Papiss Demba Cisse in frame for Arsenal move

As Arsenal prepare for their crucial Premier League encounter against Liverpool on Sunday, Talksport reports that the Gunners are eyeing up Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cisse. The 25-year-old has been a major influence in the unfancied German club's rise to the top echelons of the Bundesliga this season, scoring 20 goals in 27 league appearances to put Freiburg within touching distance of European football next season.

Cisse, a Senegal international, joined Freiburg from French club Metz in 2009 for just £1.5m. Such has been his form this season that he could go for seven times that figure if Arsenal do make a bid for the rangy frontman.

Talksport quotes Freiburg sporting director Dirk Dufner as saying: "Several clubs in the Bundesliga and from abroad, including the Premier League, have approached us officially, but have not decided anything yet. We need to value many things and do it privately at the end of the season."

Apparently Fulham are also keen on Cisse. But despite Arsenal's lack of trophies this season, would any self-respecting hitman chose the Cottagers over the Gunners?

If the Metro is to be believed, Arsenal are also in the hunt for Porto striker Radamel Falcao. The 25-year-old has netted more times than any other player in this season's Europa League and as a result both Arsenal and Aston Villa are reported to be weighing up their options with regard to the Colombian ace.

Falcao, who honed his skills for River Plate in Argentina, has scored 10 times in the Europa League, including a hat-trick against Spartak Moscow. The Metro says that cash-strapped Porto have told Arsenal and Villa that they won't consider offers below £15m while the player himself is quoted as saying: "I'm just thinking about finishing my contract well... unless the directors take a different decision, I'm concentrated on this club and available for a renewal."

Across London at Stamford Bridge, the talk is all about Roman Abramovich clearing out the stables. With their miserable exit from the Champions League making this the least successful season in the Russian oligarch's eight-year reign, the Evening Standard claims John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are all in line for the knacker's yard.

With manager Carlo Ancelotti likely to leave the club in May, the Standard claims Abramovich believes it's necessary to replace his aging senior players with fresh talent. The English trio – all now in their thirties – join fellow high profile teammates Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda among the possible players up for sale this summer.

And who will replace them?  Santos' Neymar, Athletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero and Anderlecht's Romelu Lukaku are all said to be on the Russian's hit list.

Reports filtering back from Italy claim that AC Milan are on the brink of launching an audacious bid for Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko - that's the same Dzeko who only arrived at Eastlands from Wolfsburg in January in a £27m deal. AC Milan will apparently will offer the Sky Blues Swedish stringbean striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in part-exchange.

It's claimed that Man City coach Roberto Mancini is a fan of Ibrahimovic, who has scored 14 league goals this season for Milan, while Dzeko has yet to find his feet in the hurly-burly world of English football and is still searching for his first Premier League goal.

The French papers allege that Liverpool look unlikely to get their hands on St Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi after the French club signalled their willingness to listen to an offer from Italian outfit Genoa. Apparently the Reds' director of football, Damien Comolli, likes the cut of Matuidi's jib and wanted to bring him to Anfield in the summer. Now it appears that the 24-year-old Matuidi – who has played twice for France – will be heading to Genoa "for a large amount of money".

Finally, the Daily Mail reports that Aston Villa have let it be known that Ashley Young will not be going anywhere in the summer for anything under £25m. The England winger is wanted by Liverpool, Spurs and Manchester United. However, Villa, while keen to cash in while they can, want to ensure respective buyers know where they stand before the auction begins. ·