NEWCASTLE United and Sunderland both feature heavily in today's football tranefer rumours.

Sunderland, Celtic and Rangers are all in the race to sign Watford centre-back Danny Shittu. (Daily Star)

The Black Cats are also hoping to hijack Hull City's £2m bid for Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng. (The Sun)

Wigan are willing to pay up to £10m to sign Everton striker Andy Johnson, who is also wanted by Sunderland. (The Sun)

Newcastle are reported to be lining up a £5m move for Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell. (Daily Mirror)

But Sidwell is also said to be on the verge of a £5m move to Aston Villa to replace Liverpool-bound Gareth Barry. (Daily Star, The Times)

West Brom are lining up a £2.5m bid for Newcastle striker Shola Ameoli and also want £3m-rated Bolton defender Abdoulaye Meite. (The Sun)

Elsewhere, Arsenal winger Alex Hleb says he has fallen out with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and would like to play for Barcelona next season. (Daily Mirror)

Inter Milan are prepared to pay up to £8m to sign Frank Lampard from Chelsea (Daily Mirror), £9m (The Sun) or £11m. (The Independent)

Chelsea insist they have not received an offer for Lampard and expect him to see out his contract at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Star)

New Chelsea boss Luiz Feliope Scolari wants Lampard to stay and the England midfielder is also looking for a new deal with the Blues, but is yet to be offered a new contract. (The Independent)

Scolari will allow Andriy Shevchenko, Florent Malouda, Claudio Pizarro, Steve Sidwell and Carlo Cudicini to leave Chelsea. (Daily Mirror)

Martin O'Neill is considering accepting Liverpool's £15m bid for Barry now that Steve Finnan has been offered in addition in a part-exchange deal. (The Times)

Chelsea are demanding £24m for want-away striker Didier Drogba but are yet to receive any offers. (The Independent)

Fenerbahce's Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos, 35, claims Chelsea want to sign him (Daily Star)

Blackburn are willing to sell England winger David Bentley but have told Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa that their asking price is £17m. (Daily Mirror)

Real Madrid are still chasing Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo even though the Portuguese winger is out injured for the next six weeks. (The Sun)

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon says United should be 'proud' to let Ronaldo join them in what he says could be the 'transfer of the century'. (Daily Mirror)

Birmingham will sell Olivier Kapo to Wigan to fund a £3.5m move for Reading striker Dave Kitson. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa are lining up a season-long loan deal for Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster but are also eyeing Tottenham's Paul Robinson and USA international Brad Guzan. (The Sun)

Crewe are demanding £2m for striker Nicky Maynard after rejecting bids from Bristol City and Ipswich. (Daily Mirror)

Everton boss David Moyes hopes to persuade Manchester United to sell him Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher. (The Sun)

Hull have agreed a £1m fee for Boateng but face competition from Celtic and Fulham. (Daily Mirror)

Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi says he will turn down a move to Liverpool to fight for his place at Craven Cottage. (Daily Star)