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Wednesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will not stand in the way of captain Cesc Fabregas if he wants to leave England and join Spanish side Barcelona, according to Spanish newspaper Sport.
imscouting.com

Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin says he would understand if team-mate Cesc Fabregas leaves the Gunners for Barcelona in the summer, but hopes the midfielder will stay at the Emirates.
Daily Mail

Nadir Belhadj is an unlikely target for Barcelona after the Portsmouth defender was singled out for praise from Barca midfielder Xavi Fernandes.
Daily Mirror

AC Milan will use striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar as bait to land Manchester United's wantaway defender Nemanja Vidic.
Daily Mirror

Manchester City and Chelsea are on alert after Sevilla's Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano refused to rule out a move to the Premier League.
The Sun

Chelsea are plotting a £70m spending spree this summer to rejuvenate their squad with Borussia Dortmund's Serbia centre-back Neven Subotic, winger Angel Di Maria, of Benfica, Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik and Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger their main targets.
Daily Express

Tottenham's Jamie O'Hara is ready to quit the club in a bid to further his career. The midfielder is currently on loan at Portsmouth.
Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock will ask the FA to take into account the stress he is under working for a club in administration when investigating the comments he made about assistant referee Trevor Massey after the FA Cup match against Aston Villa last Sunday. Warnock labelled Massey a "disgrace" after the decision to wrongly award Villa a corner from which they scored a late equaliser at Selhurst Park.
Daily Mirror

Former Crystal Palace striker Ian Wright says he would be tempted to return to Selhurst Park as a coach if Ron Noades takes over the cash-strapped Championship club.
The Sun

Wolves chairman Steve Morgan believes Liverpool would be debt-free had his 2004 bid for the Merseysiders been accepted.
The Times

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has offered Birmingham chief Carson Yeung £500,000 to end their dispute - but the Hong Kong billionaire has rejected it.
Daily Mirror

Hull manager Phil Brown is ready to gamble on midfielder Jimmy Bullard to play in his side's crunch relegation clash at West Ham on Saturday.
Daily Mirror

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo is officially the highest paid player in the world, according to a recent list published by Portuguese marketing agency Futebol Finance. The former Manchester United star picks up a basic gross salary of £11.3m. Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor is the Premier League's highest earner on £7.4m, according to the list.
Daily Mirror

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who is now managing Inter Milan, says the Blues would have won more trophies under him had he not left the club in 2007.
Daily Mail

Burnley boss Brian Laws has scotched rumours of a bust-up with Clarets midfielder Joey Gudjonsson, insisting the player still has a role to play in the club's battle against relegation.
The Sun

AND FINALLY

Liverpool's Glen Johnson has won every major trophy with the Reds - on Championship Manager. The right back has become a big fan of the computer game while recovering from his knee injury. "I'm sick of TV now," he admits. "When you're confined to the couch you'll look at anything. Thankfully, Championship Manager got me through."
Daily Mail

Queens Park Rangers are on the verge of signing reality TV star Hicham Abdellah. The 17-year-old striker has made it through to the semi-finals of Football's Next Star, whose winner gets a place at the Inter Milan academy.
Daily Mirror

 

Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Ajax striker Luis Suarez has snubbed interest from Chelsea and Manchester City and given Manchester United and Arsenal the green light to launch a £30m summer move for him. (Daily Star)

Arsenal have also been put on alert after the agent of Lazio striker Mauro Zarate claimed he could walk out of the Italian club.
Daily Mail

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is keen on Fiorentina full-back Juan Manuel Vargas. (Daily Star)

West Ham defender Matthew Upson is refusing to commit his long-term future to the club.If they guy don't want to be @ Upton Park, then punt him in the summer
The Sun

Meanwhile, Hammers midfielder Valon Behrami is an £8m summer target for Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart. I'd be happy to take that  (The Sun)

Stoke are chasing Wigan midfielder Paul Scharner, who looks set to leave the DW Stadium on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer.
Daily Mirror

Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj said he would be "very interested" in joining Barcelona after the reigning European champions renewed their interest in the Algerian.FFS so would I 
The Sun

Highly-rated Crystal Palace right-back Nathaniel Clyne has revealed he turned down a deadline-day move to Wolves because he did not want to sit on the bench at the Premier League club.  (Daily Express)

Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici is a £2m target for Tottenham.
The Sun

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth could have a fifth owner this season after Hong Kong-based investment company Endeavor Plan viewed documents relating to the club's financial position and informed Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie of its interest in buying out current owner Balram Chainrai.
Full story: The Guardian

The south coast club's plea to allow them to sell players outside the transfer window has fallen on deaf ears at Fifa.
Daily Telegraph

Pompey are clear to sell their players under a little-known 'club in crisis' rule but, in the process, they will be hit with a nine-point penalty by the Premier League.Never heard of this law, but surely Pompey must be made to take this option if it's available, insterd of given preferential treatment
Daily Mirror

But the cash-strapped Fratton Park outfit have been offered a loan of £10m from West Ham co-owner David Gold offered to prevent them from going bust.FFS, put it towards a new player 
The Sun

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was involved in a heated exchange with Craig Bellamy after the Welsh striker refused to train on Thursday with one of the Italian's staff.
The Sun

Mancini is facing dressing-room unrest among City players over his training ground methods.
Daily Telegraph

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is set to commit his long-term future to the club by signing a new deal.
The Guardian

Sir Alex Ferguson says AC Milan made a tactical error by playing David Beckham in the centre of midfield against Manchester United in his team's Champions League victory.
The Guardian

United supporters angry at the ownership regime of the Glazer family have brought their 'green and gold' protest to the driveway of Old Trafford chief executive David Gill, attaching a banner to the gates of his home.
Daily Mail

England boss Fabio Capello will name defenders Wayne Bridge and John Terry in the squad for the friendly against Egypt on 3 March. Terry is alleged to have had an affair with Bridge's former partner but Capello has warned both defenders not to bring any personal tensions with them.
The Times

Nigeria are preparing to snatch Wigan's new striker Victor Moses from under the nose of Capello with the lure of a place in their World Cup squad this summer.
Daily Mail

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is backing under-fire referee Martin Hansson, criticised for giving the free-kick that led to Porto's winner against Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Times

AND FINALLY

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans should watch where he sits in the changing room after manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted giving him the hairdryer treatment in the match against AC Milan because "he was the nearest defender to me". Sir Alex said: "Our whole back four were going to get it, but he's unfortunate."
Daily Mail

Stoke midfielder Diego Arismendi has been accused of driving a neighbour crazy by playing football in his flat at all hours of the night. Plastic surgeon Dr Muhammad Khan, who lives above the Uruguayan, said the player's rowdy antics were forcing him out of his home.
(The Sun)

Armed raiders have stolen 50,000 new-design England away shirts worth £2m from a lorry.
Daily Mirror

 

Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City are planning a £140m bid in the summer for Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres.
News of the World

Spanish striker David Villa is ready to quit Valencia for Chelsea this summer with Real Madrid indicating that they will stick with French star Karim Benzema.
News of the World

Manchester United are lining up a swoop for £10m-rated Sporting Lisbon ­midfielder Miguel Veloso. The versatile 23-year-old, who can also operate in defence, was watched by United scouts in Sporting's 2-1 Europa League loss at Everton on Tuesday.
Sunday Mirror

French striker Thierry Henry is set for Barcelona's exit door having just netted just twice in 13 appearances this season for Pep Guardiola's team.
Sunday Mirror

Chelsea are closing in on a £36m move for Benfica's 22-year-old highly-rated forward Angel di Maria.
News of the World

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is facing a players' revolt. The Italian admitted last week he had a spat with striker Craig Bellamy and it seems a growing number of players are unhappy with the sporadic nature of the training sessions.
Mail on Sunday

Real Madrid are keen on securing the managerial services of Jose Mourinho, but would have to pay up to €7.5m (£6.5m) to break his contract at Inter Milan. The pressure on Real's current coach Manuel Pellegrini increased following Tuesday's defeat by Lyons in the Champions League.
Sunday Times

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be in Real's sights should Pellegrini be shown the door and Mourinho decides not to go to Spain.
Daily Mail

Edwin van der Sar is close to signing a new contract with Manchester United after deciding to play on beyond his 40th birthday. The Dutch goalkeeper recently returned to action following a serious illness suffered by his wife Annemarie.
Sunday Mirror

