Football: That Was The Weekend That Was: Rumours - Lampard is lined up for pounds 7m Villa move

HOTTEST WEEKEND gossip - as reported by the News of the World, People and Sunday Mirror - is that Frank Lampard, West Ham's England Under- 21 captain, will be the subject of a bid of up to pounds 7m from Aston Villa as John Gregory seeks to revitalise the Midland club's Premiership challenge.

Nicolas Anelka could escape from his "lonely London life" with a pounds 10m move to Real Madrid, according to the Mirror. The People, meanwhile, says Juventus have made an inquiry. The Mirror also says Gianluca Vialli contacted Didier Deschamps while France were in town, perhaps paving the way for a pounds 4m move for the Juventus midfielder.

The News of the World reports a pounds 4m raid planned by Blackburn for Manchester United defender John Curtis, while Charlton are keen on teaming new signing John Barnes with his former Newcastle colleague and ex-Valley favourite Rob Lee, according to the People.

The Mail on Sunday says Newcastle are preparing a pounds 40,000-a-week deal to keep Alan Shearer on Tyneside, but the News of the World reckons Temuri Ketsbaia will leave in the summer because he is unhappy under Ruud Gullit.

The Mirror suggests that former Newcastle misfit Stephane Guivarc'h is no more settled at Rangers, who paid pounds 3.5m for him last year, and wants to return to the Continent. The People says Greek club Olympiakos are claiming that Everton, Sheffield Wednesday and Celtic have all agreed to meet their pounds 1.5m valuation of striker Alexis Alexandriss.

Speculating on the next England coach, the Mirror says Mohammed Al Fayed will let the Football Association talk to his manager at Fulham, Kevin Keegan, whom the Express says is to be offered the job part-time. The Sunday Telegraph offers an "exclusive" that Leicester's Martin O'Neill could be the man to whom England turn.