Wigan Athletic - Thursday Back Page Gossip

Vital Wigan takes a quick look at the stories making the headlines of the sports pages this Thursday morning

The Star

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is ready to test Blackburn Rovers' resolve with a £16m bid for 27-year-old Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, who has scored just nine league goals in 47 appearances, is set to re-join AC Milan on a season-long loan deal, but his wages could prove to be a stumbling block.

The Sun

Aston Villa are set to up their bid for Newcastle's James Milner to £9m after already having a £7m bid rejected.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has turned his attentions to West Ham striker Carlton Cole, 24, after securing a loan deal for Marseille's Djibril Cisse.

Dimitar Berbatov has provoked anger from Spurs fans after being photographed signing a Manchester United shirt.

Former Tottenham, Manchester United and England striker Teddy Sheringham will appear on the next series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, along with the likes of model Jodie Kidd and chef Gary Rhodes.

The Mirror

Everton will pay Juventus midfielder Tiago's £4m-a-year wages in order to take the 27-year-old on a season's loan.

Zenit St Petersburg have pulled the plug on Andrei Arshavin's move to Tottenham after Spurs refused to match the Russian club's £20m valuation of the 27-year-old.

MK Dons captain Keith Andrews looks set to join up with former boss Paul Ince at Blackburn after Rovers bid £1.3m for the 27-year-old Irish midfielder.

The Guardian

Manchester City have given up hope of signing Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn and have instead switched their intentions to Real Zaragoza's Argentine striker Diego Milito.

Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson, 20, will end speculation about his future by signing a new five-year deal at Eastlands on Thursday.


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