Wednesday's gossip column


TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea are closing in on the £40m signing of Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero. (Daily Telegraph) 
AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is hoping to secure a January transfer move to Manchester City. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City are interested in Tottenham winger David Bentley and could bid £8m for the 25-year-old.(Daily Mirror) 
City could tempt Tottenham with a swap deal involving Martin Petrov and cash, in a bid to land former Blackburn winger Bentley. (Daily Star) 
Tottenham are set to beat Manchester United to the signing of Plymouth's young defender Jamie Richards. (Daily Mirror) 
Barcelona will ask to take Manchester City forward Robinho on loan first before deciding whether to sign the Brazilian permanently.(Daily Mirror) 
However, Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has claimed that the Brazilian is not needed at the Nou Camp. (The Sun) 
Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham could have their plans to sign Mahamadou Diarra in January scuppered by the African Cup of Nations. (Daily Star) 
Brighton are hopeful of keeping Arsenal right-back Gavin Hoyte on loan until January.(The Sun) 
Liverpool could be forced to sell as many as four players in the January transfer window in an attempt trim the wage bill at Anfield. (Daily Mirror) 
Everton have renewed their interest in Standard Liege's Serbian striker Milan Jovanovic.(Daily Mirror) 
Wigan are lining up a move for Olimpia's Honduran defender Johnny Palacios, who is the younger brother of Tottenham midfielder Wilson. (Daily Mirror) 
Swansea City are set to move for Sheffield United winger David Cotterill. (Daily Mirror)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Birmingham City owner David Sullivan has demanded a free 50% stake in West Ham - in return for saving the club. (The Sun) 
Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou and West Brom defender Abdoulaye Meite were kicked out of the Ivory Coast squad after coming to blows in training. (Daily Star) 
Crystal Palace will be forced to sell their top stars in a bid to avoid administration with Victor Moses, Sean Scannell and Nathaniel Clyne among the players set to leave. (Daily Star)

AND FINALLY

At least five other Premier League players have tried the same controversial placenta cure treatment in Belgrade that Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is undergoing. (Daily Mail) 
Manchester United winger Gabriel Obertan has revealed he was made to water hanging baskets, prune rose bushes and wash staff cars at the club's Carrington training ground when he first arrived at the Premier League club. (The Sun) 

Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez is finally learning English, by watching television drama Coronation Street. (Daily Star)

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