Football: That was the weekend that was: RUMOURS: Sutton 'to be sacrificed'

CHELSEA COULD be about to lose two members of their star-studded squad, one by their own design. The Sunday Mirror says Chelsea are ready to cut their losses on striker Chris Sutton after his abysmal run of two goals in 17 matches, with plans to sell the former Blackburn Rovers man for half the pounds 10m they paid if he fails to click by Christmas. Meanwhile, according to the Mail on Sunday, the frustration of being left out is testing Roberto Di Matteo's patience. They say he will look elsewhere if manager Gianluca Vialli does not give him a role against former club Lazio in the Champions' League tomorrow.

Who's for Blackburn? The News of the World says Alan Curbishley, reckoning that Rovers will pay Charlton pounds 1.8m in compensation for their respected manager and install him at Ewood Park on pounds 750,000 a year. The People concurs over the salary figure, but believes the recipient will be the former England coach Terry Venables.

Aston Villa are lining up the former Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear, according to the Mirror, which believes John Gregory will be sacked if Villa lose to Sheffield Wednesday in two weeks' time, a forecast echoed by the People.

Big moves in the transfer market may include Monaco's Marcelo Gallardo for pounds 10m to Manchester United and Bolton's Eidur Gudjohnson for pounds 4m to Derby (NoW).