What the back pages of the papers say - May 5

Chelsea manager Avram Grant has received an apology from West Ham boss Alan Curbishley for claiming he 'would raise a glass' if Manchester United won the title.

Curbishley spoke at length to Grant at the funeral of Frank Lampard's mother in a belated attempt to clarify his comments.

Also: Fast bowler Shane Bond, who played in the rebel Indian Cricket League, is keen to end his stand-off with New Zealand Cricket and claimed that if the Kiwis wanted him for the forthcoming Test series against England he would make himself available.

THE GUARDIAN

Goalkeeper Petr Cech has suggested that Chelsea manager Avram Grant has succeeded in turning Chelsea into a better team than the one led by former boss Jose Mourinho. Meanwhile Grant admitted that the club's players have gradually overcome doubts over him.

Also: Sunderland boss Roy Keane believes he needs to make "major changes" to his first-team squad despite avoiding relegation from the Barclays Premier League and has no problems with getting rid of players who are on longer contracts but not up to the mark.

DAILY STAR

AC Milan have won the race to sign Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini. The France midfielder said his farewells to staff at the Emirates Stadium following the Gunners' 1-0 win over Everton and according to Milan managing director Adriano Galliani the 24-year-old will sign a four-year deal if he passes a medical.

Also: Sven-Goran Eriksson thanked the loyal Manchester City fans for their support in the match against Liverpool but admitted that he "does not think" owner Thaksin Shinawatra will keep him in charge of the club next season despite their efforts.

DAILY EXPRESS

Frank Lampard is set to sign a one-year contract extension at Chelsea because he would feel guilty about walking away from Stamford Bridge after the way everyone at Stamford Bridge has supported him following the death of his mother.

Also: Sven-Goran Eriksson believes he has done a "good job" at Manchester City despite owner Thaksin Shinawatra being ready to go against the club's supporters and sack him.

THE SUN

Manchester United's players will each earn a £250,000 bonus if they complete the double of winning the Barclays Premier League and Champions League this month while Red Devils midfielder Nani will be hit with a £60,000 fine by the club for butting West Ham's Lucas Neill.

Also: Wigan boss Brian Noble admitted he was "embarrassed" by the club's 57-16 defeat by rivals St Helens at the engage Super League's Millennium Magic weekend in Cardiff.

DAILY MIRROR

Avram Grant has urged his Chelsea players to take the Barclays Premier League title race with Manchester United all the way to wire and warned the defending champions that his side "will never give up" ahead of their clash with Newcastle at St James' Park.

Also: Stoke manager Tony Pulis warned his chairman Peter Coates that they must "drastically change the structure of everything at the club" if they are to avoid relegation from the Premier League in their first season.

THE INDEPENDENT

Avram Grant thinks he can take Chelsea to "another place" and also claimed that managers who shout more are "somehow more respectable in England". Also: Gareth Barry's Aston Villa team-mate Patrik Berger has urged the midfielder to join his former club Liverpool and said he would "go there tomorrow" if he was in Barry's position.

THE TIMES

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is keen to have a team which will be competitive in the Premier League in light of the £60million windfall the club will receive after they clinched the second automatic promotion place in the Coca-Cola Championship courtesy of their 0-0 draw with Leicester City.

Also: Former England player Lawrence Dallaglio is determined to finish his career with Wasps on a high and insisted his side's 25-17 defeat to Gloucester will be "wake-up call" for his team-mates.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Fulham chairman Mohamed Fayed has promised his players a £5,000 Harrods hamper if they avoid relegation after he admitted to "firing up" the players in the dressing room before their 2-0 win over Birmingham.

Also: Tom Hicks has approached some of the hedge funds that backed Malcolm Glazer's takeover of Manchester United to help finance his buyout plans for Liverpool.