RUMOURS; Football fact and fiction from the Sunday newspapers

David Platt is likely to join Arsenal, according to the News of the World. The England midfielder, who will decide whether to leave Sampdoria in the near future, has also been approached by Blackburn and Everton the same paper claims.

Manchester United will increase their bid for Tottenham's Darren Anderton, the Mail on Sunday suggests, and may even break the club's transfer record. The paper says that Anderton's contract has a clause entitling him to talk to any club which bids more than pounds 6m for him.

If United fail to land Anderton, the Sunday Express suggests they will switch their attention to his Tottenham and England team-mate Nick Barmby, with Lee Sharpe perhaps moving the other way.

The Express also reports that Queen's Park Rangers will sign Reading midfielder Simon Osborn for pounds 1m today, with Rangers' striker Michael Meaker moving in part-exchange.

Opinions differ about Leeds' chances of signing Parma's Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla. The News of the World claims the deal moved a step closer over the weekend, with the Italian club looking for a fee of around pounds 7.5m. The Mail on Sunday reports that Parma insist Asprilla is not for sale, but that Leeds will continue their pursuit for a fee much less than pounds 7.5m.