Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Inter Milan right-back Maicon is top of Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini's summer wish list, according to the Brazilian's agent.(skysports.com) 
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, City's bid for Maicon could be rivalled by Real Madrid, whose new boss Jose Mourinho is also chasing Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Inter Milan's Diego Milito.(imscouting.com) 
City have reportedly made a 35m Euro bid for Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic , although the offer doesn't appear to be high enough to land the Swede.(imscouting.com) 
City are also closing in on a £36m deal for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, despite the German club's announcement that the Bosnian was set to stay after clubs failed to meet Monday's midnight deadline for his £34m buy-out clause.(Daily Mail) 
Aston Villa will make a £5m move for Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.(Daily Mirror) 
But Villa have warned City that if they want to prise midfielder James Milner away from Villa Park it will cost them £30m.(Daily Mail) 
Tottenham will rebuff any move by AC Milan to sign full-back Gareth Bale. The Italians have made enquiries about the Wales international over the past year.(Daily Mail) 
Chelsea's Slovakian World Cup winger Miroslav Stoch is ready to sign for Turkish giants Galatasaray in a surprise £2.5m deal.(Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal are preparing to let young midfielder Francis Coquelin, 19, join Lorient on a season-long loan to help improve their chances of landing the French side's 24-year-old defender Laurent Koscielny.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is apparently considering a move for Palermo's impressive young centre back Simon Kjaer this summer.(caughtoffside.com) 
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is apparently considering a move for Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz and could offer midfielder Yossi Benayoun in part-exchange.(Daily Mail) 
Fulham are in talks to sign former Liverpool left-back Fabio Aurelio on a free transfer. The Brazilian recently failed to agree terms with Liverpool on a pay-as-you- play deal.(Daily Mail) 
Blackburn are back on the trail of Lech Poznan's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski after his proposed £6m move to Borussia Dortmund hit a hitch.(Daily Mail) 
Celtic have won the race to sign Hull's Jimmy Bullard after the midfielder agreed to join the Scottish giants on a 12-month loan deal. (Daily Mirror) 
Midfielder Darren Ambrose's protracted move to London rivals QPR was in doubt last night after his club Crystal Palace were saved from the brink of closure. Ambrose has already undergone a medical and agreed personal terms with Rangers but Palace's prospective new owners CPFC 2010 may refuse to sell.(Daily Mail) 
Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies is lining up a £2m bid for Cardiff midfielder Peter Whittingham.(Daily Mirror) 
QPR have offered to almost double Paddy Kenny's wages in a bid to lure the keeper from Sheffield United to Loftus Road.(Daily Mirror) 
West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo is making a £1.2m bid to sign keeper Boaz Myhill from cash-strapped Hull.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has started to make plans for a rejection from England boss Fabio Capello by moving to discuss the managerial vacancy at the San Siro with Fulham boss Roy Hodgson, who has had two previous spells at the San Siro. (Daily Mail) 
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed his anger and frustration after being told by the Anfield board there will be no money to spend in the summer.(Daily Mirror) 
Benitez's future at Liverpool will be decided at a third round of talks with his Liverpool employers next week, with the club eager to tie the Spaniard to the club in the face of interest in his services from Inter Milan.(The Sun) 
Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Paul Dickov will be handed the manager's job at Oldham after impressing in an interview. Dickov, 37, who spent the second half of this season with Leeds, has never managed before.(Daily Mail) 
Striker Robbie Blake has turned down Burnley's 'final offer' of a one-year contract because he feels he is worth a longer deal with the Clarets.(Daily Mirror) 

AND FINALLY

Manchester United chief executive David Gill admits he does not think the 'Green and Gold' protests, conducted by Red Devils supporters unhappy with the club's American owners the Glazers, are going to be abandoned. "There were some comments last week that I was belittling the protest," said Gill. "That could not be further from the truth. We understand it and it will be there."(Daily Mail)

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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea will bid £22m in the summer for Inter Milan's Brazilian defender Douglas Maicon, a player wanted by the club's probable new manager Carlo Ancelotti.(Daily Star) 
Tottenham and Liverpool are battling it out for the chance to buy Portsmouth and England right-back Glen Johnson.(The Sun) 
Arsenal are preparing a £15m move for Fulham defender Brede Hangeland.(The Sun) 
But the Gunners are set to cash in on striker Emmanuel Adebayor with the Togo international unhappy with fans' criticism of his performances. Chelsea, Inter Milan and AC Milan are possible buyers. (Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa and Birmingham are leading the chase for Anderlecht midfielder Lucas Biglia, who is rated at £8m.(The Sun)
West Ham are willing to sell injury-prone striker Dean Ashton over the summer and are hoping that Newcastle or Aston Villa might revive their previous interest.(Daily Mirror) 
Birmingham are looking to land Derby pair Kris Commons and Giles Barnes as Alex McLeish prepares for the Blues' return to the top flight.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa defender Zat Knight could cross the city to join up with McLeish's newly-promoted side.(The Guardian) 
Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong has warned the Magpies that he will seek a transfer should the club drop into the Championship. (The Times)
Giant Hibernian defender Rob Jones is being tracked by a host of English league clubs including Bristol City, Derby, Leeds, Swansea, West Brom and Nottingham Forest - with Forest lining up a £1m bid.(Bristol Evening Post) 
Dundee United have agreed a pre-contract deal with Huddersfield striker Danny Cadamarteri. (Various)
Wigan manager Steve Bruce has shelved plans to swoop for £4m-rated Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher. (Daily Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Carlos Tevez's future at Manchester United is looking bleak with the Argentine, as well as fellow forward Dimitar Berbatov, set to be left on the bench for the Champions League final next week.(The Sun) 
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been cleared by the Football Association in his spitting row with Hull assistant manager Brian Horton.(The Sun) 
Sunderland will offer former Tottenham boss Martin Jol the manager's job at the Stadium of Light in the summer.(Daily Star) 
Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho has predicted that AC Milan counterpart Carlo Ancelotti will switch to Chelsea for next season.(The Independent) 
Chelsea have cancelled plans for an FA Cup victory parade, citing the credit crunch.(The Sun) 
Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson is holding off signing a new contract as he is undecided over his long-term future.(Daily Star) 
Everton centre-back Joseph Yobo is poised to sign a new five-year deal to stay at Goodison Park after ironing out problems from his initial negotiations with the club.(The Guardian) 
England's 2018 World Cup bid has been criticised by Fifa vice-president Jack Warner after a British National Party councillor was invited to its Wembley launch.(The Guardian) 

AND FINALLY 

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is backing Barcelona, the club where he started his career, rather than Manchester United in the Champions League final.
"I want the Spanish side to win and I don't want our closest rivals to collect another title," he said. (The Independent)
Manchester United fans have been given special dispensation by Uefa to create a mosaic tribute to former boss Sir Matt Busby ahead of the Champions League final kick-off in Rome. (Various)
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