Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan swallowed the disappointment of defeat at former club Newcastle to trumpet the international claims of Shaun Wright-Phillips - the man who very nearly snatched his side an unlikely point.

The visitors looked dead and buried at St James' Park after Laurent Robert and Alan Shearer had combined to fire the home side into a 2-0 lead.

However, it was then that Wright-Phillips chose his moment to explode into action, firing home in the 64th minute.

The winger eventually ended up on the losing side after a thrilling encounter, but Keegan could not hide his admiration for Wright-Phillips.

He said: "I'd put him ahead of anything else - he's the best player in England and we've got him. We need to build round that." (Daily Mail)

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American businessman Malcolm Glazer is close to pulling off his audacious takeover of Manchester United, according to the Daily Express.

The paper claims to have obtained documents which prove United’s major shareholders JP McManus and John Magnier are almost certainly negotiating "an irrevocable deal right now".

The document also apparently suggests Glazer could raise money for the deal by selling off Old Trafford and then leasing back the stadium.

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Rangers boss Alex McLeish has branded Everton chief executive Keith Wyness as "stubborn" over negotiations to resolve defender Michael Ball’s future.

The Ibrox club will trigger a £500,000 clause if the ex-Goodison Park player, who has played 54 times for Rangers, makes his 60th appearance following a £6.5million move in 2001.

They are looking to avoid making the payment and hope to strike a compromise deal with Everton, but Wyness will not budge.

McLeish said: "I would have thought a compromise would be best but, if Wyness wants to be stubborn, so be it." (Daily Mirror)