Arsenal are poised to launch a £10million swoop for Everton ace Leighton Baines, who has also attracted interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, reports the Daily Star Sunday.

The 28-year-old defender is under contract with the Goodison Park outfit until 2015, and David Moyes will be determined to keep the England international beyond January, as the Toffees continue their charge towards a top-four finish.

But, with a trio of Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Baines ahead of the transfer window, Everton could face a fight to keep the former Wigan Athletic star on Merseyside.

Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a long-term admirer of the left-back, as he seeks to add competition for Patrice Evra at Old Trafford.

The summer signing of Alexander Buttner has put little pressure on Manchester United’s vice-captain, with the Dutchman struggling to impress during his brief stint with the Premier League leaders.

Now Arsenal have emerged as contenders for Baines’s signature, with his adventurous overlapping style seen by Arsene Wenger as a perfect fit at the Emirates Stadium. And, because of that the Gunners boss is reportedly willing to bid as high as £15million in order to bring him to north London.

Chelsea have also been linked with the Everton star as they look to bring in a replacement for Ashley Cole, who looks set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old will be out of contract in the summer, and with the Blues only prepared to offer him a one-year rolling contract extension, he is said to be weighing up his options elsewhere.

Swansea’s prolific goalscorer Miguel Cuesta, better known as Michu, has impressed Spain boss Vicente del Bosque so much that the 26-year-old is set to earn his first call-up to the international team.

So far this season, the in-form striker has bagged himself 14 goals in all competitions, matching last year’s eventual Golden Boot winner Robin van Persie.

That form has prompted Del Bosque into promising the Swans striker an international debut on February 6 in their friendly against Uruguay in Doha. Del Bosque told Spanish television: “Iago Aspas and Michu will appear (against Uruguay).”

Michu has been prolific since Swansea boss Michael Laudrup snapped him up for just £2.2million from Rayo Vallecano in the summer.

Swansea’s number 9 should have no problem slotting into the Spanish set-up. Working under Laudrup, Michu is used to playing a passing brand of football that is similar to Spain’s approach, although Michu will offer his country an alternative physical presence up top if required.

Michu demonstrated his willingess to get ‘stuck in’ against Tottenham when he was left motionless on the turf after a bone-crunching collision with Spurs’ goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. After the game, Michu insisted he had no intention of shying away from challenges in the future, despite taking a heavy blow to the head.

Speaking to Swansea’s official website, Michu said: “I was in pain – I had a headache until Tuesday – but it was no one’s fault. I am a player who wants to win the ball and if that means getting hurt then that’s fine.”

Speculation continues to mount that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho could leave Real Madrid for Manchester United at the end of the season, with The Mirror suggesting the Red Devils could beat Paris Saint-Germain to the pair.

Reports in Spain on Thursday claimed that Ronaldo will reject a new contract offer from Real Madrid, which has led to inevitable suggestions that the Portugal captain could return to Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson recently admitted that he would love to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, it was reported in the British press last week that the 27-year-old wants to move back to Manchester United.

Mourinho’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu, meanwhile, is also in doubt with Real Madrid 16 points behind Barcelona in the race for the Spanish league title, having suffered four defeats this season.

According to The Mirror, there is growing belief Sir Alex Ferguson will leave Manchester United at the end of the season, and the Red Devils could replace him with Mourinho.

Ronaldo and Mourinho have also been linked with a move to mega-rich Qatari owned Paris Saint-Germain, but Manchester United are being tipped to beat the Ligue 1 leaders to the Real Madrid pair.

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that the club have rejected a €55 million offer for Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City target Edinson Cavani.

The Uruguayan international striker has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League over the last seven months, with the Blues, Gunners and Citizens reported to be on the player’s trail on a number of occasions.

However, De Laurentiis insists that he has no plans to sell the second top-scorer in Serie ‘A’ so far this season (13 goals), and expects the 25-year-old to remain with the club for the foreseeable future.

“Cavani is a warrior who embodies all that’s best of the Napoli spirit and our supporters. It is because of this I turned down an offer of €55m,” he told Radio Monte on Boxing Day.

“Cavani has become the symbol of our resurgence. If I have kept him here it is not because of money, but a love for the club.”

A 45-cap international, Cavani moved to Italy in 2007 when he signed for Palermo, and then switched to the Stadio San Paolo three years later.

Having earned rave reviews with Napoli, high-profile clubs have become linked with a move for the player, and Chelsea were reported to have lined-up a bid for the player in the summer as a replacement for Daniel Sturridge.

The England striker stayed at Stamford Bridge but is poised for an exit under Rafa Benitez this January, and despite the change in manager in west London, the Blues are still being linked with a move.

The Daily Express reported in November that Chelsea were targeting both Cavani and Radamel Falcao in a double deal, although it’s unclear how much money owner Roman Abramovich will give his interim manager to play with.

With money no problem to Manchester City, it’s unsurprising to see manager Roberto Mancini linked with a move for the player.

Indeed, Metro reported in the summer that the Premier League champions were also plotting a bid to bring both Cavani and Falcao to the Etihad Stadium for £80 million.

