Fulham challenge Arsenal to get Raheem Sterling

Could Arsenal be on the brink of another beating, and this time from lowly Fulham? The Gunners have been ranging in on QPR "wonderkid" Raheem Sterling, but according to the Daily Mirror the 15-year-old might be about to sign for London rivals Fulham.

Sterling was born in Jamaica but came to London when he was five and in the past 10 years he's grown into a gifted forward. QPR's head of development, Steve Gallen, described the teenage sensation as a player who "has loads of natural ability. This boy can pass, shoot, head it, score goals, tackle, defend, anything".
 
He was man of the match for the England Under-16 side when they beat their Northern Ireland counterparts in November and it was form like that, says the Mirror, that prompted Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to order the club's academy director Liam Brady "to sign him up".

But with Wenger distracted by Arsenal's sudden loss of form, Fulham have snuck in on the blindside and "sounded out" QPR about a summer transfer for Sterling. The paper says that the Cottagers hope to secure Sterling – who turned 15 in December – for "£1.5 million with a number of add-ons should he fulfil his potential".

The Daily Mail reports that Manchester United are "still interested" in Racing Santander's Sergio Canales. The paper says the 18-year-old midfielder, who had been expected to sign for Real Madrid having "verbally agreed" a deal with the Spanish giants worth an estimated £10m, has still not put pen to paper.

The news has pricked up the ears of Alex Ferguson, who has coveted the Spanish Under-19 star for months, as have a host of Premier League clubs including Manchester City and Arsenal. The sticking point, according to the Mail, is that Real Madrid are "reluctant" to pay more than £3.5m if loan-back arrangements can't be agreed upon. Racing Santander are understandably playing hardball because of Canales's potential.

As for the player himself, Canales says he's trying to put the fuss to the back of his mind.  "Right now I don't think about it. I am focused on the Cup [semi-final of the Copa del Rey], because we can make history," he added.

The Mirror reports that Liverpool's Spanish stars, Albert Riera, Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina, have pledged their allegiance to the club and promised the Anfield faithful they won't be leaving Merseyside. Winger Riera has dismissed suggestions that the trio would leave if the Reds failed to qualify for next season's Champions League.

"It isn't in the character of any of us to turn our backs and run somewhere else when times are tough," Riera said. "All of us would like to look back on our Liverpool career and say it was a success. It is clear how happy Pepe and Fernando are at the club and I have no doubt they will both be here for a very long time no matter what happens."

Riera added that all of them believe Liverpool will weather the current storm and go on to great things. "They have both said to me that they want to make history with Liverpool and I share that ambition. For me, if the club offered a five, six or seven-year contract right now, I'd sign it with my eyes closed. Where else is there to go? Being anywhere else would be a step down. I have everything I need in Liverpool." ·