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Wednesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City are ready to spark a cross-city battle with United for £24m-rated Roma striker Mirko Vucinic.
Full story: The Sun

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is making a move for £6m-rated Estudiantes striker Mauro Boselli as he plans for a new-look attack. Birmingham were chasing the Argentina international in January's transfer window.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Sheffield United are lining up a summer move for Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley. The former Manchester United right-back, 24, is out of favour at the Stadium of Light.
Full story: Daily Mail

Tottenham are ready to splash out £2m on Notts County goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and then loan him back to the League Two outfit.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Spurs are also keen on £5m-rated Atletico Madrid keeper Sergio Asenjo to come in as back up Heurelho Gomes.
Full story: The Sun

QPR manager Neil Warnock wants to sign nine players for a total of £10m during the summer. He is targeting Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper plus Julian Speroni, Nathaniel Clyne, Darren Ambrose and Neil Danns of his former club Crystal Palace.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is keen to snap up Bolton's South Korean winger Lee Chung-Yong for £8m to help provide extra creativity and more firepower for his strikers.
Full story: Caughtoffside.com

Bolton boss Owen Coyle wants to sign Burnley's 30-year-old defender Clarke Carlisle, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Full story: The Sun

Patrick Vieira, 33, expects to remain at Manchester City next season despite interest from America.
Full story: IM Scouting

Chelsea and Manchester City are tracking 22-year-old Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci.
Full story: IM Scouting

Birmingham and Sunderland face competition from Italian side Juventus in the race to sign German striker Kevin Kuranyi from Schalke.
Full story: IM Scouting

OTHER GOSSIP

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will allow a summer spending spree at St James' Park to try to ensure Premier League survival next season, despite being reluctant to return to the days of the club's high-spending past.
Full story: The Guardian

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has played in a secret 11-a-side friendly and could be on the bench for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich.
Full story: Daily Mirror

And Rooney has been driving United manager Sir Alex Ferguson crazy with his pleas to make him a substitute for the Old Trafford clash.
Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has blamed the club's failure to challenge for the Premier League title squarely at the feet of the Anfield outfit's owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Referee Mike Dean has been demoted from officiating in the Premier League this weekend. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson called his performance "poor" in their 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday, while Dean also awarded Blackburn a questionable penalty in their 1-0 win over Burnley the week before.

Simon Beck, who failed to flag Didier Drogba offside for Chelsea's second goal, has also been demoted and both will officiate at Bristol City this weekend. (Daily Mail)

AND FINALLY

Burnley midfielder Kevin McDonald has apologised after wandering to a pub with his family after leaving Turf Moor following his half-time substitution on Saturday. The 21-year-old was fined for his walkout during the fixture against Manchester City, which the Clarets lost 6-1.
Full story: The Times

 

Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United have cooled their interest in David Villa as Valencia are looking for £40m for the striker, who wants £200,000 a week in wages.
Full story: Daily Mail

Meanwhile, United's neighbours Manchester City are preparing a £50m bid for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.
Full story: News of the World

City are also interested in Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and Barcelona forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Full story: News of the World

Birmingham have an option to sign Christian Benitez on a permanent basis when the Santos Llaguna striker's loan deal expires in May.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Arsenal are battling it out with Manchester United over Fiorentina keeper Sebastien Frey.
Full story: News of the World

Chelsea are tracking Benfica winger Angel di Maria, who is also wanted by Manchester City. (News of the World)

Everton manager David Moyes is weighing up a summer move for Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford.
Full story: News of the World

Newcastle are hoping to sign Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara, who is on loan at Portsmouth, for £5m. (Sunday Express)

Russian side CSKA Moscow are set to bid £9m for Liverpool's Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
Full story: News of the World 

Shakhtar Donetsk winger Doug Costa, the Brazilian winger described as the new Ronaldinho, has said that he has not given up hope of a move to Manchester United.
Full story: News of the World

Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley will seal a move to Stoke in the summer if the Welsh side miss out on promotion to the Premier League.
Full story: News of the World

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have indicated they will sell the club for the right price, and have hired investment bank Barclays Capital to find potential investors.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

And the American pair have put a £600m price tag on the Anfield club.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is demanding up to £80m for a transfer kitty to revive the club's Premier League fortunes next season. (Sunday Express)

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan and Valencia midfielder David Silva are thought to be among Benitez's top summer targets.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

And Benitez has admitted he may have to sell some of the club's big players in order to fund moves for the pair.
Full story: Sunday People