Man City defender Wayne Bridge will happily line up with Chelsea's John Terry when England play Egypt in a friendly next month. A confidant of Bridge, whose ex-girlfriend was at the centre of an alleged affair with Terry, said: "He is still anxious to play for his country and won't allow the Terry furore to blind his judgement."
Sunday Express

Arsenal are considering breaking their contract structure by offering defender William Gallas a new two-year deal. The Gunners normally offer players aged over 32 one-year deals.
imscouting.com

Former England striker Gary Lineker believes Martin O'Neill is the ideal man to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson when the Scot decides to retire at Manchester United.
Daily Mail

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists his side can pip Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool to the fourth and final Champions League slot this season.
Daily Telegraph

Redknapp also looks set to reward defender Ledley King, who suffers from a chronic knee problem, with a new one-year contract extension in the summer.
Daily Mail

Manchester United winger Nani is set to hold talks over a new four-year deal on the back of a recent surge in form for the Portuguese star.
News of the World

Manchester City winger and £7m signing Adam Johnson says he wants to be the club's equivalent to Ryan Giggs.
Sunday Times

AND FINALLY

Man United striker Wayne Rooney says Fabio Capello has been "fantastic" as England boss and revealed some of his training tactics. Rooney said: "He records everything and he once had Glen Johnson going over a tape of a throw-in for 30 minutes because he wasn't happy with it. I was almost falling asleep!"
Daily Star

 

Tuesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole has put the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona on alert over his future because he is unhappy at the way he has been treated at Stamford Bridge over the issue of his personal conduct.
Daily Mirror

Chelsea are set to pip Spanish duo Barcelona and Real Madrid to the 40m euro signing of Benfica winger Angel Di Maria.
imscouting.com

West Ham are planning a summer swoop for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. The Hammers hope to leapfrog Birmingham and take Hart on loan next season as a replacement for current number one Robert Green, who may leave Upton Park at the end of the season. 
The Sun

Tottenham are set to swoop for Zambia's 16-year-old left back Emmanuel Mbola in a £1m deal from Armenian side Yerevan.
Daily Mirror

Everton manager David Moyes has issued a hands-off warning to rival clubs interested in signing teenage midfielder Jack Rodwell.
Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth are on the brink of becoming the first side in Premier League history to go into administration after a rescue bid by a mystery South African consortium faltered. Owner Balram Chainrai set a deadline of the close of business yesterday for the group to provide proof they had the funds to take on Pompey's £70m debts.
Daily Mirror

Portsmouth's off-field troubles boiled over on to the training ground on Monday when Jamie O'Hara and Michael Brown were involved in a bust-up following an over-zealous challenge by the latter on the former.
Daily Mail

Former Football League chairman Keith Harris, the man behind a proposed £1billion buy-out of Manchester United has encouraged United fans not to turn up to matches or purchase club merchandise in a bid to force current owners the Glazer family into selling the club.
Daily Mail

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon will discover if his World Cup dream lies in tatters on Tuesday when he undergoes a scan on his injured groin. The 22-year-old has not played since 28 December because of the problem and broke down in training on Saturday.
Daily Star

Joe Hart will start in goal for England in their friendly against Egypt at Wembley on 3 March. The 23-year-old has been in excellent form during his season-long loan period at Birmingham from Manchester City.
Daily Mail

Winger Luis Boa Morte could make a shock return for West Ham before the end of the season. The 32-year-old was expected to miss the whole campaign after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage in a pre-season game with Tottenham. Not one of my favourite players but I'd rather he earned his wages than get them from laying on the treatment table
The Sun

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is so serious about his side's Carling Cup bid he plans to check his squad into their hotel three nights before Sunday's final against Manchester United.
The Sun

Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Anderson has admitted that he has considered whether he has a future at Old Trafford since falling out of Sir Alex Ferguson's team in the last month.
Daily Mail

Former Burnley boss Steve Cotterill will be named new boss of Notts County on Tuesday.
Daily Mirror

Reports in Holland claim that former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink will be allowed to leave his role as Russia coach early to be allowed to coach Ivory Coast at this summer's World Cup in South Africa. Hiddink will then take over as Turkey boss in August.
imscouting.com

AND FINALLY

Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard says he cracked up when he missed a penalty against Portugal at the last World Cup - but insists it won't happen again. "You know all the fans back home are watching and when you're tired, when you're under so much pressure, that's when mistakes happen," he said.
Daily Mirror