However, the Napoli striker snubbed Manchester City on deadline day, signing a new deal with his current club as the owner made reference to rejecting ‘the cold city’ in England.

Arsenal, meanwhile, emerged as shock contenders for Cavani’s signature last month amidst reports that Arsene Wenger was considering a £30 million bid for the player.

An ESPN source reported the following day that the Emirates Stadium outfit would have to pay closer to €50 million to bring the player to north London, shattering the club’s record transfer fee in the process.

Yesterday’s (Wednesday) claim from De Laurentiis now suggests that such a bid might not be enough to bring the player to Arsenal anyway, and a move away from Italy in the New Year now looks unlikely.

Chelsea and Arsenal have been dealt a transfer blow in their pursuit of Spanish striker David Villa.

The 85-cap international has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League over the festive period, despite Barcelona rejecting claims that they would let the player leave the club in January last weekend.

And, whilst both the Blues and Gunners appear to share a keen interest in the 31-year-old former Valencia star, agent Victor Onate insists his client’s future remains at the Nou Camp.

“There is always speculation about David because he is a great forward, but his future is in the hands of Barcelona. They have a contract and it is important to always respect such documents,” he told Sky Sports.

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez reportedly joined the chase for the player yesterday (Wednesday), with The Daily Mail claiming that Villa has been targeted as a strike-partner for compatriot Fernando Torres.

Able to play out wide or through the middle, Villa has plenty of experience playing alongside Torres, and Benitez would hope to get the best out of a player struggling for chances in La Liga if he were to move to Stamford Bridge.

Earning £110,000 a week in Catalonia, according to The Daily Mail, Chelsea would have no problems paying the player’s wages, and with Daniel Sturridge poised to move away from west London, there appears to be space for a new striker signing at the club.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are said to be amongst the other clubs monitoring the player’s situation with the Spanish giants.

Light of options in attack themselves, the Gunners have just Olivier Giroud and Marouane Chamakh to choose from in the most advanced position at the Emirates Stadium.

Villa would also be able to play out wide for Arsene Wenger’s side in a 4-3-3 formation, but if the comments from the player’s agent are to be believed, then Arsenal are another side who will simply face disappointment in their pursuit of the player.

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku wants to return on loan to West Brom for a second season to help him develop into “a great player” and be ready to start when he eventually goes back to Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku is in his first campaign at The Hawthorns and scored his sixth goal for the Baggies when heading the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 home success over Norwich. Chelsea have the option to recall the 19-year-old during the January transfer window.

But Lukaku said: “I want to stay here. I’ve had so many questions in the last few weeks asking ‘are you staying?’ I have a lot of contact with Chelsea, but they are asking questions about my development and I tell them I’m very happy to be here.”

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Fernando Torres is playing with confidence and that is why he is back in the scoring groove, according to Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez.

The much-maligned Spanish striker scored the first of his side’s eight goals without reply against Aston Villa, heading in a cross from just inside the box. It was a goal that few would have said the 28-year-old was capable of scoring a month ago as he continued to fail to justify his £50million transfer fee.

The former Liverpool and Atletico Madrid hitman has now scored seven goals in his last six games to double his tally for the season, and Benitez said: “He’s a striker. He needed to score goals. The team is doing well, he’s having more chances, and he has more confidence as a result.”

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Liverpool are moving closer to agreeing a deal for Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge, with the player expected on Merseyside to discuss the formalities of a deal over the next two days.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has been tracking the 23-year-old since the summer and is keen to bring in the England international as soon as the transfer window opens next month.

Press Association Sport understands Sturridge will be in Liverpool on Sunday and Monday for further negotiations and a medical with a view to him completing a move in just over a week’s time.

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West Brom boss Steve Clarke is predicting a big future for on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku following his late winner in the 2-1 home success over Norwich.

The Chelsea player headed home a deep cross from Baggies left-back Goran Popov with eight minutes remaining for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Clarke said: “Romelu has done well, he is a big talent, he has got a big future ahead of him in the game.”

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Chelsea are reportedly set to begin talks with captain John Terry in the hope of agreeing an extension to his contract.

According to the Evening Standard, the Stamford Bridge club are eager to have Terry end his career in the Blue shirt and want his future resolved, despite his current contract not expiring in until the summer of 2014.

The report claims the former England captain’s influence at Chelsea is such they do not want any uncertainty around his future and want to avoid him getting into the final year of his contract.

Chelsea’s willingness to discuss and sew up a new deal promptly with Terry is in stark contract to that of other senior players.

The report claims Roman Abramovich’s officials has established a new policy that is in line with other big clubs whereby players over 30 will only be offered one-year extensions.

This has led to intense speculation over the future of left-back Ashley Cole and seen him linked with a switch to big-spending PSG in Ligue 1 as he wants a two-year extension to his deal, which expires at the end of the season.

Frank Lampard’s deal also expires then but the Standard report claims Stamford Bridge officials do not intend to open talks over a new one and are ready to let him leave for free in in the summer.

Didier Drogba left after encountering a similar situation at the end of last season; the Ivory Coast striker joined Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua after failing to agree a new deal with Chelsea, with the one-year rule being the main stumbling block.