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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/default.stm


TRANSFER GOSSIP

Argentine striker Sergio Aguero will be offered to Chelsea and Manchester rivals United and City for £40m by his club Atletico Madrid. Chelsea were favourites to sign the 21-year-old, but discussions on his personal terms have stalled.
 Daily Mirror

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is keen to sign Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy despite branding the player a "nuisance". Bellamy, one of City's top performers this season, was reportedly unhappy at the sacking of Blues manager Mark Hughes.
 The Times

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is desperate to sign a target man in January, with Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones, Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz and Liverpool old boy Emile Heskey all on his wanted list.
 Daily Mirror

Manchester United will offload 22-year-old Serbian winger Zoran Tosic in January. Tosic signed last January in a £7m deal, but has yet to start a game for the club.
 Daily Mirror

Meanwhile, City could bolster their attack by moving for Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini. The 25-year-old averages a goal every other game in Serie A.
 The Sun

Striker Luca Toni could make a January move to Chelsea, with the Blues forced to cope without Didier Drogba, among others during, the African Cup of Nations. Toni, 32, was top scorer for Bayern Munich last season, but has been linked with a move since exiting the ground after being substituted in a recent match.
 The Sun

Wolves will look to tempt Craig Gardner from Aston Villa in January. The £3m-rated midfielder could move in search of first-team football. (Daily Mirror)

French club Sochaux have put Rangers striker Kris Boyd on their January shopping list, but Newcastle, Hull, Middlesbrough and clubs in Germany and Turkey are also interested. (The Sun)

Celtic are bidding to sign Florin Costea, the 24-year-old Romanian striker presently with Universitata Craiova. (The Herald)

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray won't guarantee Stephen McManus a regular starting place despite Gary Caldwell's suspension and will sign Belarus defender Dmitry Verkhovtsov for £500,000 on Tuesday. (The Sun)

Stephen McManus has 90 minutes to save his Celtic career as manager Tony Mowbray starts signing talks with Sheffield United defender Matt Kilgallon. (Daily Express)

Hearts are giving a trial to out-of-favour Plymouth Argyle striker Steven MacLean, who is also interesting Aberdeen. (Daily Express)

Kilmarnock and Scotland striker Kevin Kyle has yet to receive a new contract offer and can talk to other clubs in January. (Various)

Jerome Rothen has held talks with Paris St Germain coach Toni Kombouare in an attempt to resurrect his career after the winger told by Rangers he can cut short his loan spell. (The Sun)

Reading have allowed Darren O'Dea to end his loan spell as the Celtic defender has not been a success for the Championship side. (Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told rivals City that he will outlast 20 managers at Eastlands, having already seen 14 come and go. Ferguson, 68, has hinted he could retire within the next two years.
 The Times

Ferguson, though, has been rocked by the news that striker Dimitar Berbatov requires knee surgery and will be out for three months.
 The Sun

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, 25, will be offered a new long-term contract to stave off interest from Real Madrid.
 The Times

Michael Dawson could have played his way into England's World Cup squad. The Spurs centre back started the season as fourth choice at club level, but injuries and a string of fine performances have seen club manager Redknapp push his case to England coach Fabio Capello.
 Daily Star

However, Michael Owen is still unlikely to make the plane despite his recent Champions League hat-trick against Wolfsburg. Capello will only pick the striker if he gets more regular football for Manchester United.
 The Sun

And Owen's Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand could also be a doubt for South Africa, with club manager Ferguson admitting there is "no light" in terms of his recovery from a back injury.
 The Independent

Algeria will allow Madjid Bougherra to play for Rangers in the Old Firm derby on 3 January, returning a favour after the Glasgow club previously allowed the defender to be treated by national team medics. (Various)

New Poland coach Franz Smuda has warned Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc to improve his off-the-field behaviour. (Daily Record)

Scotland coach Craig Levein has defended plans to usher Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor and Kris Boyd back into the international fold as leaving them out in the cold would be akin to "shooting myself in the foot". (Daily Telegraph)

Rangers manager Walter Smith says Hibernian are a genuine threat to the Old Firm for the Scottish Premier League title. (Various)

Hibernian captain Chris Hogg says it is nonsense to be talking about his side winning the SPL title. (Various)

Queen's Park coach Gardner Spiers wants the Scottish Football League, which lost 13 of its 15 Boxing Day fixtures to freezing temperatures, to switch to summer football. (Various)

AND FINALLY

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti could see his extremities turn blue if he goes back on a promise not to sign anyone during the January transfer window.