Ipswich manager Roy Keane says that the emotional rollercoaster of football is better than anything offered at a Disney theme park. The Tractor Boys plunged into the Championship relegation zone with defeat at Peterborough last Tuesday but climbed out with Saturday's win at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Sun

 

Thursday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal are monitoring the progress of 18-year-old Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen after receiving a recommendation from former Gunners striker Dennis Bergkamp.If he is 1/10th the player Dennis was then  nal should grab him straight away
Daily Mirror

Guinea international Kamil Zayatte wants to quit Hull during the summer and is targeting a move to Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea. 
Daily Mail

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure has ruled out a move to the Premier League, despite claiming that Manchester City and Arsenal are keen to sign him.
Daily Mirror

Everton are eyeing a trio of players from Norweigan club Molde. Defenders Knut Olav Rindaroy, Magne Simonsen and Vegard Forren have all impressed the club's scouts.
imscouting.com

OTHER GOSSIP

Wayne Bridge is considering ruling himself out of England's World Cup plans because he cannot stand the prospect of sharing a dressing room with Chelsea defender John Terry, who is alleged to have had an affair with the Manchester City defender's former girlfriend. FFS this is getting boreing now
The Guardian

England manager Fabio Capello will be at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to watch Terry's Chelsea take on Bridge's Manchester City.
The Guardian

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes defender Rio Ferdinand may have to re-evaluate his international career and limit his appearances amid growing concerns over his recurring back problems.
The Guardian

Ferdinand could still be fit to play in the Carling Cup final on Sunday and is likely to lead England in next week's friendly against Egypt.
Daily Star

Robin van Persie could return from his ankle injury in early April, according to Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk. The Arsenal striker had been expected to miss the rest of the season after rupturing ligaments on international duty in November.
The Independent

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo says he would love to play with his former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney again one day. imscouting.com

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz says Rooney is still not in the same class as Ronaldo, despite the ex-Everton star's heroics this season.
The Times

West Ham sporting director Gianluca Nani is set to leave the club in the next 24 hours as new owners David Sullivan and David Gold continue to trim the club's huge debts.
Daily Mirror

Portsmouth owner Balram Chainrai is likely to have his £17m loans to the club repaid in full if Pompey go into administration, while other creditors like Sacha Gaydamak bear the cost of the Premier League outfit's meltdown.
Daily Telegraph

Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie insists he will not be sacked if the club go into administration.
Daily Mirror   

Portsmouth's Serbian defender Dusko Tosic is ready to leave the club on a free transfer after the Premier League withheld his registration.
Daily Mail

Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant was sent home from training by Real Zaragoza after showing up late for the third time in two weeks.
Daily Mail

AND FINALLY

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was quizzed about why he has put on weight since the Reds' Champions League triumph in 2005 during a bizarre press conference in Bucharest, prior to the Europa League last-32 return leg with Unirea Urziceni. "It is the stress of having to answer so many questions from the press," said the Spaniard. "Thank you and goodnight." 
Daily Mail

Everton duo Joseph Yobo and Yakubu were kicked off the club's flight to Lisbon on Wednesday because officials were unhappy with their documents. The Nigerian pair eventually took a late-night flight via Amsterdam with Toffees fans ahead of the Europa League clash with Sporting.
Daily Mirror

  

Saturday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United will be under pressure to sell off up to 15 players at the end of the season to help clear their rising debt, reported to be about £716m. Striker Michael Owen and keeper Ben Foster are likely to be top of the list for the axe.
Daily Star

Veteran former Scotland striker Paul Dickov, a free agent after leaving Leicester in January, will join League One title hopefuls Leeds on Monday.
Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

Five Chelsea players have pledged their support to former team-mate Wayne Bridge in the wake of their captain John Terry's alleged affair with the Manchester City defender's former partner.
Daily Mail

Ipswich manager Roy Keane sympathises with Bridge's decision to quit England, claiming "getting the big contract, the Bentley and the blonde" has replaced playing the international game as "the pinnacle" for players.
Daily Mail

Olympic and world sprint champion Usain Bolt is desperate for Manchester United to beat Aston Villa in Sunday's Carling Cup final. He will be watching in his Kingston home and said: "I want to be celebrating at the end."
The Sun

