Today's Papers / Top Dog / 01 January 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:

The window is open - and so is open season for speculation. Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov is the most likely big money player to move, but where to? The Sun says he's Chelsea's top target in a £26million swoop, while the Mirror reckons Roman Abramovich has already secured Nicolas Anelka as their new striker for £10million. Top Dog reckons the Mirror is more likely to be right - Anelka could play with Didier Drogba when he gets back, Berbatov's too similar.

Cruft's:

Daily Mail - I've managed Inter Milan, why should this job scare me? - Roy Hodgson talks about his ambitions for Fulham. The answer to the question in the title? Has he seen Fulham's players?!! Hodgson starts in the deep end at home to Chelsea today. Odds of [7] for him to start with a win, [4.2] to get a point. Avram Grant's side, not surprisingly, are [1.61] favourites

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Express - Prove I'm not a bit part player - James McFadden will provide a test for David Moyes' management. Can he keep his fringe players happy. The hero of Scotland's Euro 2008 campaign has been offered a new contract but wants regular football. Everton are 2.48 to win at Middlesbrough today

Daily Mirror - Spurs say it's no-go Defoe - Daniel Levy wants Jermain Defoe to sign a new contract with Aston Villa and Portsmouth both trying to buy him. John Cross reveals that the England striker is in the process of changing agents to be represented by Mitchell Thomas.

Daily Mirror - Hughes: Savage won't be sold on the cheap - Expect the start of a row between Robbie Savage and Blackburn. Sunderland are leading Fulham and Derby in a race to sign him. Mark Hughes is warning he won't part with the Welsh midfield man unless the price is right

Daily Mirror - Villa fits the bill at Derby - No, not even Paul Jewell could persuade David Villa to move to Pride Park and almost certain Championship football. This is Argentinian striker Emanuel Villa, leading scorer for Mexican side UAG Tecos, and Alan Nixon says he'll be signed for £2million before the weekend.

The Sun - We're at sixes and sevens - Steve Coppell wants Reading to go all out for revenge today for the 7-4 defeat by Portsmouth. Goals galore when they last met, goals galore when Reading played Tottenham on Saturday. It's [13] for a 0-0 draw at The Madejski Stadium this afternoon and Top Dog's already put his pennies on!!

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mail - Gab's just fab - Neil Ashton reckons Fabio Capello has already earmarked Aston Villa's Gabby Agbonlahor to go into his first senior squad next month. Capello doesn't start work until January 7 but has, supposedly, been watching videos. Ashton could well be right that Agbonlahor and David Bentley will be in the Italian's first squad, but there's no way he knows for sure. It's guesswork

Daily Express - Real target £50m Ronaldo - Harry Harris says "Cristiano Ronaldo will accept a £50million move to Real Madrid in the summer". No doubt that Real Madrid want Manchester United's brightest star but there's no way you can be so certain it will happen. Will the speculation unsettle Ronaldo? United are now [1.94] to lay for the Premier League title.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Chelsea's £26m Berba swoop - Green's gr-eight - Ian Wright column on Berbatov - Fred's reunited - Couple of smart Alex - Roy Hodgson interview - Avram Grant says Blues are ready to pounce on title slip-ups - Speed checks in for Sheff Utd

Daily Express - Megson resigned to losing Anelka - It all adds up for McLeish - Hodgson returns to earn English credit - Robert Green interview - Berbatov price hike - Grim from Harry's window - Owen can ease Sam's worries

Daily Star - Roo's got double vision - Allardyce wants Ashley transfer money - Avram will win boos battle - I'm still Ful of beans says Hodgson - Keane's new bid for Stephen Hunt - Fergie on McLeish - Upson on going back to Arsenal - Boro warn we'll keep Yak quiet

Daily Mirror - We've nicked Nic - Real's £45m bid to land Ronaldo - The Eck factor - Hope for outcast Nugent - Hodgson interview - Ramos will spend to tighten defence - The Ljung goodbye

Daily Mail - New England for New Year - O'Neill factor has fans flocking to Villa - Keane unleashing dogs of war - Freddie fights to be fit