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Wednesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool's 3-0 drubbing by Manchester City on Monday has prompted manager Roy Hodgson to make a shock move for West Ham striker Carlton Cole, with the Reds prepared to offer £6m up front for the 26-year-old.
Full story: Daily Mirror I'd bite his fecking hand off for that

Hodgson is desperate to sort out the future of Javier Mascherano, who wants to move for family reasons, and has told Barcelona they will need to pay £18m in cash by the end of the weekend to secure the Argentine midfielder.
Full story: Daily Mail

Barcelona may offer midfielder Alexander Hleb and defender Martin Caceres in part exchange as they look at ways to tempt Liverpool to sell Mascherano.
Full story: the Guardian

If Liverpool do finally offload Mascherano, they may attempt to secure Marseille's £7m-rated midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa.
Full story: Daily Star

West Brom have made a £3m bid for Getafe midfielder Derek Boateng. The Ghanaian was voted the Spanish club's player of the season for the 2009-2010 campaign and was named in his country's World Cup squad.
Full story: Talksport

West Ham manager Avram Grant is intent on signing both a striker and right-back before the close of the transfer window next Tuesday.
Full story: the Guardian

Everton have been put off Tottenham striker Peter Crouch after being quoted what they consider to be an exorbitant fee of £10m.
Full story: Talksport

Coventry are set to sign striker Marlon King, who was released from prison in July, on a three-year contract. Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd wants to snap up King on a Bosman transfer for a weekly salary of £10,000, plus bonuses.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar looks likely to remain at Goodison Park for one more season and see out the final year of his contract, despite Tottenham's ongoing interest in the South African.
Full story: Daily Mail

Chelsea could be set to make a shock bid for Inter Milan defender Nicolas Burdisso, with the Blues needing cover for Ricardo Carvalho, who recently moved to Real Madrid.
Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Deal-broker Keith Harris, who has assisted in the sales of West Ham, Aston Villa and Manchester City, says he is representing a mystery overseas buyer for Liverpool, with an offer of up to £500m set to be tabled to take over from the current American owners.
Full story: Daily Express

England manager Fabio Capello has come under fire from Real Madrid's new manager. Jose Mourinho said: "He has a one-track relationship with players. You cannot go around just shouting at players. They need to feel special. Capello will not work for England. He does not know the players. They are frightened of him and they can't play for him."
Full story: Daily Mirror

AND FINALLY

What a spectacle! You can make up your own headline as Edgar Davids struggled with his glasses on his debut for Crystal Palace. The Dutch midfielder, 37, played at left-back as his new side lost to Portsmouth in the Carling Cup.
Full story: Daily Mail

Portuguese forward Bebe, who Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson recently signed for £7m without watching him play, failed to make Tuesday's 16-man reserve squad to face local rivals Manchester City.
Full story: Daily Mail

 

Friday's gossip column - transfer and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham are in talks with AC Milan over bringing Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to White Hart Lane on a season-long loan deal. The move will include the option to buy at the end of the spell, with the sum of £12m thought to be the asking price.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Newcastle and West Ham are keen on signing Tottenham striker Robbie Keane on loan before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday.
Full story: Talksport

Liverpool and Newcastle will find out soon who has won the race to sign Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa. The 23-year-old has gone on strike at his French club in an effort to force through a move. German side Werder Bremen are also interested.
Full story: Talksport

Fulham boss Mark Hughes is set to raid his former club Manchester City to sign striker Roque Santa Cruz and goalkeeper Shay Given.
Full story: Daily Mail

Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is not interested in leaving the Dutch side for Arsenal following their Champions League qualification.
Full story: Talksport

West Ham are poised to make a move for Hamburg's 29-year-old right-back Guy Demel.
Full story: Talksport

Stoke and Portsmouth are lining up a swap deal with winger Liam Lawrence and striker Dave Kitson set to head for the south coast and Marc Wilson moving to Staffordshire.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Arsenal have made an inquiry for Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau - but have not given up on signing Fulham's Mark Schwarzer.
Full story: Daily Mail

AC Milan and Barcelona have agreed a deal to take striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the San Siro, according to reports in the Spanish media.
Full story: imscouting.com