Milton Keynes Dons manager Paul Ince is facing the axe, with former Watford and Reading boss Brendan Rodgers being lined up to replace him.
Daily Mail

Reading have decided not to appeal against Jobi McAnuff's red card in the FA Cup fifth-round replay victory over West Brom, ruling the winger out of the Royals' quarter-final clash against Aston Villa.
Daily Mail

The Premier League could introduce fines if members fail to stick to an agreement made at the start of the season on giving interviews to rights holders. It could lead to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson speaking to the BBC once again. Ferguson fell out with the corporation after a 2004 documentary about his son Jason.
The Independent

AND FINALLY

Former Manchester United and Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke is in reflective mood ahead of the Carling Cup final. When asked about a premature end to a four-year Old Trafford career in 2002, he said: "Would I give up the women and nights out for another year at United? Would that make me happy? Would that make me the person I am today? I'm not so sure."
Full story: Daily Express

 

Tuesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours


TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are considering a fresh attempt to lure Benfica's £20m-rated winger Angel di Maria to Old Trafford.
Daily Mail

Chelsea are lining up a bid to sign Benfica central defender David Luiz. The Premier League leaders hope to sign Luiz in time for the 2010/2011 season.
IMScouting

Juventus are close to signing Liverpool target Kevin Kuranyi from Schalke. The 28-year-old striker is out of contract at the end of the season.
IMScouting

Aston Villa, Sunderland and Blackburn are eyeing up Wolves defensive midfielder and captain Karl Henry, 27.
Daily Mirror

Liverpool are offering key Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano a two-year contract extension with a pay rise to keep him out of Barcelona's clutches.
The Sun

Blackburn are eager to sign Aruna Dindane - on loan at Portsmouth this season - in £2.5m deal from Lens.
Daily Mirror

Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb is desperate for a return to the Premier League, with Manchester City and Aston Villa standing by to sign him.
Daily Mirror

Michael Owen has dismissed the prospect of leaving Manchester United this summer by insisting he is happy to accept a reduced role at Old Trafford in exchange for silverware.
Daily Telegraph

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a personal phone call of support to Ryan Shawcross after the Stoke defender's tackle broke Aaron Ramsey's leg.
Daily Mirror

England boss Fabio Capello will turn to Tottenham's injury-plagued defender Ledley King as he attempts to solve his centre-back crisis. King, 29, won his last England cap almost three years ago.
Daily Mail

Neil Warnock joined Queens Park Rangers as manager after the club agreed a £400,000 compensation deal with Crystal Palace. Warnock will be paid £15,000 a week at Loftus Road.
Daily Mail

Meanwhile, Steve Coppell has turned down the chance of an emotional return to replace Warnock at Selhurst Park, leaving the manager's door open for Paul Hart to take charge.
Daily Mirror

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has urged club manager Rafael Benitez to stop fretting about his fitness while he is away on international duty with Spain.
Daily Mirror

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is to undergo treatment - but not surgery - for a bruised bone in his knee which he sustained against Blackburn on Sunday. The centre-back left Anfield on crutches after the match.
The Independent

Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell will escape FA action for a lunge that took out a Wigan player, corner flag and linesman after referee Anthony Taylor cleared him.
The Sun

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes he can answer the question at the heart of Fabio Capello's bid to win the World Cup.
Daily Express

Craig Bellamy's international future is in doubt after John Toshack, the Wales manager, refused to confirm that the Manchester City striker was part of his plans for the future.
The Guardian

Deco has told Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti he is keen to leave the club. The 32-year-old Portugal international is eager for a move to a club in Brazil to be closer to his family.
The Sun

AND FINALLY

Crisis-club Portsmouth are offering financial advice to supporters on their website. Pompey, who are in administration and have huge debts, are advertising PFC Financial Services division, which claims to bring everyday financial solutions to fans' families. One supporter said: "It's got to be a sick joke."
Daily Mirror 

England legend Alan Shearer thinks every fan in the country should keep their fingers crossed for the next few months to help keep Wayne Rooney fit for the World Cup.
The Sun

Spain's 23-man World Cup squad will earn a bonus of nearly £500,000 each if they win the World Cup in South Africa later this year.
El Mundo