Today's Papers / Top Dog / 13 February 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

Betfair's top dog sniffs around the truth behind the latest tabloid tales

Cruft's champion - Top stories that can dominate the news agenda
Pedigree chum - Insights that tell you something you don't know
Dog's dinner - Speculation, guesswork, or ideas that just don't come off

Top Dog says:

Graham Taylor was launching a grass roots football show at the NEC and spoke up about the Premier League's global expansion plans. He fears one of the big clubs will end up being moved like Wimbledon were to Milton Keynes - except in this case Manchester United or Chelsea could be based in Dubai or America. Or both - the Mirror headlines the story 'Dubai-bye United' while the Daily Star's back page turns them into 'New York United'. Meanwhile Sir Alex was in South Africa launching the club's summer tour. At least this will all be good for schoolteachers - young football fans have finally found a reason to brush up on their geography homework!

Cruft's:

Daily Star - Drog fancies £25m Barca bonanza - Didier Drogba is clearly still not settled at Chelsea. His Ivory Coast team mate Yaya Toure, brother of Arsenal's Kolo, has revealed that Drogba has told him he'd love to move to the Nou Camp. The Star's Danny Fullbrook has picked up the story from Spain. It could be good for Chelsea in the short term, though. The last time he had a moan about moving from the Bridge he came back and scored a load of goals. This time? Chelsea are [1.67] to win the Carling Cup next weekend.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mirror - Gunners will blow it ... again - United might be five points behind Arsenal but Sir Alex remains the master of putting pressure on. He's suggesting that the Gunners have had that sort of lead before and lost it, and might well do again. If he's right United are value at [3.2] for the title, and if they can catch odds-on Arsenal [1.67] then so can Chelsea [7.8].

Daily Mirror and others - Arsenal's new secret weapon: It's Henry - Emmanuel Adebayor reveals that while Thierry Henry might have left The Emirates he's still very much involved - ringing and texting his former team mate with advice! Working pretty well so far but can Adebayor come up with more goals when it matters against Manchester United this weekend? United are [2.22] to win the FA Cup tie of the round.

Daily Mail - Bridge fears the end if he's left out - Neil Ashton reports that Wayne Bridge is worried about his Chelsea place, and sees the Carling Cup final as a defining moment. If Avram Grant picks Ashley Cole in front of him he'll know it's time to move on. One to keep a watch on.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mail - Liverpool link - The Mail reckons Liverpool scouts are keen on Nigeria winger Osaze Peter Odemwingie for £8m. The 26-year-old has a Russian mother and Nigerian father, and plays for Lokomotiv Moscow. And how exactly are they going to get him a work permit?

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Adebayor interview - Fergie plays it cool - Rafa may be out after Inter - Championship match reports - League One matches - Yaklash for Everton - Bowyer is cleared

Daily Express - Cruyff blasts 39th step - More campaigns on global soccer plan - Henry giving first Ade to Arsenal - Profile on Ashley Young - Championship match reports - Darren Bent interview

Daily Star - Thierry texts made me Top Gun - Fergie: It's all to play for still - Robbo fate in the air - Championship match reports - We all love the Yak - Barton's off the hook

Daily Mirror - Dubai-bye United - Gerrard's woes - Taylor's FA plea - Yak's back - Just Orr inspiring for Bristol City - Robbo draws hope before crunch talks - Championship match reports

Daily Mail - Keep out says Asia football chief - Red hot Rooney is the key says Jamie Redknapp - Arsenal won't hold their nerve says Sir Alex - Villa owner Lerner against world tour plan - Championship match reports - You owe your pals, Moyes tells Yakubu

Tags: Arsenal, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, FA Cup, Man Utd