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres as well as Reds manager Rafael Benitez and midfielder Javier Mascherano are targets for Italian side Juventus.
Full story: Sunday Times

England manager Fabio Capello is considering taking injury-prone Spurs defender Ledley King to the World Cup.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Meanwhile, Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has rubbished rumours that the hamstring injury that has sidelined him for three games has ended his season and insists it will not, therefore, jeopardise his place in Capello's squad.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

AND FINALLY

Arsenal centre-back Sol Campbell has told manager Arsene Wenger he is ready to face a hostile reception at his former club Tottenham in Wednesday's north London derby.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

 

Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will try to persuade Old Trafford chiefs to allow him to splash out £60m this summer to sign striker Karim Benzema and winger David Silva from Real Madrid and Valencia respectively.
Full story: The Sun

Chelsea are also planning a raid on Valencia, with £50m-rated forward David Villa the target.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

However, both Manchester United are Chelsea are set to fail in their attempts to sign Ajax's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who wants to remain with the Dutch side.
Full story: imscouting.com

Manchester United could also miss out on Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is also wanted by Bayern Munich.
Full story: imscouting.com

Liverpool are ready to make a renewed effort to snap up promising Dutch winger Eljero Elia for £9m this summer.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna's agent Christophe Mongal claims he has held informal talks with Inter Milan over a possible move to Serie A for the Frenchman.
Full story: Footylatest.com

The Gunners may also seek to strengthen their defence this summer by making a move for Uruguay defender Martin Caceres, who is on loan at Juventus this season from Barcelona.
Full story: Daily Mail

Manchester City have put 26-year-old Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo on their list of summer targets after he caught the eye in Benfica's Europa League quarter-final clash with Liverpool.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Cardozo could replace fellow Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz at Eastlands, with Tottenham considering a move for the out-of-favour 28-year-old.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

Everton will try to sign Inter Milan's former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari this summer.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

OTHER GOSSIP

The Football Association is considering spending £90,000 to relay the Wembley pitch for the 11th time in three years in time for the FA Cup final on 15 May and England's friendly match against Mexico just over a week later.
Full story: Daily Mail

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's ankle injury will be reassessed on Tuesday to determine his chances of playing in Saturday's derby game at Manchester City. Rio Ferdinand is also a doubt for the match at Eastlands after suffering a groin injury in the 0-0 draw at Blackburn on Sunday.
Full story: Daily Mail

Striker Carlos Tevez has been prevented from speaking out by Manchester City ahead of Saturday's derby match with rivals Manchester United. The Argentine sparked a war of words with his former club when the two teams met in the Carling Cup semi-final and he branded Red Devils defender Gary Neville a "boot licker" and a "moron".
Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United are ready to sell striker Dimitar Berbatov at the end of the season. The Bulgarian has struggled to make an impact since his £30.75m switch from Spurs in September 2008 and it appears as though manager Sir Alex Ferguson has lost faith in him.
Full story: The Sun

Portsmouth boss Avram Grant has received an offer from an unnamed Premier League club to be their manager next season. The Israeli guided Pompey to the FA Cup final on Sunday via a 2-0 win over Tottenham, but the south coast club are already consigned to Championship football next season.FFS, tell me it wasn't us 
Full story: The Sun

Hull fear winger Stephen Hunt may not play again this season and have sent the Irishman for an exploratory operation to get to the bottom of the foot problem that has kept him sidelined since February.
Full story: The Sun

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres could miss out on a return to his old club Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final on 22 April after being booked in for further treatment on his knee injury with a specialist in Barcelona.
Full story: Daily Mail

Victory in next month's FA Cup final against Chelsea would net Portsmouth about £3.2m, the club's administrator Andrew Andronikou estimates.
Full story: Daily Mail

Tottenham's hopes of an Aaron Lennon comeback in Wednesday's north London derby have been dashed. The England winger trained last week but was forced to undergo another scan on the groin problem that has kept him out since December, ruling him out of the game against Arsenal.
Full story: Daily Mail

However, injury-prone centre-back Ledley King is confident he has shaken off the thigh problem that has kept him out since February and may start for Spurs.
Full story: The Guardian

Celtic's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has told interim manager Neil Lennon he still has a chance of being awarded the job on a permanent basis, despite Saturday's embarrassing Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by minnows Ross County.
Full story: Daily Mail

