Saturday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc says the club have not received any bids for striker Marouane Chamakh (on photo), despite reported interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal. (Press Association)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool will intensify their efforts to sign Valencia playmaker David Silva. (The Times) 
Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch will decide over the weekend whether to join Sunderland or Fulham after both clubs made a £12m bid for the England international.(Daily Star) 
Pompey may also allow full-back Sylvain Distin to leave the club, with Aston Villa poised to bid about £3m. (The Independent)
Manchester City's hopes of completing a deal for Emmanuel Adebayor are in the balance as the Arsenal striker is keen on a move to Chelsea.(The Times) 
Meanwhile, City are set to make an improved offer for Everton defender Joleon Lescott after having a £15m bid rejected. (The Times) 
Should Lescott leave Goodison Park, the Toffees would consider West Ham defender Matthew Upson as a replacement.(The Times) 
Hull are ready to offer Newcastle £3m over three years to sign midfielder Joey Barton.(The Sun) 
Sunderland have been told it will cost them £5m to sign Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne.(Daily Mirror) 
The Black Cats have also made an enquiry about Tottenham defender Alan Hutton. (The Times) 
And Spurs could sell another defender, Pascal Chimbonda, to Blackburn. (The Times) 
Reading are ready to lower their £5.5m asking price for winger Stephen Hunt after receiving no bids. (Daily Star) 
Manchester City striker Ched Evans will complete a £1.5m move switch to Sheffield United next week.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa have made Leeds a 'take it or leave it' offer of £4m plus add-ons for midfielder Fabian Delph.(Daily Mirror) 
But Tottenham are ready to join the bidding for Delph. (Daily Express)
Meanwhile, Spurs have been given until the start of next week to agree a fee with Real Madrid for striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar. (Daily Express) 
Stoke midfielder Seyi Olifinjana is in talks to join French club Monaco. (Daily Star)
Wigan are hopeful of signing Espanyol centre-back Roman Golobart on a free transfer. (The Sun) 
The Latics are also pressing ahead with their move for Crystal Palace winger Victor Moses. (Daily Mail)
Portsmouth boss Paul Hart is giving a trial to Zimbabwe left-back Onismor Bhasera. (Daily Star) 
Wolves are optimistic they can beat Celtic and Wigan to the signature of Hamilton midfielder James McCarthy. (Daily Star)
But Tottenham have joined the race for Accies' in-demand teenager McCarthy with a £2.7m bid. (The Herald) 
Dundee United have offered Argentine striker Damian Casalinuovo a deal after the 22-year-old impressed on trial. (Various)
Bordeaux have called off their bid for Madjid Bougherra because the defender is happy at Rangers. (Daily Record) 
Former Celtic defender Bobo Balde is training with Wolves after failing to win a deal at Birmingham. (Daily Express)
Barnsley are close to tying up a deal for former Darlington keeper David Preece. (Daily Star) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Emmanuel Adebayor is locked in a row with Arsenal over a £2m loyalty bonus. The Manchester City-bound striker says he is owed the cash because he did not put in a transfer request.(Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says there will be no 'untouchables' at the club, insisting there are no guaranteed places in his first team. (Daily Star) 
Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon is confident his Profitable Group consortium will complete their takeover of Newcastle in the next few days.(Daily Star) 
New Southampton boss Alan Pardew will offer new deals to strikers Jason Euell and Stern John.(Daily Star) 

AND FINALLY

Manchester City have taunted rivals Manchester United by putting up a Carlos Tevez poster in the city centre declaring: Welcome to Manchester. City signed the Argentine striker from their neighbours this week. (Daily Mirror)
www.bbc.co.uk

