Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Liverpool striker Fernando Torres could be out for another two months after suffering a groin injury in Spain's World Cup final win over the Netherlands, which could scupper a possible move to Chelsea.
  (The Guardian)


• Striker Edin Dzeko remains confident that Wolfsburg will drop their £50m asking price and allow him to join Manchester City.
  (Daily Mail )


• Mexican winger Pablo Barrera is set to complete a £4m switch from Pumas to West Ham on a two-year contract, with the option of a third, subject to gaining a work permit.
  (The Mirror)


• Upton Park could also be the destination for Nice striker Loic Remy. The 23-year-old is keen to make the move and manager Avram Grant is closing in on a £12m deal.
  (The Mirror)


• Premier League new boys Blackpool are weighing up a move for United States international midfielder Michael Bradley, who plays for Borussia Moenchengladbach.
  (Daily Mail )


• Liverpool have blocked a proposed deal for French striker David Ngog to go to West Brom on a season-long loan deal in case they cannot bring in two new strikers before the transfer window shuts.
  (Daily Mail )


• Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill says there is "definitely a move on the cards" for Nigerian striker John Utaka, three years after he arrived for £7m. Sunderland have been linked with the 28-year-old.
  (The Independent)


• David James could also be leaving Portsmouth after the club ran out of patience with the veteran goalkeeper when he failed to make a decision over an offer of a new one-year contract.
  (Daily Express)


• Newcastle are desperate to keep veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper at the club, despite interest from Celtic, whose first-choice stopper Artur Boruc is set to join Italian side Fiorentina.
  (The Mirror)


• Real Madrid have ended their interest in Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as they think the £30m price tag on the 30-year-old is excessive.
  (Daily Star)


• Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson could be the latest former Old Firm player to join ex-Celtic manager Gordon Strachan at Middlesbrough after agreeing a £2m move. Kris Boyd, Chris Killen and Barry Robson are already at the Riverside Stadium.
  (Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

• James Beattie and Dave Kitson have both been left out of Stoke's pre-season tour of Austria by manager Tony Pulis.
  (The Mirror)


• Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned England to stop relying on players like Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney if they want to win big tournaments and to work as a team.
  (The Mirror)


• Fulham are interested in recruiting United States coach Bob Bradley as manager following the departure of Roy Hodgson to Liverpool.
  (The Sun)


• World Cup final referee Howard Webb says Sunday's stormy game between Spain and the Netherlands was "the most difficult two hours of my career".
  (The Sun)

AND FINALLY...

• World Cup star Paul 'the psychic' octopus has been accused of having a slippery past after his trainer said he is Italian, not British, and is younger than his German aquarium have claimed.
  (The Mirror)


• Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas had a Barcelona shirt put over his head and was referred to as "the future of Barcelona" by Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina as Spain's players celebrated their World Cup win in front of 200,000 fans in Madrid.
  (Daily Mail )


• Defender Louis Carey's pre-season training with Bristol City has been disrupted after he injured his heel cooking at a barbeque.
  (Daily Star)