Transfer rumours and paper review with John Cross – Wednesday, January 9

Here is all of Wednesday’s transfer gossip and paper talk...

Liverpool are close to finalising a £6m deal for Blackpool forward Tom Ince, 20, after a breakthrough in negotiations. (Daily Mail)

Former England captain David Beckham has been offered a two-year deal to join the Qatar Stars League. (The Sun)

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup wants Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones, 28, to replace Danny Graham, who is being chased by Reading and Sunderland. (Daily Mirror)

Laudrup is also lining up another cut-price deal from Spain with a £750,000 move for Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas. (Daily Telegraph)

Arsenal will this week make an improved five-year offer of £25m to Theo Walcott in a bid to resolve the 23-year-old forward's contract saga. (Daily Mail)

Manchester United's path to signing Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, 20, looks to be clear after Tottenham insisted they would not pursue the youngster. (Daily Telegraph)

Rafael Benitez has warned Chelsea's senior players that they must face up to the prospect of their inevitable departures from Stamford Bridge. (The Times)

Manchester United striker Davide Petrucci, 21, and defender Scott Wootton, 21, are expected to move on loan to Championship side Peterborough United - managed by Sir Alex Ferguson's son, Darren - this week. (Peterborough Telegraph)

Reading have made an approach to sign Manchester United's 22-year-old England forward Danny Welbeck. (The Times)

Manchester United's 34-year-old defender Rio Ferdinand is ready to snub deals from the Middle East, MLS and China and instead pledge his future to the Old Trafford club. (Daily Star)

And here are the latest tales from talkSPORT.co.uk...

Arsenal blow as Barcelona rule out Villa exit

Galatasaray president confirms Turkish club in talks to sign Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan

Inter Milan in talks to land Man City striker

PSV star 'set for £18m Premier League move'

Arsenal to ditch flop Denilson permanently

AC Milan president Berlusconi admits interest in Newcastle ace

Inter Milan may take on Tottenham for Damiao

Tottenham weighing up bid for Belhanda

Rennes fight off Spurs interest in starlet

Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal chasing PSG youngster

Lazio fight to fend off Liverpool interest in defender

PSG set their sights on Chelsea and Man City target

Celta Vigo striker rules out Swansea switch

Malaga to reject all bids for Isco

AC Milan to hijack Southampton's bid for Italy defender

Brazilian striker in West Ham medical