Wednesday's gossip column


TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham are lining up a £14m deal for Internacional's Brazilian midfielder Sandro, who is also a target for Spanish duo Real Madrid and Barcelona.(Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal are keeping tabs on 21-year-old Ajax full-back Gregory van der Wiel, who recently broke into the Netherlands team.(Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn are monitoring England striker Emile Heskey's situation at Aston Villa. The 31-year-old is struggling to secure a regular first-team place at Villa Park but Rovers may come in to boost his hopes of clinching a berth in the 2010 World Cup squad. (The Sun) 
Chelsea want to sign Ghanaian striker Dominic Adiyiah, who plays for Fredrikstad FK in Norway, if the transfer ban at Stamford Bridge is lifted.(The Sun) 
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is ready to make Tottenham defender Gareth Bale one of the first signings of new Blues owner Carson Yeung's era in a £3m deal. (Daily Mirror) 
Sheffield United are keen to make on-loan keeper Mark Bunn's move to Bramall Lane permanent after Paddy Kenny lost his appeal against a nine-month drugs ban.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa are set to launch a bid to sign striker Jay Bothroyd from Cardiff if England forward Emile Heskey leaves in January. (Daily Star) 
Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford is a surprise target for Portuguese side Benfica in the January transfer window. (Daily Star) 
Portsmouth are giving a trial to former Millwall and Plymouth striker Cherno Samba.(Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Tottenham managers Terry Venables and Ossie Ardiles believe that current Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will lead the club into the Champions League.(Daily Mirror)
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has ended his feud with midfielder Nigel Reo Coker. The pair had a training ground bust-up in September and Reo Coker has not started a game since but O'Neill hugged the 25-year-old in the dressing room before the draw with Manchester City on 5 October as an indication the incident was behind them.(Daily Mirror) 
Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, whose Atletico Madrid side play Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, says that the Blues have overtaken his former side Manchester United as the best team in the Premier League.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has vowed to help under-fire defensive teammate Rio Ferdinand get back to his best with United and England.(Daily Mirror) 
Everton manager David Moyes has slammed the Football League for their lack of respect for the Carling Cup, suggesting sponsors Carling must ask serious questions about the way sides are being forced to field weaker teams in the early rounds due to commitments in other competitions.(Daily Mirror) 
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has welcomed this summer's World Cup in South Africa as it provides extra incentive for his English players to perform for the Hammers this season.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Chelsea's Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, who switched from AC Milan in the summer, has joked that driving in England is tougher than managing the Blues. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway missed the first of Blackpool's three goals in their home win over Sheffield United last night, as he was on a 'comfort break'. "I missed that one. I get so nervous these days after a year off, I sank three bottles of water and my bladder isn't what it used to be," said Holloway, whose side are now just two points off the top of the Championship in fifth place. (Daily Mail)
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