* Blackpool midfielder and captain Charlie Adam is at loggerheads with his employers over an unpaid £20,000 payment in his contract and could walk out on the club for nothing.

* Barcelona's 39-year-old coach Josep Guardiola is in line to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when the Scot retires.

* Top Premier League footballers are using a major tax loophole to protect their multi-million pound salaries from the tax authorities. Clubs are adopting completely-legal EFRBS - employer-financed retirement benefit schemes - to allow players to sacrifice up to 50 per cent of their wages at source to be placed in a trust that is set aside for their retirement.

* Bayern Munich have launched a £40m bid to rival Manchester City for the signing of Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko in January.

* Wigan are keen to sign on-loan Bolton keeper Ali Al-Habsi - leaving a question mark over Chris Kirkland's future at the DW Stadium.

* Italian giants Juventus have emerged as the surprise candidates to sign striker Robbie Keane from Tottenham once the January transfer window opens.

* Midfielder Steven Pienaar has sparked a four-club scramble for his services after stalling on a new deal with Everton. The South African international, who is free to speak to prospective suitors in January, has been linked with Inter Milan, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.