Scott Parker will sign a new five-year contract at West Ham - if he is still at Upton Park when the transfer window shuts.  Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has had an £8m offer for the midfielder turned down recently.
Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Suspicions that Manchester City might be stockpiling players in order to prevent them signing for rivals could lead to the Premier League reviving attempts to outlaw player loans.
Full story: The Guardian

New Manchester United striker Bebe, who manager Alex Ferguson paid £7.4m for without seeing him play, was not included in the club's recent 16-man reserve squad to face Manchester City - and was this week taken out of a training match because he was 'off the pace'.
Full story: Daily Mail

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi wants Liverpool to be humane and let fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano leave Anfield for the Nou Camp.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Former Hull manager Phil Brown, who is currently out of work, has reiterated his desire to become England manager.
Full story: Talksport

England manager Fabio Capello can forget about recalling Paul Scholes to the national squad. The veteran Manchester United midfielder has no intention of going back on his 2004 decision to retire from international football.
Full story: The Sun

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez called Birmingham boss Alex McLeish "disrespectful" over his pursuit of Latics winger Charles N'Zogbia.
Full story: The Sun

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reopened his feud with Stoke, accusing them of turning football into 'rugby'.
Full story: Daily Star

AND FINALLY

Along with reacting angrily to the taunts of former Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho - who said that Rafael Benitez was lucky to inherit such a good side - the club's new manager has slammed a decision to allow television cameras into changing rooms at Serie A games, insisting it breaches a "priestly sanctuary".
The Sun

With the help of the legendary Pierluigi Collina, Uefa president Michel Platini has launched a new initiative that he claims will produce referees who are just as fit as footballers - and who will be able to provide a "99 to 100 per cent" guarantee of no more mistakes.
Full story: Daily Mail

 

Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will make a last-ditch attempt to sign West Ham striker Carlton Cole.  Hodgson is also close to sealing deals for Fulham defender Paul Konchesky, but may drop his interest in PSV Eindhoven forward Ola Toivonen because of the Dutch club's £13m asking price.
Full story: News of the World

Hodgson is also attempting to arrange a loan deal to bring Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez to Anfield.
Full story: Sunday Express

Manchester United are ready to test Everton's resolve to hang on to midfielder Jack Rodwell with a £20m bid.
Full story: Sunday People

Scott Parker could leave West Ham to bring in some much-needed funds to Upton Park. Tottenham are in pole position to sign the £8m-rated midfielder. 
Full story: Mail on Sunday

Tottenham will turn their attentions to Villarreal's former Manchester United frontman Giuseppe Rossi if their loan move for AC Milan's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar fails to materialise.
Full story: News of the World

Tottenham have had an enquiry into the availability of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand rebuffed by the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Full story: News of the World

Charles N'Zogbia's proposed move to Birmingham from Wigan has collapsed over the versatile Frenchman's wage demands.
Full story: News of the World

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane is set for yet another move as Aston Villa and Newcastle look to snap up the Republic of Ireland international before the transfer window shuts.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

Wigan have agreed a £2m deal to take Chelsea forward Franco di Santo to the DW Stadium.
Full story: Sunday People

Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg will rebuff any approach from Arsenal in favour of staying with the Amsterdam club.
Full story: Sunday Express

Shay Given may be on the move, however, with the Manchester City goalkeeper determined to switch to Fulham before the transfer window shuts.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

West Ham have made a £1.5m move for Hamburg defender Guy Demel and are competing with Stoke for the signature of Portsmouth defender Marc Wilson. (Sunday Telegraph)

The Hammers are also poised to sign AFC Valenciennes left-back Siaka Tiene.
Full story: IMScouting

Former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires could make a surprise return to the Premier League after the 36-year-old turned down a move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. West Ham,  Wigan and Bolton are all monitoring the player, who is a free agent after leaving Villarreal. (Sunday Express)

On-loan striker Craig Bellamy will move to Cardiff permanently from Manchester City if the Bluebirds gain promotion from the Championship.
Full story: News of the World

AC Milan have reached an agreement to take striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on loan from Barcelona for the rest of the season. The Rossoneri will then have the option to buy the Sweden forward for £19.7m. (Various)

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has set his heart on a coaching role with boyhood club Oldham Athletic after his playing career ends.
Full story: News of the World

West Ham manager Avram Grant has accused Scholes, who has repeatedly snubbed Fabio Capello's attempt to lure him out of international retirement, of letting down his country.
Full story: Daily Star

England boss Fabio Capello has performed an astonishing U-turn after telling David Beckham he will consider the LA Galaxy midfielder for selection if he is fully fit. "First Beckham has to be playing again but the door is always open," said Capello, who earlier this month had called time on the former Manchester United man's international career.
Full story: News of the World

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he could one day coach Real Madrid. The Italian, who was managed by Fabio Capello in his final season as a player at AC Milan, has described the England coach as a "grouch" in the latest extracts from his book.
Full story: News of the World

Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier could return to English football if Aston Villa decide not to appoint caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald on a permanent basis.
Full story: Sunday People

A trio of Australian investors have joined the running to take control of Blackburn Rovers after lodging a bid of £25m for the Ewood Park club.
Full story: News of the World

Defender Steven Taylor could be excluded from Newcastle's 25-man Premier League squad as his dispute with the club over a new contract continues.
Full story: News of the World

New Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has denied that he went on strike to force through his move from Liverpool.
Full story: Sunday People

AND FINALLY

Manchester City's new £24m striker Mario Balotelli emerged unhurt from a collision between his Audi sports car and another vehicle on his way to the club's Carrington training ground on Friday.
Full story: News of the World

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has donated £25,000 from his testimonial to Everton to give to a charity of their choice. Carragher, who supported the Toffees as a boy, will play in a game between a Liverpool XI and Everton XI on Saturday.
Full story: Sunday Express

A photographic timeline running round the outside of Everton's Goodison Park has provoked anger amongst some of the club's fans. Nick Barmby, the midfielder who controversially quit the club for local rivals Liverpool, features alongside legends such as striker Dixie Dean.
Full story: Independent on Sunday

 

Tuesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has made a sensational bid to land Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Goalkeeper Shay Given has decided to stay at Manchester City, turning down the chance to rejoin his former manager Mark Hughes at Fulham.
Full story: The Guardian

AC Milan are trying to lure Brazilian forward Robinho from Manchester City.
Full story: The Guardian

Blackpool are in talks with Strasbourg midfielder Mamadou Bah and have asked about taking forward Kyle Lafferty on loan from Rangers.
Full story: Daily Mail

Juventus are trying to sign Arsenal defender Armand Traore on a year's loan.
Full story: The Sun

Traore is also in demand at Birmingham who are looking to to sign Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb in a £4m deal.
Full story: Daily Mail

West Ham have underlined their desire to keep midfielder Scott Parker after rejecting a fresh £7m bid from Tottenham.
Full story: Daily Mail

Forward Eidur Gudjohnsen is ready to sign for Mark Hughes' Fulham on a year-long loan from Monaco today - after turning down Stoke City.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Former Celtic and Hull striker Jan Venegoor of Hesselink has joined Rapid Vienna as a free agent. (The Sun)

Sunderland hope to sign Rennes' Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan, the man who missed a last-minute penalty against Uruguay at the World Cup, on a four-year deal.
Full story: the Sun

Celtic could make a loan move for Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies, two years after he joined Villa from West Brom for £10m.
Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Aston Villa are being linked with a shock move for Everton boss David Moyes after the odds of the Scot's joining Villa were shortened considerably on Monday.
Full story: Daily Mirror

They have also sounded out unsettled Birmingham manager Alex McLeish, and former Blues boss Steve Bruce, about taking over at Villa Park. (Daily Telegraph)

Another shock target for Villa is newly-appointed Fulham boss Mark Hughes, who was their original first-choice when Martin O'Neill resigned on 9 August. (The Times)

But United States national team coach Bob Bradley is out of contention after the club said one of its requirements for the successful candidate was Premier League experience.
Full story: the Guardian

Villa defender Luke Young says he has no idea why he was frozen out by O'Neill and feels the club is a fairer place now he has gone.
Full story: the Sun

Former West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is believed to be a surprise contender to take over the managerial vacancy at Southampton following the sacking of another former Hammers boss, Alan Pardew.
Full story: Daily Express

AND FINALLY

American pop star Katy Perry has warned comedian fiance Russell Brand that she will not let him name any children they may have after West Ham players. 
Full story: the Sun

Argentina striker Francisco Varallo, the last surviving player from the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, has died at the age of 100. (The Times) RIP 

 

