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Liverpool are understood to have sounded out Internazionale boss Jose Mourinho in case Rafael Benitez leaves Anfield.

Well that's what the back pages of the British tabloids reckon, with The Sun quoting a Liverpool insider as follows:

"The Americans had read Mourinho was interested in returning to the Premier League and wanted to know if he meant it.

"But it wasn't a firm approach or a job offer. It was more a case of testing the water in case Rafa did decide to walk out."

Okay, it makes sense. Benitez's relationship with "the Americans" (co-chairmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett) has been fractious at best, and all parties have been stalling over signing a new contract and securing the future of the Spaniard's assistants.

However, the decision of Liverpool to part ways with chief executive Rick Parry implies that Benitez has won his war to gain full control over transfers and development, and that he will now sign a deal to stay at the club for four more years.

And even if he does yearn for a return to England, why would Mourinho move to Liverpool from Inter with the Italians the dominant force in domestic football and one creative midfielder short of a Champions League-winning side?

Another complicated management situation has seen Guus Hiddink tipped to stay at Chelsea beyond the summer.

Temporary Blues boss Hiddink has constantly expressed commitment to his full-time role as Russia coach but friend, Chelsea owner and Russian FA bankroller Roman Abramovich is reported to have found a solution.

It involves Dick Advocaat, another highly-regarded Dutch coach plying his trade in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg.

Advocaat won the UEFA Cup with Zenit, but his cycle at the club is nearing its end and the national team job is a natural progression for the former Rangers and Netherlands boss.

Hiddink, meanwhile, is relishing the challenge of rejuvenating Stamford Bridge and has already identified the kind of creative talent Chelsea are lacking by recommending CSKA Moscow winger Yuri Zhirkov and Bayern Munich playmaker Franck Ribery as summer targets.

Ribery is also a target for Barcelona, according to El Mundo Deportivo.

That would mean the end of someone at the Camp Nou, almost certainly Eidur Gudjohnsen and quite probably Thierry Henry who, despite finding form in Catalonia, misses his kid daughter and wants to come back to England. Madness.

Exclusive! Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou has his heart set on playing for Arsenal. Thing is, everyone knows Kalou supports the Gunners; hell, it even says so on Football Manager.

"Arsene Wenger said he thought of signing me? That is an honour. He is a very great coach and I know every single player in the world dreams of playing for him," the Ivorian told Setanta.

"I am still under contract with Chelsea but of course I have plenty of friends who play for Arsenal. They are achieving huge things at Arsenal and to watch them play is beautiful."

Yesterday GS told of Kia Joorabchian's dinner with Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic. While the Spanish press insisted the topic of discussion was Carlos Tevez, Joorabchian claimed he was in Madrid to watch Javier Mascherano play for Liverpool and that Mijatovic was just a pal.

Still, Tevez is no closer to being offered a contract by United and Madrid will bid for him if they fail again to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.

At the other end of the transfer hierarchy, Sheffield Wednesday have put a £2 million price tag on defender Tommy Spurr, with Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Bolton all eyeing the 21-year-old.

Spurr, who can play at left-back and centre-half, was the subject of two failed bids from Queens Park Rangers last season and is viewed as a potential international player.

Reda Maher / Eurosport