Football shorts - All the latest from Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa

Manu Adebayor has been at his lumbering worst this season, even being outshone by a misfiring Jermaine Defoe, and the Daily Mirror have cast their net wide for a list of possible replacements. Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke, Braga’s Portuguese forward Eder or QPR hitman Loic Remy are the likely targets to replace him, but the Togo star says he won’t be forced out of the club.

Meanwhile, in Islington... Longtime Arsenal target and ageing Spaniard David Villa has reportedly missed the boat on a move to the Emirates, as the Mirror cites his age and Arsenal’s burgeoning interest in Fiorentina’s Stefan Jovetic as reasons his time has passed for a move to become a Gooner.

Speaking of Arsenal, The Daily Star seems to have the wacky idea that Arsene could make a swoop for Cesc Fabregas this summer as the Catalans could put him up for sale to finance stadium work, which seems about as likely

Not short on strikers, Manchester United hope they can still win the race for Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, as the Germans won’t want to sell to their Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich. (Daily Mail)

If Lewandowski does leave Dortmund, they could move to replace him with Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse. (Daily Express)

Sunderland want Danny Rose permanently. That’s not too interesting. So the good ol’ Metro have jazzed it up by suggesting he could set back the Wearsiders £8 MILLION! When looking at Sunderland’s history of transfer fund profligacy, you wouldn’t bet against it...

Tony ‘Britain’s nicest squillionaire’ Fernandes, is having talks with Harry Redknapp over a fire-sale of QPR’s under-performing stars before their life in the Championship begins in August. Poor guys.

And finally... Jeffrey Bruma is set to return to Chelsea after Hamburg broke off their brief relationship with the midfielder. Aww.