This Wednesday is the day in England (and Wales this time) that the nation turns its attentions to another game. Cricket's Ashes series gets underway, the full story of which is told on Cricinfo, our sister site. Many a football fans has turned to the sports section of his chosen daily and found that football is relegated to a single page. Two, if you're lucky.

Does that stop our gentlemen of the press getting stuck into rumour and conjecture? Of course it doesn't.

Always a good place to start is Newcastle where it seems something of a revolt is going on. The Guardian's well informed scribe Louise Taylor documents what seems to a rebellion calling for Alan Shearer to be installed as boss at St James' Park. Not only that the club's leading "stars" (ahem) will walk if Mike Ashley does not sell the club. The soap opera that keeps on giving is still, well, giving.

Chelsea's quiet summer, give or take a Russian flanker and a "want-away skipper" may take off if talk in the Telegraph and Guardian that Franck Ribery is set to made more available because, shock, horror, Real Madrid think they might have spent too much. Not only that but Jorge Valdano, Real sporting director, says Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is overpriced at £35m.

On the subject of Mr Chelsea, John Terry, we find ourselves back again. The Mirror say Manchester City will mount another bid while The Indepedent say that Wayne Bridge, pal of JT now playing for City wants his mate in the same defence and has intimated (no direct quotes) that the modern-day gladiator is ready to move up to the Cheshire plain. The Sun say Terry wants a showdown with Roman Abramovich.

Should City fail to land JT then the Daily Star say they will turn to Bayern Munich's Lucio as their back-up.

Elsewhere, Spurs want Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross, and will send Didier Zokora and £2m to the Potteries, say The Sun.

Much-wanted Belgian midfielder Steven Defour is Everton's target and they are prepared to pay £13m to Standard Liege for him say The Independent.