now administrators KPMG have put Leeds up for auction, with bids having to be in by 5pm tomorrow. Bates last week increased his bid to 8p in the pound, but KPMG decided to scrap the deal with him and restart the sale process. They are going for a quick auction to avoid the threat of legal proceedings dragging on into next season, which starts on August 11, when Leeds are due to play Tranmere
Nugent ordered home
Preston have told England striker David Nugent to report for preseason training tomorrow after talks over a £6m move fell through. Sunderland manager Roy Keane pulled out of a deal for Nugent, 22, despite agreeing terms and talks with Portsmouth are on hold. Nugent had set his heart on a move to boyhood idols Everton, but the Merseyside club will not pay more than £4m
Grosso joins Lyon in £4.7m deal
Fabio Grosso, Internazionale's World Cup-winning full-back, will sign tomorrow for French champions Lyon after passing a medical. The Italy left-back, who scored the decisive kick in the penalty shootout that decided the 2006 final against France in Berlin, will cost Lyon a fee of £4.7m and sign a four-year contract worth around £1.4m a season. Grosso, who has already been assigned the No 11 shirt, leaves Inter after just one season at the San Siro following his £4m move from Palermo a year ago
Rangers offer Carroll fresh start
Roy Carroll, left, the former West Ham and Manchester United goalkeeper, has joined Rangers on a one-year contract. The Northern Ireland international, 29, last year had treatment for alcohol and gambling problems and was released by the Hammers in May. He will challenge Allan McGregor and Graeme Smith for the No 1 jersey at the Ibrox club
Collina ready to to clean up Pierluigi Collina, regarded as the world's best referee before his retirement in 2005, has been handed the task of restoring the integrity of the game in Italy. Collina, with his staring eyes and distinctive bald head, will be named as referees' secretary this week in a move designed to clean up football's image following last year's match-fixing scandal, in which certain clubs tried to have their favourite referees appointed for key matches. Juventus were eventually relegated after winning the title, while other clubs were docked points
Football tales from the tabs…
Mail on Sunday
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher is reported to be ready to end his England career after being snubbed by coach manager Steve McClaren in favour of Tottenham's Ledley King for last month's 3-0 win over Estonia in Tallinn. Everton defender Phil Neville has turned down the chance to be Sven-Göran Eriksson's first signing as Manchester City manager
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Sunday Mirror Liverpool are to seek planning permission for a new 60,000-seat stadium, which will eventually be expanded to hold 80,000 and become Britain's biggest club ground. Tottenham want to sign Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips
News of the World West Ham evicted striker Carlos Tevez from his club flat while he was on Copa America duty with Argentina as they haggle with his agent over a proposed transfer to Manchester United. Anderson, United's new Brazilian signing, is being investigated over claims that he fraudulently obtained a work permit at his former club, Porto. Arsenal have offered manager Arsene Wenger a new £14m four-year deal with an escape clause allowing him to quit at the end of each season. Liverpool have bid £14m for Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma
Best of the rest
AC Milan have offered Kaka his fourth pay rise in four years to discourage interest from Real Madrid, says the Daily Star Sunday. Wigan hope to land West Ham's Marlon Harewood, West Bromwich Albion's Jason Koumas and Fulham's Michael Brown - all for £10m, reports The People