Blues ‘battle United’ for player

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Chelsea are locked in a ‘titanic battle’ to sign highly-rated teenage midfielder Paul Pogba from Manchester United, according to the Daily Mirror.

Pogba, 18, has been stalling over signing a new contract at Old Trafford and Chelsea are said to be keen to capture him but have picked up mixed messages from his camp about whether he wants to move.

AVB remains in the news.

The Sun say Daniel Sturridge is considering his future at Chelsea.

A friend of the player is quoted as saying: “Daniel will be distraught if Chelsea finish outside the top four — he’s desperate to prove himself at the highest level and that means he wants Champions League football, not Europa League.”

Sturridge, 22, was recently reported to want an improved contract at Stamford Bridge and is apparently unhappy at being played on the wing rather than as a central striker.

The Daily Mail say Chelsea’s apparent emergency plan to reappoint Guus Hiddink suffered a setback after it emerged he is a serious candidate to take over at ambitious Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.

The Independent, Sun and Daily Telegraph report yesterday’s comments by Andre Villas-Boas’ former president at Porto, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa.

He suggested that the under-pressure Chelsea manager could take over at Inter Milan and that members of the Blues squad are texting ex-boss Jose Mourinho – who has been linked with a return to west London.

Mark Hughes is having a difficult start as QPR boss.

Mourinho has been accused of undermining AVB’s position, The Sun declare.

The Sun claimed on Tuesday that Jose Bosingwa was one of only three Chelsea players who are fully behind their manager.

And The Mirror today quote the defender as saying: “The dressing room has confidence in the coach. Villas-Boas is a good coach and he’s demonstrated that with his success in Portugal.”

Meanwhile, the Daily Star claim QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has turned up the heat on manager Mark Hughes with his comments on Twitter following the weekend defeat at Blackburn.

Fernandes has been widely reported as having accused Rangers’ players of being ‘spineless’ after tweeting: “Talent is one thing. We need a spine in QPR. We need fighters not just talent.”

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