Tuesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Manchester City are set to rival Juventus for the services of Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez for next season. According to Italian newspaper La Stampa, City are apparently willing to offer the Spaniard a huge transfer kitty and long term contract to leave Anfield and replace current City boss Roberto Mancini Eastlands. (footylatest.com) 
However, Tuttosport, the Turin based newspaper, has revealed that Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has verbally agreed to take over as Juventus coach. (imscouting.com) 
According to Italian website Tutto Mercato, Arsenal are in pole position to sign Fiorentina's highly rated goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.( imscouting.com) 
But German media outlet Sportbild are convinced that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will make a concerted effort to sign Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler this summer. (footylatest.com) 
Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin, a long-time Barcelona fan, still dreams of playing for the Spanish giants one day, the Russian international has revealed. "Even playing just one season for Barcelona would make a pinnacle of my whole career," said Arshavin. (Reuters Press Agency)
Chelsea are set to launch their summer spending spree with a move for Valencia striker David Villa, who is also a target for Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid.(goal.com) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan is planning a radical shake-up at Upton Park after conceding the club will listen to offers for any player except Scott Parker. "Other than Parker, there is not a player we wouldn't sell if it was the right bid," confirmed Sullivan.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa will be the first to test out West Ham's willingness to sell with a £10m bid for England striker Carlton Cole.(Daily Mai) 
West Ham have also bid £4m for West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans as they begin their squad overhaul.(Daily Mirror )
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to switch attention from one Aston Villa winger to another by aiming to snap up England international Ashley Young instead of his Villa Park team-mate James Milner.(caughtoffside.com) 
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is ready to let up to 10 of his players go as he makes way for a new wave of signings at Wanderers. Record buy Johan Elmander is likely to be among those who squeezed out by fresh faces.(Daily Mirror) 
Coyle is also set to raid former club Burnley for midfielder Chris Eagles and defender Clarke Carlisle.(Daily Mail) 
Liverpool are set to sign Swedish teenage forward Kristoffer Peterson from Savedalens IF after the 15-year-old impressed on trial.(Daily Mail) 
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona are lining up a shock bid for Newcastle defender Stephen Taylor, with Carles Puyol heading to St James' Park in return.(imscouting.com) 
Real Madrid's veteran midfielder Guti has reportedly signed a deal to play in Dubai, ending rumours that he could join Tottenham this summer.(imscouting.com) 
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is apparently considering a move for Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz.(caughtoffside.com) 
Wenger has also placed Borussia Dortmund's Serbian international centre back Neven Subotic at the top of his summer spending plans as he looks to freshen up his defensive options.(caughtoffside.com) 
Wolves are chasing £3m-rated Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard.(Daily Mail) 
Wanderers are also lining up a double summer swoop for Reading's Gylfi Sigurdsson and AZ Alkmaar winger Jeremain Lens.(Daily Mirror) 
The midlands club are also keen to re-sign striker Robbie Keane from Tottenham. The 29-year-old, who began his career at Wolves, spent the latter part of this season on loan at Celtic.(The Sun) 
Ex-England keeper Richard Wright is poised to leave Ipswich for the second time with Town manager Roy Keane looking to shed the former Arsenal man's £15,000 a week wages.(Daily Mirror) 
Newcastle are considering a £1m summer move for Blackburn striker Jason Roberts.(Daily Mail) 
Former Arsenal star Alexander Hleb could return to England this summer with Manchester City, Aston Villa and Sunderland among a host of clubs across Europe keen on recruiting the Barcelona midfielder.(Daily Mail) 
Preston boss Darren Ferguson is planning talks with his father, Manchester United manager Sir Alex, about bringing Red Devils striker Danny Welbeck back to Preston on loan next season. Wellbeck arrived at Deepdale on loan in January but made just eight appearances before returning to Old Trafford because of a knee injury.(Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Ex-Everton striker Wayne Rooney is asking Liverpool to do his Manchester United side a favour when Rafael Benitez's side face Chelsea as the Red Devils look to seal a a record 19th top-flight title. United currently trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by a point, with two games left to play.(Times) 
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has emerged as a leading contender to replace Gianfranco Zola at West Ham. The Israeli heads a shortlist, which also includes Ajax manager Martin Jol, FC Twente's former England boss Steve McClaren and ex-Hammers defender Slaven Bilic, now in charge of Croatia.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City are to launch an audacious bid to end Joe Hart's loan spell at Birmingham City and take the goalkeeper back to Eastlands in a move that will enrage their Premier League rivals.(Guardian) 
Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc is prepared to fly to Liverpool this week to try and force Rafa Benitez's hand over accepting his offer of a four-year contract worth £16m.(Daily Mail) 
Adam Pearson, the Hull City chairman, is understood to be considering his future at the troubled club as they face up to their imminent relegation from the Premier League and an impending financial meltdown at the club, who are £35m in debt.(The Times) 
Crisis club Hull are going to ask their players to take a 40% pay-cut in a desperate bid to save money and avoid administration. The Tigers were relegated to the Championship last week.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov has revealed that the questioning of his side's fitness by Chelsea captain John Terry in the aftermath of the Blues' 7-1 win over Villa in March has spurred them back into Champions League contention. Villa have picked up 13 points from the past five games and are now level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Hull chairman Adam Pearson has revealed that the Tiger's goal-shy strikers have cost the club a whopping £901,875 a goal this season. Pearson admitted the club are spending £195,000 a week on strikers, which in total this campaign has cost them £7.215m for a return of eight goals. (The Sun)
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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are considering a fresh attempt to lure Benfica's £20m-rated winger Angel di Maria to Old Trafford.(Daily Mail) 
Aston Villa, Sunderland and Blackburn are eyeing up Wolves defensive midfielder and captain Karl Henry, 27.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool are offering key Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano a two-year contract extension with a pay rise to keep him out of Barcelona's clutches. (The Sun) 
Blackburn are eager to sign Aruna Dindane - on loan at Portsmouth this season - in £2.5m deal from Lens.(Daily Mirror) 
Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb is desperate for a return to the Premier League, with Manchester City and Aston Villa standing by to sign him. (Daily Mirror) 
Michael Owen has dismissed the prospect of leaving Manchester United this summer by insisting he is happy to accept a reduced role at Old Trafford in exchange for silverware. (Daily Telegraph) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a personal phone call of support to Ryan Shawcross after the Stoke defender's tackle broke Aaron Ramsey's leg. (Daily Mirror) 
England boss Fabio Capello will turn to Tottenham's injury-plagued defender Ledley King as he attempts to solve his centre-back crisis. King, 29, won his last England cap almost three years ago.(Daily Mail) 
Neil Warnock joined Queens Park Rangers as manager after the club agreed a £400,000 compensation deal with Crystal Palace. Warnock will be paid £15,000 a week at Loftus Road.(Daily Mail) 
Meanwhile, Steve Coppell has turned down the chance of an emotional return to replace Warnock at Selhurst Park, leaving the manager's door open for Paul Hart to take charge.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has urged club manager Rafael Benitez to stop fretting about his fitness while he is away on international duty with Spain. (Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is to undergo treatment - but not surgery - for a bruised bone in his knee which he sustained against Blackburn on Sunday. The centre-back left Anfield on crutches after the match. (The Independent) 
Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell will escape FA action for a lunge that took out a Wigan player, corner flag and linesman after referee Anthony Taylor cleared him. (The Sun) 
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes he can answer the question at the heart of Fabio Capello's bid to win the World Cup. (Daily Express) 
Craig Bellamy's international future is in doubt after John Toshack, the Wales manager, refused to confirm that the Manchester City striker was part of his plans for the future. (The Guardian) 

