* Daily Mail:
Newcastle united hope to persuade David Beckham to join them by making a move for his former Manchester United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy.
As Sportsmail exclusively revealed yesterday, ambitious Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has put the Real Madrid midfielder at the top of his wish list as he prepares for a season without the injured Michael Owen and talismanic ex-skipper Alan Shearer.
Although Beckham's aides deny a meeting took place, Shepherd is desperate to land a big-name signing.
England striker Owen, a £17million signing from Real last summer, is likely to miss all of the forthcoming campaign because of the knee injury suffered during the World Cup.
Shepherd has told Beckham that Van Nistelrooy, whose Old Trafford future is uncertain, is another St James' Park target, while Real's Brazil striker Ronaldo is also on the Newcastle radar as they look to lift the spirits of their fans, improve season-ticket sales and boost marketing revenue.
* More Ruud stuff:
The Sunday Mirror claim that Ruud will be told this week that he is not wanted by United. The Mail on Sunday claim that 'United will allow Ruud van Nistelrooy to join Real Madrid for £16m. (See above!)
* Various papers claim that United will buy Marcos Senna from Villareal. £3.5m.
* The MEN claim that United are to sign Nuri Sahin:
A Cristiano Ronaldo admirer could replace the Portuguese winger in United fans' affections as the club chase 17-year-old Turkish wonder midfielder Nuri Sahin.
United are being linked with a move for the £6m German-born midfielder at Borussia Dortmund who names Cristiano as his No 1 player.
Sahin has been capturing the attention of the elite around Europe with his precocious engine-room talent.
Last August he became the Bundesliga's youngest player when Dortmund promoted him to their first team. Subsequently he became the German League's youngest scorer when he scored in November against Nurnberg.
Sahin is understood to be keen a trying his hand in the Premiership and United's need for a playmaker and goalscorer in midfield could see him as a young heir to Roy Keane.
* The Times on United's transfer activity:
Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing a bid to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy with Fernando Torres, the Spain forward who emerged as one of the stars of the World Cup finals.
United have yet to make a significant addition to their squad this summer, prompting concerns among supporters about their prospects of competing in the transfer market under the ownership of the Glazer family, but Ferguson hopes to be given permission next week to proceed with a bid to sign Torres from Atlético Madrid. He is also confident that a breakthrough will be reached in negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur over Michael Carrick, the England midfield player.
United's transfer plans have been thrown into some confusion since it became apparent that Cristiano Ronaldo is pursuing a move to Real, but they maintain that the Portugal winger is going nowhere. By contrast, they are increasingly hopeful of securing a deal for Van Nistelrooy after he fell out of favour with Ferguson last season. Bayern Munich have confirmed their interest in the Holland forward and are believed to be preparing a formal bid, albeit one significantly short of United's £15 million valuation. Real have also expressed a vague interest.
Negotiations over Carrick have not progressed since United made a second offer of about £12 million three weeks ago, but a breakthrough is expected once Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, returns from holiday. Ferguson hopes to sign a ball-winner to play alongside Carrick in midfield, but after exploring options such as Mahamadou Diarra, Javier Mascherano, Marcos Senna and Didier Zokora — the latter too late to stop him joining Tottenham from Saint-Etienne — uncertainty remains over that position.
United have also inquired about Tomas Kuszczak, the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper, after allowing Tim Howard to join Everton on loan.
* Marcello Lippi rejects United rumours:
"How can you work in a place where you don't even know the language? All I am interested in is winning the World Cup and I find it useless to speak about the rest."
* 'Sir Alex Ferguson is in Berlin to size up Italy duo Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo - the Man Utd boss also has his eye on Owen Hargreaves.' (Sunday Mirror)
* Sol Campbell is to leave Arsenal:
"After much consideration, I have taken the decision to leave Arsenal.
"I have spent five fantastic, trophy-filled seasons at the club, with many truly memorable moments, including winning the Premiership title in 2004 by remaining unbeaten for the entire campaign.
"So, it is with a sense of pride, achievement and the desire for a fresh challenge that I depart. Playing abroad is something that would really interest me but at the moment I am keeping all of my options open.
* The NOTW, always on top of the national issues, report that Andy Gray has a small dick and Peter Crouch's scouse bird has a 'huge cocaine habit.'