Thursday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal are considering a deal for Japanese 17-year-old striker Ryo Miyaichi, who is also wanted by Ajax.
Full story: Daily Mail

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane rejected the chance to join Turkish side Besiktas in an £8m deal during the summer transfer window. 
Full story: Daily Mail

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is trying to push through a deal for former England keeper Richard Wright, who is a free agent.
Full story: Daily Mirror

West Ham missed out on the deadline-day signings of Everton's Yakubu Ayegbeni and Portsmouth's Marc Wilson because of their precarious finances.
Full story: the Guardian

Coventry hope to complete the signing of former Wigan and Watford striker Marlon King by the end of the week, following his release from prison.
Full story: Daily Mail

West Ham have signed Belgian goalkeeper Ruud Boffin on a two-year deal from MVV Maastricht as cover for Robert Green when he undergoes hip surgery. (Daily Mail)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has claimed broken promises - and not his family's failure to settle on Merseyside - prompted his decision to force a move from Anfield to Barcelona.
Full story: the Guardian

Former West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is in pole position to become the next boss of Aston Villa, having held talks with the club.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has called on the Premier League to introduce a winter break to save England from another World Cup disaster.I don't think a winter break will solve Englands problems
Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United could have signed their new £7.5m Portuguese striker Bebe for as little as £125,000 last January.
Full story: Daily Mail

Former Portsmouth manager Paul Hart and ex-Hull City boss Phil Brown are early contenders to replace Alan Pardew at Southampton.
Full story: Daily Mail

Bolton's former Manchester City midfielder Martin Petrov says there is no team identity or trust at Eastlands.
Full story: the Sun

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has warned fans he will quit the club too if their criticism forces out manager Roberto Martinez.
Full story: the Sun

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has had a major falling out with the board over his new contract demands.
Full story: Daily Mail

Wales coach John Toshack wants their Euro 2012 qualifier against England moved from the Millennium Stadium to the more intimate Cardiff City Stadium.
Full story: Daily Mail

Newcastle's 35-year-old defender Sol Campbell says he is not too old for an England recall - nearly three years after winning the last of his 73 caps.
Full story: Daily Star

Bayern Munich's Mark van Bommel has been named new captain of the Dutch national team - coached by his father-in-law Bert van Marwijk. (Independent)

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has told a Spanish radio station it is "fundamental" the club finds new owners "who can make us a competitive side" after an "appalling" last season. (Times)

AND FINALLY

Everton striker Louis Saha has resorted to a 5,000 year-old medical treatment to cure his knee problems - applying leeches. "It swells up less and I feel fine now," he said.
Full story: the Sun

A 21-year-old former MTV reality show contestant claims to be a serious bidder to buy Portsmouth.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has admitted he turned to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for advice on how to deal with chancellor Gordon Brown when their relationship was tense.
Full story: the Sun

 

Saturday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

New AC Milan signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic snubbed a move to Manchester City because of their lack of title credentials. The Swedish striker, 28, reckons City are at least two years away from mounting a serious Premier League title challenge.
Full story: the Sun

Italy international Marco Borriello came close to signing for Manchester City earlier this week, according to his agent. The AC Milan striker was loaned to Serie A side Roma after boss Roberto Mancini's move for the 28-year-old fell through.
Full story: Daily Mail

Hull defender Kamil Zayatte will join Leicester on a season-long loan next week, paving the way for Jimmy Bullard to return to Nigel Pearson's side.
Full story: Daily Mail

Arsenal's attempts to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Ibrahim Afellay could be scuppered by Fiorentina. The Netherlands international is top of the Italian club's most-wanted list.
Full story: talkSport

The Gunners are one of several Premier League clubs eyeing up Dynamo Kiev's highly rated goalkeeper Maxim Koval, who is 17.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Everton striker James Vaughan will join Sheffield United or Burnley on loan after the 22-year-old failed to secure a move to Premier League Blackpool during the transfer window.Pick  
Full story: Daily Mirror

Swansea are set to snap up Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury on loan. The 19-year-old was loaned to Watford, the Swans' Championship rivals, last season.
Full story: talkSport

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres' return to full fitness is ahead of schedule but the club's medical staff do not expect him to reach his physical peak for another month.
Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher aims to carry on playing for three more years after being inspired by Manchester United veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
Full story: the Sun

New Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh admits he was left exhausted after the toughest pre-season of his life.
Full story: the Sun

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov is urging the club to give caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald the permanent manager's job. The Bulgarian says MacDonald is more than capable of stepping up to the role.
Full story: talkSport

Alternatively, Gerard Houllier will head a three-man management team at Villa Park. The Frenchman is to be director of football and will be joined by MacDonald as head coach and Steve Staunton as assistant coach.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has also expressed an interest in the vacant manager's job at Aston Villa.
Full story: the Sun

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has blamed former Reds manager Graeme Souness for the club's decline during his time in charge from 1991 to 1994. Carragher has his Liverpool testimonial on Saturday.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United supporters are being urged to mark the Premier League clash against Liverpool at Old Trafford later this month with an 'old shirt' protest against the club's owners, the Glazer family.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

West Ham's new summer signing Thomas Hitzlsperger faces another two weeks on the sidelines as he struggles to recover from the injury he picked up on international duty for Germany last month.
Full story: talkSport

The joint Spain-Portugal bid to host the 2018 World Cup has been described as "ideal" by the head of the Fifa inspection team.  
Full story: Independent

AND FINALLY

A "hill of hell" has been installed at Manchester City's training base to improve the team's fitness levels. Players will be forced to run up the 10ft-tall, 25ft-long mound at the Carrington ground. Manager Roberto Mancini has also already had the likes of Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor pulling HGV tyres in training.
Full story: Daily Mail

Former England striker Ian Wright sent Jermain Defoe a text before Friday night's 4-0 win over Bulgaria saying 'you are due a hat'trick'. Defoe then went out and scored one.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Joe Hart's appearance for England against Bulgaria earned his former club Shrewsbury £500,000 as part of his transfer deal to Manchester City in 2006. (Daily Mail)  

 

Monday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Bayern Munich's 25-year-old striker striker Mario Gomez has claimed the Bundesliga champions blocked a deadline-day loan switch to Liverpool. (Full story: German newspaper Bild)

Arsenal are contemplating a move for Barcelona's 18-year-old defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu.
Full story: IM Scouting

Italian side Cagliari have hinted they would be willing to offload Federico Marchetti in January, with Manchester City and Chelsea the latest clubs to be linked with the 27-year-old goalkeeper's signature.
Full story: IM Scouting

Hull manager Nigel Pearson wants to raid former club Leicester for striker Matty Fryatt and swap him for Tigers centre-back Kamil Zayatte.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Derby are set to sign West Bromwich Albion striker Chris Wood on loan. The 18-year-old played in all of New Zealand's matches at the 2010 World Cup finals.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan is eyeing Bournemouth captain Jason Pearce, with a view to signing the centre-back to improve Boro's stuttering start to the season.
Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Wayne Rooney could miss the Euro 2012 qualifier in Switzerland on Tuesday after England manager Fabio Capello held crisis talks with the striker. Capello is worried about Rooney's mental state following allegations about the Manchester United player's private life.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Gerard Houllier will decide on Monday if he wants the job as Aston Villa manager. The 63-year-old, who is the current technical director for France, won five trophies as Liverpool manager in 2001.
Full story: the Sun

Houllier will consider reuniting with his former number two at Liverpool Phil Thompson when he completes his return to English football at Aston Villa.
Full story: Daily Express

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben says Tottenham are finally as good as north London rivals Arsenal, having signed his Dutch team-mate Rafael van der Vaart. Bayern Munich player Robben says Spurs have bridged the gap by signing the 27-year-old from Real Madrid. Full story: Daily Mirror 

England's 1966 World Cup-winning keeper Gordon Banks says Joe Hart has the potential to be the national team's stopper "for the next 20 years".
Full story: Daily Express

Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Warnock says Phil Jagielka is good enough to be an England regular. The Everton defender played for Warnock at Sheffield United and was praised for his role in England's 4-0 victory in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria on Friday.
Full story: talkSport

AND FINALLY

England have received a boost before their Euro 2012 qualifier in Switzerland on Tuesday, with their opponents' keeper, Diego Benaglio, away on paternity leave. The 26-year-old has been described by Switzerland boss Ottmar Hitzfeld as "fantastic" and has attracted the attention of Manchester United.
Full story: Daily Mirror