Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham are lining up a £14m deal for Internacional's Brazilian midfielder Sandro, who is also a target for Spanish duo Real Madrid and Barcelona.(Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal are keeping tabs on 21-year-old Ajax full-back Gregory van der Wiel, who recently broke into the Netherlands team.(Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn are monitoring England striker Emile Heskey's situation at Aston Villa. The 31-year-old is struggling to secure a regular first-team place at Villa Park but Rovers may come in to boost his hopes of clinching a berth in the 2010 World Cup squad. (The Sun) 
Chelsea want to sign Ghanaian striker Dominic Adiyiah, who plays for Fredrikstad FK in Norway, if the transfer ban at Stamford Bridge is lifted.(The Sun) 
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is ready to make Tottenham defender Gareth Bale one of the first signings of new Blues owner Carson Yeung's era in a £3m deal. (Daily Mirror) 
Sheffield United are keen to make on-loan keeper Mark Bunn's move to Bramall Lane permanent after Paddy Kenny lost his appeal against a nine-month drugs ban.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa are set to launch a bid to sign striker Jay Bothroyd from Cardiff if England forward Emile Heskey leaves in January. (Daily Star) 
Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford is a surprise target for Portuguese side Benfica in the January transfer window. (Daily Star) 
Portsmouth are giving a trial to former Millwall and Plymouth striker Cherno Samba.(Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Tottenham managers Terry Venables and Ossie Ardiles believe that current Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will lead the club into the Champions League.(Daily Mirror)
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has ended his feud with midfielder Nigel Reo Coker. The pair had a training ground bust-up in September and Reo Coker has not started a game since but O'Neill hugged the 25-year-old in the dressing room before the draw with Manchester City on 5 October as an indication the incident was behind them.(Daily Mirror) 
Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, whose Atletico Madrid side play Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, says that the Blues have overtaken his former side Manchester United as the best team in the Premier League.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has vowed to help under-fire defensive teammate Rio Ferdinand get back to his best with United and England.(Daily Mirror) 
Everton manager David Moyes has slammed the Football League for their lack of respect for the Carling Cup, suggesting sponsors Carling must ask serious questions about the way sides are being forced to field weaker teams in the early rounds due to commitments in other competitions.(Daily Mirror) 
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has welcomed this summer's World Cup in South Africa as it provides extra incentive for his English players to perform for the Hammers this season.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Chelsea's Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, who switched from AC Milan in the summer, has joked that driving in England is tougher than managing the Blues. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway missed the first of Blackpool's three goals in their home win over Sheffield United last night, as he was on a 'comfort break'. "I missed that one. I get so nervous these days after a year off, I sank three bottles of water and my bladder isn't what it used to be," said Holloway, whose side are now just two points off the top of the Championship in fifth place. (Daily Mail)
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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City are prepared to let Brazilian forward Robinho leave the club, with Barcelona his likely destination, if they can bring in French midfielder Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich as a replacement.(Daily Mail) 
Tottenham are lining up a £5m move for Club Brugge defender Vadis Odjidja in January.(The Sun) 
Sheffield United defender Matthew Kilgallon will leave the Blades in January after rejecting a new £20,000-a-week contract. The £4m-rated 25-year-old is wanted by Wigan, Bolton, Celtic and Middlesbrough.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to avoid a touchline ban for his remarks about referee Alan Wiley's fitness by citing as his defence the precedence that no manager has been banned for post-match comments and that they were made away from the technical area.(Daily Mirror)
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is ready to leave Notts County and take up the Sweden managerial post - only three months after joining the Magpies as director of football. (Daily Mirror) 
Eriksson, though, has apparently already spoken to the Swedish FA about the national team coaching vacancy behind Notts County's back, according to his agent Lars Sternmarker. "(Swedish FA president) Lars-Ake Lagrell has talked both to Sven and me," said Sternmarker. "But what we talked about and further quotes about this you have to ask Mr Lagrell."(The Sun) 
If Eriksson does quit Notts County for the Sweden national job he will be forced to take huge pay cut on his £10m-deal with the League Two side.(Daily Mail) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he plans to remain in football as long as he lives and cannot imagine ever retiring from the game. "If I have health, I want to work as long as I live but adapt to my potential," said Wenger.(The Sun) 
Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton will be offered the job at St James' Park on a permanent basis this week - with owner Mike Ashley also preparing to take the club off the market.(Daily Mirror) 
Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni is ready to steal Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill from under the nose of England boss Fabio Capello. Cahill, who has featured in a number of Capello's England squads but has yet to play, qualifies for Ireland via one of his grandparents.(Daily Mirror) 
Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny will use Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro's escape from a drugs ban as part of his defence in Tuesday's appeal against a nine-month suspension for taking prohibited substance ephedrine. Cannavaro failed a drugs test after using cortisone to prevent an allergic reaction to a bee sting but was given a reprieve.(Daily Mail) 
Former Hull striker Dean Windass wants to replace Mike Newell as the new Grimsby manager.(Daily Mirror) 
Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorenson has agreed terms on a new two-year contract with the club.(Daily Express) 

