Saturday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP 

Real Madrid captain Raul has not been tempted by a lucrative approach from English Premier League side Manchester City and says he wants to finish his career at Real. "Manchester City have made contact through my agent Gines Carvajal," he said. "But I've not really considered it because I would be mad to leave here. I'm only interested in finishing my career with Real."
(Spanish: Marca) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Chelsea have offered Germany midfielder Michael Ballack, 32, a one-year contract extension, with wages of £121,000 a week.(Times) 
Barcelona's former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen looks set for a Premier League return after becoming tired of being a substitute for the Champions League finalists. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he will stick with his young stars and resist splashing out on big-money signings this summer.(The Sun) 
But according to the Times, Wenger did hint that he will look to sign experienced players in the summer to bolster his young squad.(Times) 
Chelsea are prepared to pay up the final year of striker Andriy Shevchenko's contract, denying him a return to Stamford Bridge. (Daily Mail) 
Argentina and Genoa striker Diego Milito's agent has flown to London for transfer talks. Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City are all said to be interested.(Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Newcastle are ready to offer temporary boss Alan Shearer a new four-year contract to stay as manager at St James' Park. (Daily Telepgraph) 
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has admitted he lined up Peter Crouch as a possible replacement for Roque Santa Cruz back in January.(Sun) 
Chelsea's interim manager Guus Hiddink has defended striker Didier Drogba after a wave of criticism for his behaviour against Barcelona. (Daily Telegraph) 
And Drogba is to escape any internal club discipline for his post-match abuse of referee Tom Henning Ovrebo following Chelsea's Champions League elimination to Barcelona in midweek.(Guardian) 
Uefa's match delegate has strongly condemned Drogba in his formal report on the aftermath of the club's Champions League semi-final tie with Barcelona .(Independent) 
Tony Adams has revealed he is still hoping to return to Premier League management having taken stock following his dismissal from Portsmouth.(Times) 
Manchester City defender Richard Dunne has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of conning referees with his diving antics .(Times) 

AND FINALLY 

Arsene Wenger has claimed Nicklas Bendtner was NOT drunk after being pictured staggering out of a nightclub with his trousers falling down following Arsenal’s midweek Euro exit. (The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk