Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has met with John Terry and believes the defender is happy to stay at Stamford Bridge despite talk of a £30m offer from Manchester City. The Blues plan to make Terry their best-paid player.(The Sun) 
City are increasingly confident of tempting Terry to Eastlands despite Chelsea's offer of a new contract which would make the 28-year-old England captain their highest-paid player.(Daily Mirror) 
Meanwhile, City have given Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o 24 hours to sign for them or miss out on becoming the best-paid player in English football. (Daily Mirror)
Barcelona have stepped up their pursuit of Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas after club president Joan Laporta claimed signing the £40m-rated Spaniard is high on their agenda this summer. (The Sun) 
Fabregas is at the centre of a potential bidding war between Barcelona and Real Madrid. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal appear to have missed out on Fiorentina midfielder Felipe Melo and manager Arsene Wenger now wants to sign Ever Banega, Valencia's 21-year-old Argentine midfielder. (Daily Telegraph) 
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has attempted to quell speculation over the futures of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano by insisting both players "owe Liverpool a lot". (The Sun) 
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has made a club record £12m bid for Darren Bent. (Daily Mirror) 
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has no intention of joining Birmingham. (The Sun) 
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is facing a battle to keep John Carew as Tottenham prepare a £5m bid for the striker. (Daily Express) 
Everton are preparing a new £4m bid for Sheffield United right-back Kyle Naughton, who is also attracting interest from Aston Villa. (Daily Mirror)
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is in talks with Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell over a £5m move. Bruce has also accepted a £5m offer from Ipswich for midfielder Dean Whitehead and striker Daryl Murphy.(Daily Mail) 
Stoke are willing pay a club-record £6m for Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia. (The Sun) 
Stoke boss Tony Pulis will offer the French club £10m to beat off competition from Everton and Marseille for Cameroon international Mbia. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City midfielder Gelson Fernandes is joining St Etienne in a £2m deal. (Daily Mail)
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez looks set to beat off competition from Hull for the signing of Swansea striker Jason Scotland. (The Sun) 
Blackburn want £3m for Fulham target Keith Andrews - more than double what they paid MK Dons for the midfielder's services. (Daily Mirror)
Middlesbrough are closing in on former Sheffield United striker Danny Webber, who is also being chased by Ipswich and Crystal Palace. (Daily Star) 
Sheffield Wednesday striker Marcus Tudgay has pleaded with the Owls to let him talk to newly promoted Premier League side Burnley.(The Sun) 
Coventry left-back Danny Fox is being chased by Celtic, West Brom, Reading and Nottingham Forest. (Daily Mirror) 
Barnsley could beat Norwich to sign out-of-favour Crystal Palace striker Alan Lee. (Daily Mirror)
Bolton manager Gary Megson is planning to secure defender Gary Cahill on a new long-term contract before the start of the new season amid interest from Arsenal. (Daily Express)
Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock is poised to smash the club's transfer record with a £1m bid for Ipswich striker Danny Haynes. (Daily Star)
Reading boss Brendan Rodgers is planning to raid former club Chelsea with a double loan swoop for defenders Ryan Bertrand and Jack Cork. (Daily Star) 


OTHER GOSSIP

Gordon Strachan is being lined up for a shock return to Southampton as manager of the League One club. (The Sun) 
Alan Shearer is said to be "tearing his hair out" as the impasse at Newcastle continues. (The Guardian) 
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has urged manager Arsene Wenger to "work harder" to deliver success to the club. (Daily Mirror)
Stewart Downing's hopes of playing for England in the 2010 World Cup are hanging in the balance after he was ruled out until Christmas, potentially wrecking a move to Aston Villa or Tottenham. (Daily Mirror) 
Boro strikers Mido and Afonso Alves have been fined £100,000 after turning up late for pre-season training.(The Sun) 
Manchester United's new signing Gabriel Obertan says he was shocked to join the Old Trafford club and admits he will only be a bit-part player for them this season.(The Sun) 
Simon Davies could miss the start of Fulham's Europa League campaign - the midfielder needed surgery on a foot fracture and has yet to resume full training. (Daily Express)
Portsmouth managerial target Roberto Mancini wants a substantial transfer budget guaranteed before deciding whether to accept the job. (Daily Mirror) 
Joey Barton will play for Newcastle in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, two months after the midfielder was told he would never play for them again.(Various)
 