AND FINALLY

Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey incurred the wrath of Fabio Capello last week by flouting the England manager's rule on mobile phones. The 31-year-old was caught texting at the dinner table. (The Sun) 
England coach Capello's patience may also be tested by photos of Tottenham striker Peter Crouch out partying in a nightclub with teammates in the aftermath of Spurs' 2-1 victory over Portsmouth last Saturday.(Daily Mail) 
Liverpool will search Manchester United fans ahead of this Sunday's clash between the sides at Anfield for any items, including beach balls, which could be thrown onto the pitch and potentially cause a repeat of the "freak" goal scored against the Reds by Sunderland's Darren Bent last Saturday.(The Guardian)
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Tuesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

France midfielder Patrick Vieira has confirmed he will leave Inter Milan at the end of the season. Arsenal have been linked with a move for their former skipper, while Paris St Germain are also thought to be interested.

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James may be a target for Premier League champions Manchester United in the January transfer window.(Daily Express) 
Liverpool are considering making a cut-price £1.5m bid for Aston Villa's Emile Heskey in January. The striker revealed at the weekend he was considering leaving the Midlands club to get first-team football, thereby boosting his chances of landing a place in England's squad for the 2010 World Cup finals.(Daily Star) 
Manchester City are lining up a £20m swoop for Brazil and Inter Milan full-back Maicon in January and will target Benfica midfielder Ramires if they fail with a £65m bid for Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.(The Sun) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is determined to fight off the advances of Atletico Madrid and Seville to retain the services of 19-year-old midfielder Fran Merida.(The Sun) 
Wigan and Bolton are battling it out for the signing of Sheffield United defender Matt Kilgallon.(Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn are interested in Gillingham striker Simeon Jackson, who is valued at around £2m.(The Sun) 
West Brom will not be signing former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell as they cannot afford his wages. (Daily Express)
Birmingham winger Gary McSheffrey will complete his loan move to Sheffield United this week.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will issue a second apology to referee Alan Wiley over his suggestion that the official is not fit enough to do his job. (The Independent) 
Former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini is to be offered the Notts County managerial job on a £10m five-year contract after Ian McParland parted company with the League Two club on Monday.(Daily Mirror) 
Karren Brady, the former managing director of Birmingham City, is being lined up to help England's 2018 World Cup bid.(Daily Mail) 
Chelsea defender Alex, who has attracted the interest of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, is poised to sign a new long-term contract with the London club. (Daily Express)
The Glasgow and Edinburgh derbies on 3 January 2010 will be shown live on television on the same day for the first time.(Daily Record) 
Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has assured Liverpool that he will not play striker Fernando Torres against Bosnia on Wednesday if there are any doubts over his fitness.(Daily Express) 
Hull midfielder Ian Ashbee hopes to return to action in May as he recovers from a career-threatening knee injury.(Daily Mirror)
New Birmingham owner Carson Yeung will give manager Alex McLeish £15m to spend in the January transfer window.(Daily Star) 
Former Ipswich and England striker Paul Mariner is set to join old club Plymouth as technical director after being given permission by Major League Soccer side New England Revolution to discuss personal terms.(Daily Mirror) 