The Premier League leaders, who have had a transfer ban suspended, will be deprived of several first-team players during the African Cup of Nations, but Ancelotti has promised to run naked in the snow if they dip their toe into the winter market.

 

Monday's gossip column 

BREAKING GOSSIP

0752 GMT: Roma are close to signing out-of-favour Bayern Munich and Italy striker Luca Toni, who has been linked with both West Ham and Chelsea. (Reuters)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Craig Bellamy has rubbished claims he wants to quit Manchester City and denies he led a player rebellion in the wake of Mark Hughes' sacking.
Daily Mirror

Bolton boss Gary Megson is attempting to sign veteran Real Madrid midfielder Guti.
Daily Mirror

Harry Redknapp has paved the way for Roman Pavlyuchenko's Tottenham exit and says he would not necessarily need a replacement if the Russian quit White Hart Lane in January.
Daily Mirror

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James has refused to rule out a January switch to Spurs as he attempts to ensure he is England's No 1 at the World Cup.
Sun

Manchester City are on the brink of signing Inter Milan defender Ivan Cordoba,33, who has fallen out with boss Jose Mourinho.
Daily Mail

New Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wants record signing Robinho to remain at Eastlands, despite the the 25-year-old Brazilian striker being linked with a move away from the club next month. Mancini said: "The important thing for me is that Robinho stays here because he can earn a place in the history of the club." (Various)

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth are being sued by French side Lens over alleged unpaid transfer fees for striker Aruna Dindane and defender Nadir Belhadj.
Daily Mail

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted for the first time Chelsea are low on confidence, despite his side still heading the Premier League table.
Sun

AND FINALLY

South Korean playmaker Ki Sung Yueng has told his new Celtic team-mates to just call him Dave to avoid confusion when calling his name. "Communication is so important if players are to be comfortable with each other," the 20-year-old said helpfully. (Daily Record) I suppose he could of said, "just call me Jimmy" 

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is planning to make his first trip back to Stamford Bridge since he was sacked to watch his former club Chelsea play Fulham on Monday.
Full story: Sun

 

Wednesday's gossip column  

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool are hoping to land Real Madrid's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 33, on a six-month loan deal.
Daily Mail That will please the Mancs  

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is a £20m target for Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants set to make a move for the Serbian international at the end of the season.
The Sun

Vidic could cost Real Madrid £30m, with United interested in replacing him with Everton's Jack Rodwell, 18, and Porto's Bruno Alves.
The Times

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could line up a January move for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris - but he will have to pay Lyon £20m for the France international.
Daily Mirror

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed he is an admirer of Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy but the Frenchman doubts the Eastlands outfit would sell the Welshman as they do not need the money.
The Independent

However, Wenger will step up his bid to sign 15-year-old QPR striker Raheem Sterling.
Daily Mirror  

Palermo defender Simon Kjaer has rejected a £12m move to Manchester City - although Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini has denied he is interested in signing the Dane.
Daily Mirror

West Ham United's sporting director Gianluca Nani insists they are not interested in signing Fiorentina's Romanian striker Adrian Mutu.Thank feck for that  
The Independent

Everton will face competition from Arsenal and Manchester United to sign 17-year-old Belgian winger Maxime Lestienne. The Excelsior Mouscron star has been offered a trial after being recommended by Toffees midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
The Sun

Birmingham City are preparing a £3.5m deal to turn goalkeeper Joe Hart's loan move from Manchester City into a permanent one.
Daily Mirror

Meanwhile, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is also planning a £2m move for Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy.
The Sun

Burnley are close to signing Algeria captain Yazid Mansouri for £1m from French club Lorient. The 31-year-old midfielder will spend most of January at the African Cup of Nations.
Daily Mail

Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell wants to sign Greg Halford on loan after the versatile wide man fell out of favour with Wolves manager Mick McCarthy.
Daily Mirror

Wolves are weighing up a £1.5m bid for Derby County winger Kris Commons. (Daily Mail)