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has insisted that the club are not "oppressive" when it comes to contract negotiations but they refuse to be held to ransom by players. The club are undertaking talks with a number of players over improved terms following what has been a successful first season back in the Premier League for the club.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Bolton manager Owen Coyle thinks 18-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is on loan at the Reebok from Arsenal, should be selected by England boss Fabio Capello for the World Cup this summer.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Leeds are a reported takeover target for Australian billionaire Frank Lowy, who is chairman of the sport's governing body in the country, Football Federation Australia.
Full story: Daily Mirror

AND FINALLY

Brazilian legend Pele, often considered the best player in football history, has offered a retort to those hailing Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the greatest star to have played the game. The three-time World Cup winner says people should only start drawing comparisons when Messi has equalled his goal tally of over 1,000 career goals. The Argentine took his senior career tally to 133 goals, which includes 42 this season for club and country, with a goal against Real Madrid on Saturday.
Full story: Daily Mail  Pele

 

Thursday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery has told a German television channel he hopes to decide where his future lies "in the next 10 days". The Frenchman claims Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea are all interested in signing him.
Full story: The Guardian

Bayern Munich are determined to keep hold of Franck Ribery and will snub any £40m bids for Franck Ribery from Chelsea and Real Madrid even if it means the France international leaves on a free transfer in 2011.
Full story: Daily Star

Manchester City are closing in on a £11m deal to sign Hamburg's 6ft 3in Germany international defender Jerome Boateng, the younger brother of Portsmouth's Kevin Prince.
Full story: The Guardian

Real Madrid hope to fend off competition from Manchester United by signing 24-year-old Spanish striker David Silva from Valencia in a £22m pre-World Cup deal.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack could be heading for a reunion with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan after admitting there have been no talks over renewing his Stamford Bridge contract, which ends this summer.
Full story: Daily Mail

Mourinho is increasingly confident that he can tempt Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard to quit Anfield for a move to Inter.
Full story: Daily Mail

Palermo are hopeful of agreeing a summer loan deal for Manchester United striker Federico Macheda.
Full story: Daily Star

Olympiakos want to sign Liverpool's Fabio Aurelio, and the Brazilian defender could join Hungarian Krisztian Nemeth in Greece, with AEK Athens keen to extend the Anfield striker's loan spell at the club.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stepped up his bid to sign Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as his long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar.
Full story: Daily Mail

Barcelona have denied claims by Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood that they have promised not to make a summer bid for Cesc Fabregas.
Full story: Portuguese newspaper Abola, translated by IMScouting

Sunderland midfielder Steed Malbranque, wanted by Bordeaux and Marseille, has ruled out a return to France, with the former Lyon man intent on staying on Wearside.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Nottingham Forest hope to lure midfielder Darren Pratley from Championship rivals Swansea with a £2m summer swoop.
Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has recovered from the ankle injury that has sidelined him for two games and will return for Saturday's derby game at Manchester City.
Full story: The Sun

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is on a shortlist to succeed Marcello Lippi as Italy manager after this summer's World Cup.
Full story: Daily Mail

World Cup organisers have called on Fifa to overhaul the way tickets will be sold for the 2014 tournament in Brazil as they begin a race against time to sell half a million tickets for this year's event in South Africa.
Full story: The Guardian

In-form Stoke winger Matthew Etherington will open talks with the Potters next week over a new £30,000-a-week deal.
Full story: Daily Mirror

The Premier League will deny FA Cup finalists Portsmouth their dream of playing in the Europa League next season, unless the south-coast club can come out of administration and pay off all their debts by the end of the season.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Southampton manager Alan Pardew has emerged as a shock contender to be the new Celtic boss. That comes as a shock
Full story: Daily Record

Juventus's hopes of tempting Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to become their new manager rest on them overhauling Palermo and finishing fourth in Serie A this season.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Benitez's agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, claims a Chinese investor wants to buy Liverpool on condition that the Spaniard remains as Reds boss.
Full story: Spanish newspaper AS, translated by IMScouting

Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has played his way into England boss Fabio Capello's World Cup plans and will be named in the Italian's provisional 30-man squad next month.
Full story: Daily Mirror

The Red Knights consortium that is considering a bid to take over Manchester United are expected to finalise their proposal to make an offer for the club by the end of this week, with an approach expected at the end of the season.
Full story: The Guardian

