Football: That was the weekend that was: Rumours: Lazio `table pounds 21m bid for Anelka and Petit'

BOTH THE Mail on Sunday and People say Arsenal's Nicolas Anelka is still being courted by Italian clubs, aware of his discontent with life in London. The former says the young striker forms part of a proposed pounds 21m deal under which Lazio would sign both Anelka and Emmanuel Petit, valuing the forward at pounds 13m. The People reckons Arsenal have turned down a pounds 12m offer from Internazionale. It also reports that Arsenal have made "discreet enquiries" about Newcastle's Duncan Ferguson, amid rumours that Ruud Gullit will part with his former Everton striker for a money-back pounds 8m if a bid for Real Mallorca's Dani - reported in the Mail and News of the World - is successful.

Contrasting rumours surround the future of the Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich. While the News of the World claims the Australian has dropped his pay demands from pounds 40,000 to pounds 25,000-a-week in the hope of securing a move to Manchester United, the Sunday Mirror says he has turned down a Liverpool offer of pounds 50,000-a-week, unaware that United's top target is now Edwin van der Saar of Ajax. The People, meanwhile, reports interest from United in the pounds 5m-rated Bordeaux keeper Ulrich Rame.

Liverpool, the Mail says, now have their sights on Vitesse Arnhem goalkeeper Sander Westerveld, rated at pounds 3m, and are ready to step up their interest in Wolves defender Dean Richards. The Mirror reckons Gerard Houllier has been on a mission to France, hoping to tie up a pounds 5m deal with Lens for the Czech striker Vladimir Smicer, while the People believes Liverpool and Tottenham are each prepared to pay pounds 3m to 4m for Everton's Don Hutchison.

Middlesbrough have ambitious plans to bid pounds 10m for Robbie Fowler (People) and Chelsea have their sights on Leicester's Neil Lennon at pounds 5m (Mirror).