Newcastle will offer Leeds £1.25m for striker Jermaine Beckford, who can leave on a free transfer in the summer.Leeds must want more than that for him  
The Sun

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is planning to offer Celtic £6m for centre-back Stephen McManus, midfielder Barry Robson and Australian striker Scott McDonald.
The Sun

Meanwhile striker Scott McDonald insists he would be happy to finish his career at Celtic, despite reports linking him with a move to England.  
The Herald

Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies is lining up a £750,000 move for Swansea's Spanish midfielder Andrea Orlandi. (Daily Star)

Sochaux chief Alexandre Lacombe has confirmed he is planning a January swoop to bring Rangers striker Kris Boyd to the French outfit.  
The Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack expects to agree a new two-year contract extension to take him to June 2012 - and beyond his 35th birthday.
The Telegraph

Chelsea have put youth talent scout Gary Worthington on gardening leave - in a bid to stop him moving to rivals Manchester City.  
Daily Mirror

London-based financial company Intermarket will submit a bid to take control of West Ham United on Monday.
The Telegraph

Former Stockport and Motherwell boss Jim Gannon is in the frame to replace Alan Irvine as Preston North End boss. (The Times)

Alternatively, Preston may opt for former Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson.
Daily Mail

AND FINALLY

West Ham right-back Julien Faubert has revealed Tottenham fans and players have been "taking the mickey" out of him in the street. Faubert, who was in the West Ham side beaten 2-0 by Spurs on Monday, lives in an area where many Tottenham fans and players reside. (The Sun) and so they should he's fecking shite  
 
 

Thursday's gossip column 

BREAKING NEWS

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has rejected claims a deal has already been struck to sell Franck Ribery to Real Madrid in the summer for a fee of around £49m.
(German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will move for Liverpool trio Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard if the Reds finish outside the top four in the Premier League this season and are forced to sell their superstars.
 The Sun

Zenit St Petersburg, Lokomotiv Moscow, Spartak Moscow and Sporting Lisbon are interested in buying Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko but Spurs want £13m for the out-of-favour Russian and will not consider letting him leave in a loan deal.
Daily Mirror

Hull City boss Phil Brown hopes to sign Manchester City striker Benjani on loan in January, but only if the Eastlands club agree to pay half of the Zimbabwe star's £50,000-a-week wages.
The Sun

Manchester City have made an enquiry about signing £6m-rated Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci.
Daily Mail

Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford has put a £2m move to Newcastle on hold so he can help his side try to upset Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Daily Mirror

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is planning a £3m bid for Leeds striker Robert Snodgrass. (The Sun)

Everton manager David Moyes hopes to sign 17-year-old midfielder Maxime Lestienne from Belgian side Moucron.
Daily Mail

Portsmouth have invited Manchester City to make an offer for their £8m-rated defender Younes Kaboul.
Daily Mirror

Pompey boss Avram Grant has been told to sell at least £6m-worth of players in January to stop the club being declared bankrupt. Kaboul, David James Kevin-Prince Boateng, Nadir Belhadj and David Nugent could all be up for grabs.
The Sun

Liverpool have held preliminary talks with Crystal Palace about signing highly-rated teenager Victor Moses. (Daily Star) 

Aston Villa have joined Liverpool and Tottenham in the chase for West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, who could be available for around £8m.
The Guardian

Celtic have pulled out of a deal to sign Nafto Novopolotsk defender Dmitry Verkhovtsov after inviting the Belarus international over for a trial. (Daily Record)

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov is refusing to fund manager Csaba Laszlo's bid to sign Plymouth striker Steven Maclean and Charlton frontman Izale McLeod. (Daily Record)

Wigan have made a shock move to sign Ivory Coast centre half Steve Gohouri from German side Borussia Monchengladbach.
Daily Mirror

Sheffield United striker Jamie Ward is set to sign a new deal despite interest from West Brom.
Daily Mirror

Derby, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich are all chasing in-form Swindon striker Charlie Austin.
Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Bolton midfielder Peter Reid, currently assistant boss at Stoke, is being lined up as Wanderers' next manager after Gary Megson was sacked on Wednesday.
Daily Express

Reid could be installed on a caretaker basis until the end of the season.
The Times

Bolton will turn to Darren Ferguson as their next manager if they fail to persuade Burnley boss Owen Coyle to replace Megson. (Daily Telegraph)