Fernando Torres is on course to return from the knee injury which kept him out of the goalless draw with Fulham. The Spaniard "will do whatever it takes to be ready" to face his old club Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final next week, according to an unnamed team-mate.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Relegation-threatened Crystal Palace are just three weeks away from 'meltdown' - manager Paul Hart is poised to quit the financially stricken Championship club to join Tottenham's coaching staff, first-team coach John Pemberton is off to Sheffield United, while the Croydon side's ground, Selhurst Park, is at risk from developers.
Full story: Daily Mirror

AND FINALLY

Former England star John Barnes will reprise his legendary rap from New Order's 1990 World Cup song 'World in Motion' for a TV advert.
Full story: The Guardian

Real Madrid claim they have already recovered the £80m it cost them to buy Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United through sales of replica shirts bearing the Portuguese star's name. Wow that's some shirts they must have sold
Full story: Daily Mirror

 

Saturday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City have offered to make Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, who becomes a free agent this summer, the Premier League's best-paid player with a four-year contract worth £40m.
Full story: Daily Express

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has pleaded with manager Sir Alex Ferguson not to sell him.
Full story: The Sun 

United striker Wayne Rooney is Real Madrid's number one transfer target this summer and the Spanish giants want to use winger Cristiano Ronaldo to help lure his former team-mate to the Bernabeu.Rember Wayne once a red always a red 
Full story: Daily Mirror

Aston Villa could face a battle to keep James Milner and Ashley Young at the club if they finish outside the top four.
Full story: The Sun

"We'll give Rafael Benitez cash to splash," says new Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton.
Full story: Daily Mail
   
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has welcomed the speculation linking Arsenal with a £21m double swoop for Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega this summer.
Full story: The Independent

Martinez is considering a £1.5m move for Lens defender Marco Ramos.
Full story: Daily Mail

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could leave the club in the summer after Arsene Wenger refused to back his number one.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Blackburn Rovers are closing in on a £5m deal for Poland striker Robert Lewandowski.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Fulham look set to win the race for Portsmouth's £4m-rated defender Marc Wilson.
Full story: Daily Mail

Portsmouth and Middlesbrough are at odds over Gary O'Neil's final transfer fee. The midfielder has played 99 games for Boro since his move from Fratton Park in 2007 and Pompey are due £1m when he completes 100 games.
Full story: Daily Mail

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce insists goalkeeper Craig Gordon will not leave the Stadium of Light this summer.
Full story: Daily Mail

Aberdeen are set to move for Kilmarnock striker Kevin Kyle in the summer, having missed out on the target man in January. (Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City are demanding an official explanation after referee Martin Atkinson was drafted in to officiate Saturday's derby against Manchester United as a late replacement for Steve Bennett. Atkinson was the referee who played six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the controversial reverse fixture at Old Trafford last September.
Full story: The Guardian

City boss Roberto Mancini will hold talks with striker Carlos Tevez after the United match following the Argentine's criticism of his training methods.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson rates Saturday's meeting at Eastlands as the biggest derby of his career.
Full story: The Sun

The Middle East consortium bidding to buy Liverpool claim co-owner George Gillett reneged on a £420m takeover after a deal was agreed.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Any party interested in buying Liverpool must commit to building a new stadium, while new chairman Martin Broughton has assured fans that there is no need to sell star players such as midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres.
Full story: The Times

Torres is doubtful for Monday's game against West Ham after a planned return to Spain for further consultation on his troublesome right knee was delayed by the closure of British airspace.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says Tottenham can challenge for the Premier League title next season.
Full story: Daily Mirror 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his trophyless side are the only big four club not in decline.
Full story: Daily Express

England coach Fabio Capello has not ruled out a return to Real Madrid after this summer's World Cup.
Full story: The Sun

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy feels Fulham counterpart Roy Hodgson is a contender for this season's League Managers Association manager of the year award.
Full story: The Sun

Former Watford and Reading manager Brendan Rodgers is in line to replace Paul Ince after the former England midfielder resigned as boss on Friday.
Full story: Daily Mail

Dick Advocaat, who resigned as coach of Belgium on Thursday just six months after taking on the role, looks set to become the new Russia coach.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Southampton boss Alan Pardew refused to comment yesterday on reports linking him with the vacant Celtic job.
Full story: The Times 

AND FINALLY

Portsmouth midfielder Aaron Mokoena has revealed how as a child his mother dressed him as a girl to escape a massacre in the township they lived in during apartheid South Africa.
Full story: The Guardian

Pompey midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng faces a 630-mile drive to make Sunday's game against Aston Villa after being stranded in Germany by the current air traffic chaos.
Full story: The Sun

Airline passengers stranded at Cologne/Bonn airport were offered free tickets to watch FC Koln's Bundesliga match against VfL Bochum on Friday evening in return for showing their airline ticket.
Full story: Reuters 

Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda believes his hairstyle helped revive Chelsea's season. After defeats by Manchester City and Inter Milan, the France international switched to his now signature braids and he has helped put the Blues on course for a Premier League and FA Cup double.

