Dec. 21 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers:

LIVERPOOL

Liverpool may buy only Blackburn full-back Lucas Neill in January because the Christmas holiday will contribute to a delay in a takeover of the club and reduce the money coach Rafa Benitez has to spend on players, the Times reported.

Benitez had expected the club's acquisition by Dubai International Capital LLC would be completed in time to give him a cash windfall during January's so-called transfer window, the newspaper said.

The sale to Dubai's state-owned investment company for 450 million pounds ($885 million) may not now be completed until March, the Times added.

Liverpool will offer about 1 million pounds for Neill, who represented Australia during the World Cup and has six months on his contract, the newspaper reported. Neill said he'd love to join Liverpool before a proposed move collapsed in August.

Blackburn is close to replacing Neill with Andriy Nesmachnyi of Dynamo Kiev and may also pay about 1 million pounds for Birmingham midfielder David Dunn, the Times said.

SOCCER ON PUB TELEVISIONS

Newcastle and Middlesbrough are among clubs who want the Premier League to crack down on pubs showing live games via satellite from Asia and other regions, saying they reduce attendances, the Daily Mirror reported.

Newcastle says the number of fans traveling to away matches has fallen, while Boro reckons the channels are behind a drop in crowds at its Riverside stadium, the newspaper said.

WENGER STILL EYEING TITLE

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said he hasn't given up hope of winning this season's Premiership, though it would be ``pretentious'' to say his team will be champions, the Independent and Guardian reported.

Arsenal lies fourth in the 20-team standings, 14 points behind Manchester United.

CHARLTON SMUGGLES OUT COACH

Charlton coach Les Reed was smuggled out of a disabled exit to avoid a crowd of angry fans after this week's defeat to fourth-tier Wycombe in the League Cup, the Sun reported.

Reed, whose team has won once in seven games since his appointment on Nov. 14, waited until midnight before leaving the Valley stadium, the newspaper said.

TRANSFER NEWS

Sheffield United coach Neil Warnock is coming round to the idea of spending most of the 7 million pounds he has available in January on Preston striker David Nugent, the Times said.

Kevin Thomson of Edinburgh's Hibernian told the Daily Record he'd like to speak to club chairman Rod Petrie, who rejected Charlton's bid of 3 million pounds for the midfielder and striker Scott Brown.

``Who wouldn't fancy playing in the Premiership?'' Thomson is quoted saying.

An unidentified Middlesbrough spokesman dismissed reports that on-loan defender Jonathan Woodgate will return to Real Madrid in January, the Independent said. Woodgate has played in 13 of 15 games since joining the club.

Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton is happy at the club, his agent Willie McKay told the Independent following reports he'd like a transfer.

Newcastle coach Glenn Roeder said he doesn't intend to resurrect the sale of James Milner to Aston Villa, which came close to signing the winger in August, the Times reported. Roeder pointed out that Milner had appeared in 15 of 18 league matches this season, starting 13 of them.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Mills in London at Rmills5@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 21, 2006 05:25 EST