Mark Hughes, sacked as Manchester City boss before Christmas, is not interested in the vacant Bolton job and Coyle and former Wigan boss Paul Jewell have also ruled out the possibility of taking charge at the Reebok Stadium.
Daily Mail

Megson is understood to be a major contender for the vacant managerial post at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Independent

Preston chairman Derek Shaw has admitted that Darren Ferguson is in the frame to succeed Alan Irvine, who was sacked earlier this week, as North End boss. Former Motherwell manager Jim Gannon is also believed to be on Shaw's shortlist.
The Sun

Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll is another of Shaw's targets to be the next Preston manager.
Daily Mail

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has told Jose Mourinho to forget any ideas of a shock return to Stamford Bridge, after the former Blues boss revealed he plans to take charge of an English club next season.
The Sun

AND FINALLY

Former Wimbledon hardman Vinnie Jones has been offered $1m to team up with his old friend Paul Gascoigne in the next Celebrity Big Brother.
The Sun
 
 

Saturday's gossip column - transfers and rumours 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid are preparing a £60m move for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who is their top summer transfer target, and will pursue him in the same way they chased Cristiano Ronaldo last season.
Daily Star
 
Liverpool are set to sign Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy next week and also hope to bring in his Real Madrid team-mate Rafael van der Vaart on loan until the end of the season.
The Sun

As well as Van Nistelrooy, Reds boss Rafael Benitez is poised to bring in Atletico Madrid winger Maxi Rodrigez on loan - but he will have to offload striker Andriy Voronin first to free up space on the club's wage bill and hopes to sell him to CSKA Moscow or Dynamo Moscow in a £1.5m deal.
Daily Telegraph

Voronin is set to join German side Hertha Berlin, who he played for on loan last season, in a permanent £2.5m deal.
 The Sun

Tottenham are poised to make a £12m January swoop for Manchester City right-back Micah Richards, while City will bolster their defence by signing Sol Campbell on a short-term deal and spending a total of £25m on West Ham's Matthew Upson  and Borussia Dortmund's Neven Subotic.
Daily Express

Birmingham are close to wrapping up a £2.5m deal for Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel and are set to make a £3.5m bid to sign midfielder Craig Gardner from Aston Villa.
Daily Mirror

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out making another bid for Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh.
The Sun

Wenger is confident of beating Tottenham and Everton to sign Chamakh when he becomes a free agent in the summer after being told there is no chance of buying the Moroccan in January - but the Gunners boss is also considering buying another striker this month and is interested in Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko and Toulouse's Andre-Pierre Gignac.
Daily Mirror

Hull City boss Phil Brown hopes to agree a loan deal with Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo, who is currently on loan at Sporting Lisbon.
The Sun

Cash-strapped Portsmouth's hopes of raising money by selling players in the January transfer window have been hit by a lack of interest in their players.
Daily Telegraph

Portsmouth's hopes of selling former Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng to Blackburn for £4m could be scuppered by a Fifa rule preventing players from playing for more than two clubs in the same season.
The Times

Burnley boss Owen Coyle fears Portsmouth's financial crisis could ruin his hopes of keeping on-loan Pompey striker David Nugent at Turf Moor.
Daily Mirror

Tottenham will recall midfielder Jamie O'Hara when his loan spell ends at Portsmouth this month and send him on loan to another Premier League club.
Daily Mail

Birmingham have made an offer of more than £3m for Peterborough striker Aaron McLean, who has been watched by scouts from a host of other Premier League sides.
The Sun

Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign Brazilian international midfielder Sandro from Internacional but may have to wait until the summer for him to arrive at White Hart Lane.
The Times

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan looks like being priced out of a move for Celtic striker Scott McDonald after being told the Australian international would cost him £3.5m.
Daily Mirror

Celtic are interested in Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy, who would be allowed to leave Ewood Park for £2.5m.
Daily Mail

Sheffield United have turned down Newcastle's £1m bid for centre-back Matt Kilgallon.
The Sun

Crystal Palace must sell teenage winger Victor Moses this month to ease their financial problems and will accept £3m for the 19-year-old - who is being trailed by Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Birmingham, Wigan, Everton and West Brom.
 Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

