Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor and Russian international Yuri Zhirkov head a £50m hit list of summer transfer targets being considered by Chelsea as part of the deal to bring AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti to Stamford Bridge. (Daily Telegraph) 
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has issued a hands off warning to the Spanish giants hoping to tempt Xabi Alonso out of Anfield. Real Madrid and Barcelona have been linked with the Liverpool ace, who nearly left last summer. (Various)
Benitez has also hinted Spanish side Valencia have wrecked any potential deal for forward David Silva. The Liverpool boss claims the 23-year-old is no longer a £20m target for Liverpool because officials leaked his interest in the player to the media.(Daily Mail) 
But if Liverpool are to end their wait for a league title they will have to do it within "a few years" or they will have to do it without Fernando Torres after the Spaniard said he would like to play in the Italian league one day. (The Independent) 
Manchester United's bid for glory on five fronts is unfolding against a backdrop of growing instability, with Carlos Tevez joining Cristiano Ronaldo in contemplating a future away from Old Trafford, possibly in tandem at Real Madrid next season. (The Times) 
Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas appear to have ruled out leaving Arsenal after Arsene Wenger's team reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. (The Times)
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola wants to sign Swansea's Spanish right-back Angel Rangel as a replacement for out-of-contract Lucas Neill. Rangel, 26, has also been tracked by Manchester City with the Swans looking for £4m. (Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa are lining up a £6m bid for Leeds' highly-rated youngster Fabien Delph. Boss Martin O'Neill wantes Delph, 19, to replace Gareth Barry if he joins Liverpool this summer. (Daily Mirror)
Blackburn are tracking 19-year-old Austrian striker Mark Arnautovic who plays for Dutch side FC Twente. (Daily Mirror) 
Derby defender Andy Todd, 34, is wanted by Australian club Perth Glory when he becomes a free agent in the summer. (The Sun)
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is ready to make a £2m bid for Bolton defender Danny Shittu, 28, this summer. McLeish wants to bring the Nigerian international to St Andrews even if Blues do not get promoted. (Daily Express) 
Celtic are tracking Costa Rica international winger Junior Diaz, who plays for Polish side Wisla Krakow. (Scottish Sun) 
Scotland forward Ross McCormack has been told he will be allowed to leave Cardiff if they miss out on promotion to the Premier League. (Scottish Daily Mail) 
Aberdeen skipper Scott Severin has warned he could be the latest player to quit Pittodrie for an out-of-contract move to England. (Scottish Daily Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes will be given one more season to prove himself at Eastlands. (Daily Telegraph) 
Brazilian star Romario is in the frame to become QPR boss. Romario, 43, quit playing last year and had a brief spell in charge of Vasco Da Gama. (The Sun)
West Ham United will be taken over by a consortium of international banks in the coming weeks. Icelandic government-appointed officials running the stricken investment bank Straumur are set to to take control from Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson at Upton Park. (The Guardian) 
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola wants Matthew Upson to sign a new contract. Upson, 29, has two years left on his contract and has hinted he wants European football before making a decision. (Various)
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn insists he is 100% behind boss Ricky Sbragia. (The Sun) 
Arsenal's Champions League hero Theo Walcott is finally on the verge of signing a new contract that will make him one of the club's highest-paid players. (Daily Express) 
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson says highly-rated Norwegian central defender Brede Hangeland may stay at Craven Cottage. (Various) 
Pedro Mendes is stunned that his Rangers team-mate Kris Boyd is not in the running for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year. (Various) 
TV firm Setanta want to renegotiate their four-year £125m deal with the SPL, which is due to begin in 2010/11. (Scottish Sun)
QPR could be former West Ham boss Alan Pardew's next managerial port of call. (Daily Mirror) 
 
AND FINALLY 

Wayne Rooney made a fool of former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall - when he was just 11 years old. The Manchester United striker was Everton mascot in 2002 and, while warming up with the Welsh goalkeeper, he continually chipped the ball over Southall's head into the net (The Sun).
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