The Mill: Monday Transfer Rumours - Capello Prefers Terry?

England manager Fabio Capello insisits his decision to restore John Terry to the England captaincy, just over a year after he took it away, was made for purely footballing reasons, as the Italian didn't want to be forced into selecting misfit defender Rio Ferdinand to start every match. -- (The Sun)

Jose Mourinho is Sheikh Mansour's first and only choice to replace ineffectual Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini at the end of the season, with the Portuguese boss finally ready to leave Madrid for Manchester and United kingpin Alex Ferguson unwilling to open up a job at Old Trafford. -- (Daily Mail)

Arsene Wenger has labeled the lumpy pitch at the Hawthorns "scandalous" and "unfit for rugby," after Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Brom. The Frenchman believes his Arsenal side could win the title if they were allowed to play all of their remaining games on the pristine pitch at the Emirates Stadium. -- (Daily Mail)

Chelsea's wonderkid defender David Luiz has described his goal against Manchester City on Sunday as the "best moment of his life." Luiz was desperate to prove City wrong after the Blues mysteriously rejected the opportunity to sign him in 2009 in favor of Everton's world-class centerback Joleon Lescott. -- (Telegraph)

Manchester United supremo Alex Ferguson has shrugged off suggestions he was laughing at bench-ridden striker Dimitar Berbatov during Tuesday's Champions League victory over Marseille at Old Trafford, claiming he's not the only person who laughs at Berbatov on a regular basis. -- (The Metro)

Barcelona's Brazilian right-wing back Dani Alves is ready to reject a move to Manchester City in the summer, after revealing he'll only play for a manager willing to allow his fullbacks to enter the opposition's half. -- (News of the World)

Aston Villa stand poised to renew their interest in Manchester United's Michael Owen following suggestions United could cancel his contract at the end of the season. Villa manager Gerard Houllier believes he can bring the former England international back to his Liverpool best, even if he's out injured. -- (Daily Mirror)

Di Matteo Sacked for Trying to Buy Team of Strikers

BIRMINGHAM (DF) - Reports emerging from the West Midlands suggest Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by West Bromwich Albion for attempting to buy at least 29 strikers during the January transfer window.

Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace took the unusual step of sacking the former Italian international midfielder earlier this month, less than a year after he led them back to the Premier League. It was initially thought Peace made the decision because he had confused his club with a midtable side, but it now appears he was acting to save his club from an act of football experimentation.

"He was too flamboyant," remarked Peace during a recent interview. "We had a good relationship apart from his flamboyance."

West Brom's sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth confirmed the amount of striker bids in a statement on the club's official website. "We actually made bids on 29 strikers in January to take on loan. I can't really believe it either."

When asked for further comment from the club, a West Brom spokeswoman failed to sufficiently elaborate and refused to confirm the excess strikers were the sole reason Di Matteo was let go. "Roberto left for footballing reasons. We appreciate his tireless work during the transfer window this past January. What we tried was unprecedented and it didn't work out."

A League Managers Association spokesman, speaking on behalf of Di Matteo, had a different opinion. "What Roberto did isn't without precedence. It would have worked out. A lot of managers have used the 0-10 formation successfully in the past. They play strikers out of position all the time. Roberto wanted to bring an all-out-attack mentality to West Brom, and, unfortunately, the powers that be wouldn't let that happen."

Last week, the Baggies appointed ex-Liverpool manager and perennial anti-attacker Roy Hodgson as Di Matteo's successor.

"We're surprised and lucky to have him," said Ashworth of Hodgson. "He fits our vision of the anti-football perfectly."