Burnley boss Owen Coyle, who ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Bolton job earlier this week, is set to make a dramatic U-turn and will leave the Clarets to take charge at the Reebok Stadium.
The Sun  Silly man

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock is desperate to get the Bolton job, and Wanderers will turn to the former Sheffield United boss if they fail to land Coyle.
Daily Express

Sacked Preston boss Alan Irvine is on the shortlist to become Sheffield Wednesday's next manager, along with former Bolton manager Gary Megson.
The Sun

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill insists winger Ashley Young is not a diver.
Daily Mirror

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will rest most of his first team in Sunday's FA Cup tie against West Ham, and says "winning the League is more important". 
The Sun

AND FINALLY

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan says taking on mega-rich Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup third round is like using a water pistol in a machine-gun battle.
The Sun

 

Sunday's gossip column 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Fernando Torres will become the most expensive player in the world if he leaves Liverpool in the summer. Chelsea and Manchester City have made the Spanish striker their number one target, but would have to splash out £140m in transfer fees and wages. 
News of the World

Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho is trying to pull off a shock £40m move for Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard. The former Chelsea boss is hoping Gerrard may want a move if the Reds fail to qualify for next season's Champions League. Can't see Stevis G moving away for Liverpool for anyone TBH
Sunday Express

Manchester United are weighing up a £20m move for Porto's Brazilian striker Hulk. The 23-year-old, whose real name is Givanildo Viera de Souza, is also highly rated by Arsenal. He is called Hulk because he looks like the 1970s Incredible Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno (Kids, ask your dad). I know what he looks like, and his alter ego David Bannister 
News of the World

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is lining up a £4m bid for Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey as a replacement for Didier Drogba, who will be absent for four weeks at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Mail on Sunday

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is keen to renew his relationship with former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira. Mancini coached the now 33-year-old to two Serie A titles after signing him for Inter Milan in 2006.
The Mail on Sunday

Mancini is also aiming to bring in £6m-rated defender Cristian Ansaldi, 23, from Russian side Ruban Kazan.
News of the World

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is now unlikely to move for Holland striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 33, in the transfer window, with the striker's recent injury record counting against him.
News of the World

Benitez is instead keen to bring Emile Heskey back to Anfield, although Aston Villa's price tag of at least £5m could be beyond what Liverpool can afford.
The Mail on Sunday

Crystal Palace remain hopeful that their £3m-rated winger Victor Moses will be sold in the transfer window to stop the club going bust. Barcelona, Wigan and Tottenham have been tracking the England Under-(Sunday Express)

OTHER GOSSIP

Burnley boss Owen Coyle was spotted in the tunnel 45 minutes after the Clarets' 2-1 FA Cup third round win at MK Dons, fuelling speculation that he is set to succeed Gary Megson as Bolton manager. Coyle had missed the post-match press conference with his club saying he had to leave early to catch a flight to Scotland.
The Mail on Sunday

Bolton will make a formal approach for Coyle on Sunday but Burnley will demand £4m compensation.
News of the World

Alan Curbishley will hold talks with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside about taking over as manager at the Reebok Stadium. The 52-year-old has been out of work since leaving West Ham in 2008.
(Sunday Express)

The 25 Premier League footballers who are set to play in the Africa Cup of Nations later this month will be given 24-hour protection by armed guards to protect them from gun gangs in Angola. 
Sunday Express

Manchester United owners, the Glazer family, have asked banks to help them raise £600m in a bid to cut the massive debts they owe financial institutions. 
The Mail on Sunday

Carlo Ancelotti has pleaded with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to stick with him as coach for the long haul and give him chance to build a dynasty to match Sir Alex Ferguson's at Manchester United.
Sunday Express

AND FINALLY

Manchester United-supporting vicar Father Paddy McMahon welcomed Manchester City manager into his midnight mass service at St John's Roman Catholic church in Chorlton on Christmas Eve. "The congregation gave him a round of applause so I said we'd pray for City to do well," said Father McMahon. "But not too well." (Sunday Express)


 

Tuesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid are ready to capitalise on the growing rift between Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson and Nemanja Vidic by bidding for the defender. Vidic was a late withdrawal for Sunday's FA Cup match against Leeds, which United lost 1-0.
The Times

