What the papers say

The transfer gossip sections of the English press haven't made pleasant reading for Steve Staunton this season because, more often than not, they've linked Liverpool with any defender who happens to possess a left foot.

Last Sunday's News of the World claimed Gerard Houllier was on the verge of signing "Monaco's £3.5 million rated French Under-21 left back Didier Baptiste", but then they learnt, much to their embarrassment, that the whole story was a hoax because Baptiste is a fictional player who is a target for Harchester Rovers on Sky One's Dream Team.

Clive Clarke, though, is entirely real and is the very latest left back all set for Anfield, according to the Sunday People. The Sallynoggin old-boy and Irish under-21 international has been making a name for himself this season at Stoke City where he has established himself in the first team.

The same newspaper claims that Irish winger Kevin Kilbane (West Brom) is at the centre of a transfer battle between Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and West Ham while Joe Kinnear, they reckon, is at the top of Blackburn's wanted list after Dave Bassett turned down the chance to succeed Brian Kidd as manager at Ewood Park.

Elsewhere . . . Derby are after Northern Ireland midfielder Steve Lomas (West Ham); Celtic want Chelsea's Roberto Di Matteo; Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis has decided that Terry Venables and David Platt should take over from John Gregory at Villa Park; Ryan Giggs intends leaving Manchester United for Italy when his contract expires in two years' time; Alex Ferguson wants the United board to offer Denis Irwin a new contract and Lazio are prepared to spend £35 million on Liverpool's Michael Owen.