Michael Owen ‘gets ready for life at Derby County’

Manchester United may be gearing up to play Barcelona in the final of the Champions League but it seems one of their number is preparing for life in the Championship. Reports suggest that striker Michael Owen will join Derby County after accepting that he no longer has a future at Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old former England striker has scored just 13 goals in 29 appearances since joining United in 2009 and with Javier Hernandez enjoying an outstanding season Owen knows the writing is on the wall. And, according to the Metro, Derby boss Nigel Clough has identified Owen as a player who still has much to offer in the Championship.

The Rams are claimed to be putting together "a £1.5 million package" to bring Owen to Pride Park. "There will be money available," Clough is quoted as saying. "We want six or eight players, it will be a mix of experience, free transfers and at least one 'biggish' signing."

It's surely a first in the footballing world but, according to the Metro, Real Madrid scouts have been spotted at Loftus Road. Apparently they didn't get lost on their way to Stamford Bridge but have in fact been eyeing up Adel Taarabt, the 21-year-old Moroccan hitman whose 19 goals this season helped secure Queen's Park Rangers' promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.

Taarabt spent three fruitless seasons at Tottenham before winding up at QPR in 2009 and since then he's blossomed into a lethal striker, so much so that Liverpool and Manchester United have been monitoring his progress. But Taarabt has allegedly told teammates he's "on Jose Mourinho's radar".

The west London club would love to keep Taarabt for next season as they face the challenge of staying in the Premier League but if Real offer silly money QPR might well accept. That would please Spurs, who sold the Moroccan to QPR for £1m with a sell-on fee included in the deal that would net the Lilywhites around 50 per cent of any transfer fee.

Talksport says that Porto are playing hardball as Premier League clubs eye up their top talents. The Portuguese side have enjoyed a superb season, winning their domestic league and in all probability reaching the final of the Europa League, but that hasn't stopped the likes of Liverpool and Spurs sniffing around their stars.

It's claimed that Liverpool are keen to sign Ronaldo, the 25-year-old central defender, but have been told they will have to hand over £17.5m for the Portuguese international. Spurs, meanwhile, like the look of strikers Falcao and Hulk – or Givanildo Vieira de Souza to give him his full name – but the pair are valued at a total of £40m.

Between them they have scored 36 goals this season, hence the interest of Spurs. Porto president Pinto da Costa hasn't closed the door on suitors but he's made it clear they better come laden with cash: "The idea is to keep our players because they are all under contract," he said. "If any club is interested we would study their offers - if they are above the release clauses - but we are very quiet."

Finally, Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh has rubbished suggestions that he might be on his way out of the Emirates in the summer. The 27-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Bordeaux last season, has scored 15 goals in the Gunners' disappointing campaign and in recent weeks has been linked with a move to Marseille. But in an interview with France Football, Chamakh said: "My goal is to respect the four-year contract I have with Arsenal." ·