AND FINALLY

Crisis-club Portsmouth are offering financial advice to supporters on their website. Pompey, who are in administration and have huge debts, are advertising PFC Financial Services division, which claims to bring everyday financial solutions to fans' families. One supporter said: "It's got to be a sick joke."(Daily Mirror)

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Veendam 0 - 1 FC Eindhoven

0-1 B.v.d. Eede  89.min.

Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Carlo Ancelotti wants Brazilian superstar Kaka to join him at Stamford Bridge if the Italian coach make the rumoured switch to manage Chelsea next season. (Daily Mail) 
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo is once again eyeing up a summer move to Real Madrid, despite recently suggesting he would be remaining at Old Trafford. (The Sun) 
Martin O'Neill has warned Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry to be wary of Liverpool's reported renewal of interest in his signature this summer, claiming he should possibly feel "hurt" by the Reds' reluctance to pay the club's asking price last off-season. (The Guardian)
If Liverpool do renew their interest in Barry they will still have to pay at least £10m for the player.(Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea, Aston Villa and Blackburn are all in the hunt for Manchester City striker Daniel Sturridge after the striker rejected City's offer of a new contract. (Daily Mail) 
Manchester City will relaunch a £10million bid to sign Everton defender Joleon Lescott this summer.(The Sun) 
City boss Mark Hughes has told any potential suitors for midfielder Stephen Ireland they are wasting their time as he will not be leaving the club.(The Sun) 
Hughes has also reportedly switched his attentions to Aston Villa striker John Carew, after finally losing patience with Blackburn's demands for their striker Roque Santa Cruz.(The Mirror) 
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is planning a huge summer clear-out of players, regardless of which division they are in next season.(The Sun) 
Wigan manager Steve Bruce is ready to offer Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, currently on loan at Portsmouth, a move to the Latics this summer.(The Sun) 
West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace has confirmed his club's interest in signing Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson. (The Sun)

Parma have joined Sampdoria and Atalanta in the race to sign Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati. (The Sun)

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OTHER GOSSIP

Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb says the Gunners must loosen their purse strings if they want to prevent their best players seeking moves to other clubs.(The Times) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger though has told the club's board to "shut up" about spending plans for the summer to prevent selling clubs from increasing their prices. (Various)
Everton boss David Moyes believes the club must make significant moves in the transfer market this summer to keep the club at a high level. (The Times) 
Bolton manager Gary Megson is another who feels his side need to splash out in the off-season, but this is to avoid becoming embroiled in another relegation battle. (The Times)
Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho insists he would not swap his striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for European and World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.(Daily Mail) 
Millwall striker and record goalscorer Neil Harris says that Sunday's League One play-off final against Scunthorpe is a "bigger occasion" than the club's FA Cup final appearance against Manchester United in 2004. (The Times)
The Scottish FA will reject the idea of a Team GB playing at the 2012 Olympics when its board meets on Tuesday. (Daily Express)

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AND FINALLY 

Burnley's Graham Alexander, 37, who will line-up for the Clarets against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final on Monday, says the secret to his long career is that he never leaves training without first having an ice bath.(Daily Mail) 
West Ham striker Carlton Cole has declared his intention to be "Selfish, more of a nutter and show aggression" to improve his game after being told by England coach Fabio Capello he had become "too nice".(The Times)
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