"I went to see my friend who does my hair and said I needed to change it," said Malouda. "I said I need to go back to basics and be a warrior. After that I scored two doubles, so there's no way I'm changing it now." (The Sun)

Arsenal's Russian forward Andrey Arshavin says his wife Yulia loves London and wants to become a British citizen.
Full story: The Sun

But Arshavin himself cannot stand living in Britain despite being paid £80,000 a week - he finds it "difficult to adjust" and is homesick for his native St Petersburg, where his life is "more comfortable".
Full story: Daily Star

Bolton defender Gary Cahill had a rib removed to help him recover from a career-threatening blood clot. His team-mates have been taking the mickey by going for Chinese meals and sending him phone pictures of spare ribs.
Full story: The Sun

 

Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool are interested in signing Feyenoord's teenage winger Georginio Wijnaldum in the summer.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

Arsenal are believed to be lining up a £8m bid to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who is currently on loan at Birmingham City, with West Ham keeper Robert Green  is also on the Gunners' list.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool medical staff fear striker Fernando Torres needs an operation on his troublesome knee injury which would keep him out for the rest of the season and possibly also the World Cup.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

Arsenal are to offer manager Arsene Wenger a new deal that would keep the Frenchman at the Emirates until 2014.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

Liverpool's search for new owners could drag on through the summer, increasing the likelihood of manager Rafa Benitez leaving to join Juventus or Real Madrid.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to remain as Manchester United manager for at least one more season, disappointing Jose Mourinho, who hopes to succeed the Scot at Old Trafford.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

Europa League semi-finalists Fulham face being excluded from the competition in the long term if they are unable to meet Uefa's new financial rules which would see any club banned if they make a consistent financial loss.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

AND FINALLY

England coach Fabio Capello's "perfect scenario" is to lead England to a World Cup final victory over France Could have been    mind you if it was  then they wouldn't beat us  - after defeating Germany in the semi-finals.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

 

Tuesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Atletico Madrid playmaker Sergio Aguero has expressed his admiration for Chelsea, describing them as "one of the most feared clubs in Europe" and London as being "a really amazing city to live in". The Blues have been linked with a big-money move for the Argentina international.
Full story: Daily Express

Barcelona are mulling over a move for Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy. The Catalan giants could offer about £10m for a player they tried to sign last summer.
Full story: The Guardian

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy's relationship with manager Roberto Mancini has reached breaking point, with the Wales international wanting a move from Eastlands in the summer if the Italian remains in charge.
Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool are weighing up an offer for Bolton defender Gary Cahill. Reds boss Rafael Benitez believes £12m may be enough to prise the 24-year-old away from the Reebok Stadium.
Full story: Caught Offside

Arsenal's Eduardo could be heading to Ligue 1 side Lyon, with the likely arrival of Marouane Chamakh expected to displace the Croatia striker in manager Arsene Wenger's plans.
Full story: Caught Offside

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish wants to take Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster on loan next season.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Ajax manager Martin Jol has told former club Tottenham that they are not big enough to sign striker Luis Suarez.
Full story: The Sun

Everton are close to wrapping up a deal to sign 24-year-old Standard Liege striker Dieumerci Mbokani.
Full story: Footylatest

Blackburn are hoping to seal a £5m deal with Lech Poznan for Poland international striker Robert Lewandowski.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida is set to head to Atletico Madrid at the end of the season when his contract with the Gunners runs out. (Daily Mail)

Manchester United's £10m winger Zoran Tosic has said he wants to make his loan move to Cologne permanent after scoring four goals in his last three games. (Daily Mirror)

Midfielder Paul Scharner will leave Wigan in the summer and claims that Fulham, Everton, Aston Villa and Sunderland are all looking to sign him up.
Full story: Daily Mail

Slovakia's Vladimir Weiss, the midfielder on loan at Bolton from Manchester City, is set to return to Eastlands next season after growing frustrated with a lack of starts for the Trotters. (Daily Star)