Sunderland 2-3 Chelsea

Sunderland were beaten by Chelsea but avoided relegation only for their manager Ricky Sbragia to resign.
Nicolas Anelka put Chelsea in front with a 22-yard shot but keeper Petr Cech missed a cross and Kieran Richardson lashed in an equaliser. 
Salomon Kalou drove in a shot to put Chelsea ahead again before Ashley Cole slotted in the visitors' third. 
Kenwyne Jones headed in late on for the Black Cats, who stayed up after rivals Newcastle lost 1-0 at Aston Villa. 
The Magpies' result came through after the final whistle and will have provided extra satisfaction for the Stadium of Light faithful as, along with Hull losing to Manchester United, it made sure they stayed in the top-flight.
Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia's future was as uncertain as the club's Premier League status before the game and, although the Black Cats survived, he stood down after the match. 
He achieved his primary goal of keeping the club in the top flight but would have achieved that aim a lot easier if Sunderland had shown the same sort of endeavour, energy and enthusiasm as they did for the most part against Chelsea. 
The visitors put out a strong line-up with only Frank Lampard and Alex missing but any thoughts they would be distracted by having one eye on next Saturday's FA Cup final proved ill-founded.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink:

"We finished off with a good win and especially with a world class goal from Nicolas Anelka. 
"My time here has been amazing. Every minute there was good work. The boys responded to what we wanted. 
"I challenged them and they responded very well. They are big names and were very good in their attitude." 

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins, Malbranque (Healy 78), Whitehead, Tainio (Reid 65), Leadbitter, Richardson (Murphy 87), Jones.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Edwards, Cisse, McShane. 
Booked: Bardsley. 
Goals: Richardson 53, Jones 90. 

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien (Kalou 65), Mikel (Mancienne 78), Belletti (Ballack 27), Malouda, Drogba, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Di Santo, Sinclair, Stoch. 
Booked: Ashley Cole. 
Goals: Anelka 47, Kalou 74, Ashley Cole 86. 

Att: 42,468 
Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
www.bbc.co.uk

Sunderland - Chelsea

Have no comment for Guardiola.

Black cats come into this last round with two points more than “first under the line”- Newcastle. Two way for them to stay in Premier: to win against Chelsea, or Newcastle doesn’t win against Aston Villa, on the road. Their recent performances don’t make the first option very possible. They have seven defeats from last nine league games! In the last game vs Portsmouth away, Sunderland had a chance to solve all the problems about avoiding relegation. They took a lead in 60th minute, but manage to concede three times till the end! Manager Ricky Sbraglia has an interesting explanation for their lack of results (told to bbc): "From our point of view, we have conceded too many and not scored enough!”. And that will be changed against Chelsea? Ok. Sunderland midfielder Steed Malbranque is a doubt after suffering a hip injury during Monday's defeat at Portsmouth. George McCartney (calf) is still short of match fitness, while Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) and goalkeeper Craig Gordon (knee) will not be involved. Sunderland is in position where a draw doesn’t mean anything. So, one conceded goal in the first half can make the hosts give up from Chelsea and just listen the news from Villa Park.

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Since Guus Hiddink took a charge, Chelsea plays as born again. Attacking and efficient games, with tactically perfect play are the main characteristics of their recent performances. Improvement is more than obvious, and everybody (players, fans, management) would like to see him on the bench in the next season. But, he’ll keep his word and leave the club at the end. Before that, lads have to play this match and the FA Cup final at 30.5., against Everton. Hiddink admitted that he has one eye on the Wembley showpiece, but that it is unlikely he will rest many players this weekend. He’ll make some changes in team ‘cause danger of injuries, but underlined that he likes when his players are in a good rhythm. Michael Ballack is set to return for after missing their win over Bolton with flu. Ricardo Carvalho and Deco are also back in contention after recovering from hamstring problems. The accepted opinion is Chelsea doesn’t have a motive?! Chelsea plays without a real motive at last few months, but made a run of ten wins and a draw (Everton, home 0-0) in last eleven games! I don’t think the motivation will be the problem (trashing Arsenal, after disaster in Champions League, is a very good example), Hiddink will manage it. And one statistic info, Chelsea won last eight games against today’s opponent, conceding just twice and scoring 21!

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My opinion is once again completely different from bookies’, which is good, odds are more than acceptable. Sunderland isn’t capable to defeat Chelsea, and in situation where a draw doesn’t have a weight, players and attendance will focus on news from Birmingham. If they seriously come in this game (I think they will), Chelsea won’t have too much problem to win at Stadium of Light and wait a final in a good mood. Betfred offers 2.00, while Expekt, Pinnacle and the most of others 1.85. Away win.

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