Arsenal and Barcelona vie for Man Utd’s Ravel Morrison

ARSENAL are closing in on Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison according to the the Mirror, though the Daily Star claims Barcelona also have designs on the 18-year-old playmaker. Apparently Gunners boss Arsene Wenger likes the cut of Morrison’s jib and the Mirror says the feeling is mutual, with the nutty professor’s interest “welcomed” by the England Under-19 star. 
 
Rumours suggest Morrison is unhappy that he hasn’t had more game time at Old Trafford and the final straw was the return from retirement of Paul Scholes, at 37-year-old old enough to be the teenager’s dad. It’s reported that Newcastle had a £1m offer for Morrison knocked back last week by United but Arsenal intend to dangle a bigger bid under the noses of the Red Devils following Sunday’s humiliation at Swansea.
 
But if the Star is talking straight then the Gunners might have a fight on their hands with Barcelona. The red top claims that Barca boss Pep Guardiola is about to launch an “ audacious swoop” for Morrison having seen footage of him and hearing favourable reports from his scouts. Guardiola is said to like what he sees and believes United will sell if the price is right. 
 
The Star quotes a source close to Morrison as saying: “It will be interesting to see what happens. He isn’t short of options.” United would like to keep Morrison but contract negotiations have broken down and Ferguson allegedly has his concerns about the young man’s attitude.
 
Talking of attitude, the BBC reports that Queen’s Park Rangers chief executive Phillip Beard has pooh-poohed suggestions that Joey Barton could soon be on his way out of the club following the arrival of Mark Hughes as manager. 
 
Rumours emerged at the end of last week that Hughes – who replaced Neil Warnock earlier in the month – considered the 29-year-old midfielder surplus to requirements. But that idea was news to Beard. “I can categorically tell you there's been no discussions in the time I've spent with Mark or his team this week about anyone leaving,” he told the BBC, adding that Barton “is the captain, he came in the summer and is part of the building work we want to do. He’s been fantastic.”
 
The Express reports that Liverpool Kenny Dalglish has turned down an enquiry from Aston Villa concerning Andy Carroll. The former Newcastle striker arrived at Anfield 12 months ago but has turned out to be as wayward as an Italian sea captain, prompting rumours that the 23-year-old Geordie would be sold on by the Reds. 
 
But the Express says Dalglish rejected an offer from Villa boss Alex McLeish to swap Carroll for England frontman Darren Bent, saying the Liverpool boss is “adamant” the striker is staying put on Merseyside.
 
In other news, goal.com reports that Harry Redknapp is doing his best to bolster France’s finances following the loss of their Triple A credit rating. Apparently the Tottenham boss was in Marseille on Sunday to run the rule over Loic Remy with a view to making a £15m offer for the 25-year-old striker. 
 
The French international failed to fire in Marseille’s 2-0 win against Lille but nonetheless goal.com reckons that Redknapp sees Remy as a ready-made replacement for Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Russian frontman may be offered to Marseille along with the £15m offer as the French club are reported to value Remy at £22m.
 
Finally, the Sun reports that Dimitar Berbatov is wanted by German giants Bayern Munich and the club have made an initial approach to Manchester United. Apparently Bayern will offer Untied £8m for the beanpole Bulgarian, along with a promise of regular game time in the Bundesliga.
 
Berbatov has started just nine of United’s 31 games this season and is now considered fourth choice at Old Trafford after Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez. However, according to the Daily Mail it’s not Bayern that are luring Berbatov to Germany but Bayer Leverkusen. They claim that the 30-year-old fly to Germany on Sunday night with his agent to discuss terms with Leverkusen. ·