Manchester United are chasing Newcastle's 17-year-old Slovenian midfielder Haris Vuckic, who has made three first-team appearances for the Magpies this season.
Full story: Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola will be replaced by former England boss Steve McClaren, currently in charge of Dutch side FC Twente, at the end of the season if the Hammers stay up.
Full story: Daily Mail

England coach Fabio Capello is considering calling Michael Dawson into his World Cup squad after being impressed by the Tottenham defender's recent performances.
Full story: Daily Mail

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien could return after four months out against Stoke on Sunday.
Full story: Daily Mirror

AND FINALLY

Al Pacino's American football film Any Given Sunday and Invictus, which recounts South Africa's win at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, were part of the entertainment on board Barcelona's team bus. The European champions are travelling by road to the first leg of their Champions league semi-final againt play Inter Milan.
Full story: The Independent

Ipswich manager Roy Keane says he wants to sign "four or five real men" next season and will axe up to half his current squad.
Full story: Daily Mail

Celtic striker Robbie Keane has been voted the club's player of the year, despite only arriving on loan from Tottenham in February. The Republic of Ireland international has scored 13 goals in 15 games. (Daily Mail)

Tottenham forward Roman Pavlyuchenko has claimed Chelsea were fortunate not to lose 6-1 rather than 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Saturday. He describes the Blues players as being "too confident of victory" before the match.
Full story: Daily Star

 

Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are lining up a £20m summer move for Tottenham defender Gareth Bale, whom they first tried to sign from Southampton three years ago.
Full story: Daily Express

United striker Dimitar Berbatov could be on his way to AC Milan in a summer swap deal with Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar going the opposite way.
Full story: Caughtoffside.com

Swansea boss Paulo Sousa could be the man to replace Hull's management consultant Iain Dowie at the KC Stadium.
Full story: Daily Mail

And Cardiff manager Dave Jones is a shock contender to replace Gianfranco Zola as West Ham manager, should the Italian leave the club in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Belgian international midfielder Jelle van Damme, who has just won a second consecutive league title with Anderlecht, says an unnamed English club has made a "concrete" offer for him, with Fulham thought to be interested.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Aston Villa are interested in signing West Ham striker Carlton Cole to partner Gabriel Agbonlahor up front, as a replacement for John Carew who could move to Fulham.I must say I wouldn't be  if Cole was to leave, but who will be have to replace him 
Full story: Caughtoffside.com

Liverpool are lining up a bid for Rangers' £8m-rated teenage defender Danny Wilson, with the youngster being loaned back to the Gers next season.
Full story: Caughtoffside.com

Arsenal are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler, who is Germany's number one keeper but recently suffered a broken rib.
Full story: imscouting.com

Real Madrid look set to beat Chelsea and Manchester United to the signature of Benfica's Argentine winger Angel di Maria.
Full story: imscouting.com

OTHER GOSSIP

Celtic's 38-year-old caretaker manager Neil Lennon says he is ready to take the job on permanently.
Full story: Daily Telegraph Of course he'll say that, but I just don't think he is up to it for the whole season 

And Walter Smith has hinted Ally McCoist could soon take over from him as Rangers manager, saying his assistant is "as ready as he's ever going to be" to become a manager.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is fed up with the long journeys his reserves have to face and wants to play local friendlies instead.
Full story: Daily Mail

Fabio Capello is buoyed by the news that Manchester United defender Wes Brown is back in training and could face Tottenham on Saturday.
Full story: Daily Mail

Hull chairman Adam Pearson has launched a blistering attack on predecessor Paul Duffen, accusing him of "moral irresponsibility" for his running of the Premier League strugglers.
Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says their marathon trek to Madrid for their Europa League semi-final has been a positive experience as it has brought the team closer together.
Full story: the Times

AND FINALLY

Portsmouth's £119m list of debts includes £40 owed to Pukka Pies and 20p to Qatar Airways.
Full story: The Sun

Tottenham claim they are owed £1m by Pompey over a deal to sign goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, despite the move never going through as the player opted to join Stoke instead of Spurs.
Full story: The Sun

A list of Manchester United's corporate customers has been posted on the internet by anti-Glazer protesters much to the anger of officials.
Full story: Daily Mail

Colin Murray is thought to be favourite to replace Adrian Chiles as presenter of the BBC's MOTD2 programme.
Full story: the Guardian