AND FINALLY

He might be better known for his footballing talents but, away from the pitch, Hull's Brazilian forward Giovanni is also a church pastor. The 29-year-old joined the Brazilian New Hope Fellowship Church in Hulme, Manchester, when he was at Manchester City and regularly preaches sermons.(The Sun) 
US President Barack Obama seemed distinctly unimpressed as he was presented with a singed Brazil shirt by the country's leader Luiz Inacio da Silva. A late Brazil goal denied the USA a shock victory in the Confederations Cup Final in South Africa two weeks ago. (Daily Telegraph) 
Manchester United are to open a string of themed cafes in India. (Daily Star)
England midfielder David Beckham has admitted that he named his son Cruz after actor and friend Tom Cruise. (Daily Star)
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Sunday's gossip column

MANCHESTER UNITED GOSSIP

Carlos Tevez broke down in tears as he waved an apparent final farewell to Manchester United supporters, following the goalless draw with Arsenal that clinched their third successive Premier League title. He had earlier told Argentine TV: "I know that I am not going to continue at Manchester United." (Observer) 
Angry supporters hurled bottles and sprayed beer at the entrance to Old Trafford in protest against the club's alleged treatment of Tevez. (News of the World) 
Liverpool are the front-runners to sign the Argentine, in a deal variously reported to be worth between £22m and £26m. (Sunday Express) 
Sir Alex Ferguson is "not contemplating retiring" and has set his sights on at least another five years in football management. (News of the World) 
Ferguson is lining up defender Rio Ferdinand for a coaching role once his current contract expires in 2013, while Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are both expected to take on some coaching responsibilities at the club this summer. (News of the World) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Robin Van Persie could be set to leave Arsenal, who are considering cashing in on the striker after contract talks stalled. (News of the World) 
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger's summer transfer kitty at Arsenal has been reduced to just £13m. (Mail on Sunday) 
Mark Hughes wants to bring Benfica pair Luisao and Oscar Cardozo to Manchester City. (News of the World) 
Michael Owen will take a 50% drop in pay if it helps him secure a summer move away from Newcastle. (Sunday Express) 
But Alan Shearer has asked Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to make sure the services of defender Sebastien Bassong are secured on a permanent basis, to ward off interest from Arsenal. (Sunday Telegraph) 
Aston Villa have joined Liverpool and Spurs in the queue to sign Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. (News of the World) 
Fulham are confident they can lure Paul Scharner from Wigan in a £6m deal. (News of the World) 
Bolton boss Gary Megson is keen on a £2m deal to sign Joey Barton from Newcastle, but first has to convince the Bolton board the midfielder is worth the gamble. (News of the World) 

OTHER GOSSIP

New rules could be introduced limiting Premier League clubs to as few as 25 players in their squad for an entire season. (Observer) 
Alan Shearer has placed permanent contract talks with Newcastle on hold after watching his side suffer a potentially catastrophic defeat by Fulham on Saturday. (News of the World) 
Croatia boss Slaven Bilic is the leading candidate to replace Ricky Sbragia at Sunderland, who are keen on a manager with a higher profile. (News of the World) 
Chelsea have made "contingency plans" in case AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti turns down a move to Stamford Bridge this summer. (News of the World) 
Hull City's Premier League survival hopes could rest on Manchester United fielding a heavily-weakened team when the champions line up at the KC Stadium next Sunday. (Sunday Times) 

AND FINALLY 

David Beckham will go head-to-head with Barack Obama on Monday. The England star is launching the nation's bid to host the 2018 World Cup at Wembley, while the US President is backing his country's rival bid. (Sunday Telegraph) 
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham believes England will win the World Cup by 2018. (News of the World)
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