Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool have been stunned by the news that midfielder Javier Mascherano has rejected a new contract, with the Argentine pushing for a move to Barcelona.
It won't help soothe the worries of manager Rafa Benitez as he prepares for the clash with Manchester United on the back of four successive defeats.(The Star) 
Meanwhile, with doubts continuing over the future of the Reds' American owners, there are growing fears that a lack of trophies this season at Anfield will lead to the exit of Spaniard Fernando Torres.(Sunday Mirror) 
Chelsea are considering an £18m move for Napoli's attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik if their transfer ban is lifted in January.(Sunday Times) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is monitoring 17-year-old Spartak Moscow midfielder Zhano Ananidze - the player dubbed the 'next Georgi Kinkladze'.(goal.com) 
Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal have been shocked after being told they will have to pay £86m to land Porto's Brazilian striker Givanildo Vieira de Souza. (Sunday Express)
Everton have joined the race to sign Middlesbrough's highly rated winger Adam Johnson, who has also attracted interest from Sunderland.(News of the World) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Gerard Houllier is set to return to the Premier League at Birmingham City as new owner Carson Yeung weighs up managerial options, with Alex McLeish currently holding the reins. (News of the World) 
Portsmouth are to be thrown a £15m lifeline by two businessmen from Israel and Hong Kong in another twist in the Fratton Park side's fortunes.(Mail on Sunday) 
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has been invited to end his career at Bournemouth. Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell said: "He is a legend here and we would love to have him around." (Sunday Express)
Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has rejected the chance to become assistant manager at Portsmouth.(News of the World) 
Leicester City have offered veteran Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids a performance-related deal but are awaiting confirmation on his current fitness levels. (News of the World)
Jermaine Pennant, who joined Real Zaragoza from Liverpool in July, believes England coach Fabio Capello should make him England's regular right-winger. (Sunday Times) 

AND FINALLY

A happy story for Sunday with West Ham's Calum Davenport - who almost lost his legs following a knife attack in August - being told he will play again despite a 15-inch scar on his leg.(News of the World) 
England coach Fabio Capello has developed a deep affection for London since moving to the capital and says his favourite musical is Mamma Mia. "We've all got Abba songs in our heads after all," he says.(Sunday Times) 
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed why he has succeeded in football in the UK.The 60-year-old Frenchman said: "My secret is adapting to the country I am in. Here I eat roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. There are people who visit different countries and don't adapt. It is a must."(Sunday Express)
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Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

World governing body Fifa is investigating 15 top transfers involving English clubs.(Mail on Sunday) 
Manchester United are planning a £25m bid for Valencia's attacking midfielder David Silva.(Sunday Express) 
Arsenal will sign 20-year-old Wales midfielder Jack Collison from West Ham in January - and may bring Matthew Upson back to the club as well.(News of the World) 
The Gunners will continue what already looks like a busy January with the completion of their convoluted deal for Marouane Chamakh, who will join from Bordeaux for £1.5m.(Mail on Sunday) 
Martin O'Neill plans to offload Nigel Reo-Coker to Tottenham after his bust-up with the Aston Villa manager.(News of the World)
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes expects to sign midfielder Yaya Toure from Barcelona once the January transfer window opens.(News of the World) 
Chelsea have evidence from the Football Association proving they had clearance to sign former Lens player Gael Kakuta, as the club plan their appeal against a transfer ban.(News of the World) 
Meanwhile, Manchester United are facing the prospect of their own transfer ban after the club's attempts to sign teenagers Paul Pogba and Alberto Massacci were referred to Fifa.(Mail on Sunday) 
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will recall Jamie O'Hara from his loan deal at Portsmouth as soon as he can. "I like Jamie as a player and I didn't want him to go," said Redknapp.(News of the World) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City's players have already received £459,000 in win bonuses this season, with a further £9,000 each if the club beat arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday.(News of the World) 
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has lined up another mystery buyer for the club, prepared to meet his £100m asking price. Talks are said to have progressed to a more serious stage than with other recently reported bidders.(Sunday Express) 
That mystery bidder is Barry Moat, the Tyneside businessman previously linked with a bid for Newcastle, who has come up with the means to finance the deal.(Sunday Telegraph) 
Notts County have not yet provided the Football League with detailed information about their new owners, who have funded the signings of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Sol Campbell.(Mail on Sunday) 
Lakshmi Mittal may buy out fellow QPR investor Flavio Briatore following the latter's fall from grace over the Renault scandal in Formula 1.(Sunday Telegraph) 
Liverpool are hoping to earn £240m in a naming rights deal for their new stadium.(News of the World) 
Guus Hiddink could return to Chelsea as an executive director with sporting director Frank Arnesen set to leave.(Mail on Sunday) 
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola admits Dean Ashton's long-term ankle injury has put the striker's career at risk.(Sunday Times) 
David Nugent, on loan at Burnley from Portsmouth, says he "made a mistake" moving south and wants to stay at Turf Moor permanently.(News of the World) 

AND FINALLY

Emmanuel Adebayor's row with Robin Van Persie, which boiled over during Manchester City's game against Arsenal last week, began when Adebayor walked off with his then team-mate's boots at the end of last season.(News of the World) 
West Ham's Calum Davenport has thanked people who donated blood for transfusions which "probably" saved his life after he was stabbed last month.(Sunday Telegraph) 
Pele insists he is not the world's greatest ever footballer - but says Diego Maradona isn't, either.(Mail on Sunday)
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Portsmouth 3-1 Sunderland

Sunderland remain in serious danger of relegation after relinquishing a one-goal lead to lose at Portsmouth.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play when Calum Davenport's cross was tapped in by Kenwyne Jones. 
John Utaka fired in an equaliser a minute later and then forced Phil Bardsley to bundle in an own goal that gave the home side the lead. 
Sunderland's woe was sealed late on when Utaka found substitute Armand Traore and he fired in an angled shot. 
Having earned their first point in eight matches at Bolton last week, Sunderland stuck with the same side with top scorer Djibril Cisse on the bench, their initial priority to avoid defeat as opposed to chasing victory. 
In contrast Portsmouth brought in Kanu and Utaka to form a three-man front line with Peter Crouch as they looked to celebrate Premier League safety with a flourish.
The result leaves Sunderland needing a win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Sunday to guarantee their safety. 

Portsmouth: Begovic, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Mullins, Hughes (Traore 46), Kanu (Kaboul 46), Crouch (Primus 90).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Nugent, Basinas, Belhadj. 
Booked: Utaka. 
Goals: Utaka 60, Bardsley 68 og, Traore 88. 

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins, Tainio (Cisse 80), Malbranque (Edwards 54), Whitehead, Leadbitter (Murphy 85), Richardson, Jones.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Reid, Healy, McShane. 
Goals: Jones 59. 

Att: 20,398 
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
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