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to bring Atletico Madrid's Argentine winger Maxi Rodriguez to Anfield this January, initially on a short-term loan deal.
Daily Mirror

Tottenham will attempt to beat the Reds to Rodriguez's signature though by offering midfielder David Bentley on loan as part of the deal.
Daily Mail

Liverpool are also looking to offload player's during the transfer window with Italian left-back Andrea Dossena set to sign for Napoli in a £5m switch.
Goal.com

Birmingham will test Liverpool's desire to hold on to Ryan Babel by bidding £8m for the Dutch winger in January.
Independent

Birmingham are also set to tie up a £2.5m deal for Sporting Gijon's Spanish midfielder Michel but they have pulled out of a proposed move for Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi.
Daily Mirror

Leeds have put a £2m price tag on FA Cup hero Jermaine Beckford after he scored the winner in the third round tie at Manchester United. Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest all keen on the striker, who is out of contract in the summer.I would have thought they could get a bit more than that for him 
Daily Mirror

Newcastle though will win the race for Beckford's signature by paying Leeds £3m - double the asking price before his goal at Old Trafford.
The Guardian

Chelsea have been linked with a move for Italian striker Giampaolo Pazzini for £22m but Sampdoria will only let him leave if the 25-year-old is loaned back to them for the rest of the season.
Daily Mirror

Manchester City are in advanced discussions with Inter Milan to bring French midfielder Patrick Vieira back to the Premier League. Vieira left Arsenal for Juventus in 2005.
The Times

West Ham and Bolton are both chasing Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes, who is out of favour at Benfica and desperate for first-team football to boost his hopes of making his country's 2010 World Cup squad.
Daily Mirror Could do with his experience I suppose

Stoke City have slapped a staggering £20m price tag on Ryan Shawcross in a bid to scare off the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Spurs, who are all keen on the defender.
Daily Express

Defender Matthew Upson's exit from West Ham appears to be gathering pace after Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola enquired about Stoke centre-back Robert Huth.
The Sun

Celtic are set to boost their Scottish Premier League title bid with a loan move for Stoke striker Dave Kitson. The bhoy will score in the SPL
Scottish Sun

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is setting up a move for his old Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink - in a loan switch from Hull City.
Daily Mirror

However, the Bhoys could be set to lose Australian striker Scott McDonald, who is wanted by Wigan.
Daily Mirror Fecking Wigan 

The Latics are also poised to bid £3m for Leicester striker Matty Fryatt.
The Sun

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has turned his back on a loan move to the Championship in favour of joining another Premier League club on a short term deal to prove to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger he can hack it at the top level.
Daily Mirror

Fulham hope to tie up a loan deal for Roma striker Stefano Okaka after the player's agent revealed his client was keen on the move.
The Sun

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to axe seven players for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final with bitter rivals Manchester City following his side's humiliating defeat by Leeds in the third round of the FA Cup. Striker Dimitar Berbatov and right-back Gary Neville head the list of those for the chop.
The Sun

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is set to hand a home debut to rookie defender Dedryck Boyata in the Carling Cup semi-final with United. City are without regular defenders Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott and Nedum Onuoha due to injury.
Daily Mirror

Former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has been offered a quick return to management - with the Turkish national team.
Daily Mirror

The Professional Football Association is on standby to hold emergency talks at Fratton Park today if Portsmouth's players are not paid their December wages by the club.
Daily Star 

Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda has held clear-the-air talks with manager Carlo Ancelotti and team-mate Frank Lampard after appearing to suggest he was being overlooked by the former and that the latter was given preferential treatment in a recent interview.
The Times

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer says he has no interest in taking the vacant manager's job at Sheffield Wednesday.
Daily Mirror

However, the Owls may well make a shock move for Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock, who used to manage Wednesday's bitter rivals Sheffield United.
Daily Mail

AND FINALLY

An unlikely figure has offered to help Michael Owen in the Manchester United striker's bid to claim a place in Fabio Capello's 2010 World Cup squad. Former England cricket captain and United fan Geoff Boycott has written to Owen suggesting he try the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui after the Test Match Special commentator utilised it during his recovery from cancer. 
The Sun

Darts legend Phil Taylor, who claimed a record 15th world title on Sunday by winning the PDC world final, says he can help England win the World Cup this summer by delivering a rousing team talk to the players.
The Sun