Press Watch: Aston Villa 'try to tempt £2.5m Savage from Birmingham'

Taylor is linked with the manager's vacancy at Tottenham

Having reportedly lost out to Birmingham in their attempt to sign Muzzy Izzet from Leicester, Aston Villa are ready to make a £2.5m move for Birmingham's Robbie Savage, according to the News of the World, which says Savage has held back on agreeing a new contract until he sees who the club signs in the summer.

Presumably, the Welsh international will be impressed, however, if the People are correct in claiming that Liverpool's Emile Heskey is set to become Birmingham's £5m record signing after undergoing a "secret" medical. Moreover, the News of the World reckons Birmingham are set to land Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer for £1m.

The Mirror reckons Villa are poised to win the race for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Mark van Bommel ahead of Tottenham, while Villa striker Dion Dublin is set to rejoin Coventry. The Express says Birmingham will turn to Manchester United's Diego Forlan if his Heskey bid fails, while the People links Villa with a £1.5m move for Nantes midfielder Mathieu Berson.

Chelsea target Walter Samuel has reputedly told Roma he will stay in Italy if he cannot secure his preferred move to Real Madrid, according to the Mirror, which also claims Chelsea will ditch Hernan Crespo if an offer comes in for him. The People reckons Frank Lampard could leave Stamford Bridge for Juventus or Internazionale if Chelsea fail to come up with a satisfactory new deal.

The Mirror says Jose Mourinho will be unveiled as Chelsea's new coach after the Champions' League final but quotes Ajax's Louis van Gaal as saying he is not ready to move to Stamford Bridge as technical director.

Despite earlier denials from the Hull City manager, the Mail on Sunday says the former Tottenham player Peter Taylor is their first choice to take over from David Pleat at White Hart Lane, even though chairman Daniel Levy has spoken to Claudio Ranieri's advisors. However, the Sunday Express reckons Martin O'Neill has been told the Tottenham manager's job is his if he wants it.

The Express says West Bromwich Albion manager Gary Megson is in the frame for the vacant Leeds job along with Gordon Strachan and Iain Dowie, but the Mirror claims Strachan and Dowie have ruled themselves out, which makes coach Kevin Blackwell favourite. The News of the World adds that Wigan manager Paul Jewell is a possibility and reckons Wigan are ready to make a move for Hartlepool's Neale Cooper if they lose Jewell.