AND FINALLY

England midfielder Frank Lampard admits the term "golden generation", coined by former Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier, has been a burden for his colleagues. Lampard said: "The whole golden generation thing is quite frustrating for us players. We didn't make it up. Adam Crozier did, and look what happened to him. The golden generation should only be said once you have won something."(Various)
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Monday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Manchester City could be on the verge of establishing a link with French side AC Arles-Avignon which would see City loaning young players to the Ligue 2 outfit in order that they receive game time.(The Sun) 
Yossi Benayoun's agent maintains the midfielder is happy at Liverpool and not planning a summer exit to Manchester City. "It is a great compliment that there is interest from high level teams across Europe, but Yossi is very happy at Liverpool and only in the summer agreed a new four-year contract," said Ronen Kastav.(Virgin Media) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is once again preparing to raid former club Portsmouth to sign England keeper David James for £1m in January. Since taking over at Spurs, Redknapp has signed Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Niko Kranjcar from Pompey.(The Sun) 
European champions Barcelona are closing in on a January swoop for Manchester City forward Robinho, with sporting director Txiki Begiristain saying that the Brazilian is "a very interesting footballer and could play for us in the Champions League".(Daily Mirror) 
Former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell - who left Notts County in September after only one game - wants a short-term loan move to a Championship club to earn a Premier League return in January. (Daily Mirror) 
Stoke are lining up a move for Huddersfield's highly-rated goalkeeper Alex Smithies, but they may have to part with £3m in order to land the 19-year-old. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City are planning a shock January raid for Liverpool's Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun. (Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

England coach Fabio Capello was refused a handshake by referee Damir Skomina after subjecting the official to a four-minute rant in the tunnel in the aftermath of England's 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Ukraine on Saturday. Capello was incensed by the decision to send off Robert Green and the confusion caused by the ref's original incorrect decision to dismiss Rio Ferdinand in the 13th minute of the match in Dnipropetrovsk.(The Sun) 
Striker Emile Heskey concedes he may have to leave Aston Villa - for whom he has started only one Premier League game this season - in January to keep alive his hopes of a place in England boss Fabio Capello's squad for the 2010 World Cup finals.(The Sun) 
Chelsea and England defender John Terry has admitted he sledged former Blues teammate Andriy Shevchenko prior to the striker's penalty miss for Ukraine in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over England on Saturday.(The Sun)
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to escape a touchline ban, despite apologising to referee Alan Wiley for questioning the official's fitness.(Daily Mirror) 
Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo is confident he will be back on the pitch sooner than expected despite being told he faces around a month on the sidelines. Ronaldo limped out of Portugal's 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Hungary on Saturday and medical tests indicated he would be out of action for "three to four weeks". (Press Association)
Former Leeds boss Dennis Wise, who until earlier this year was executive director of football at Newcastle, and ex-Chelsea striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink are set to make dramatic returns to football - with non-League Chalfont St Peter and Woking respectively.(The Sun) 
Ipswich midfielder Owen Garvan says he fears he has played his last game for the club after revealing that manager Roy Keane has not spoken to him in recent weeks. Garvan has not featured at all in the last eight games for Ipswich, who sit bottom of the Championship without a league win yet this season.(Daily Mirror) 
Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung's new Birmingham regime begins today following his takeover at St Andrews and the new ownership team will sit down with Blues manager Alex McLeish this week to discuss their working relationship and potential transfer targets.(Daily Mirror) 
Tyneside businessman Barry Moat is set for crunch talks with Newcastle chiefs on Tuesday over his proposed £100m takeover of the north-east club.(The Sun) 
Liverpool owner Tom Hicks will allow co-owner George Gillett to sell his 50% stake in the club should the latter find a buyer. American Hicks, who is not interested in selling his own 50% stake in the club, has the right of veto over any proposed sale of Gillett's shares but he is willing to forgo this.(The Times) 
Huddersfield manager Lee Clark says he has no intention of selling star striker Jordan Rhodes, who has scored 11 goals since joining from Ipswich in the summer. "There is no price on Jordan's head," said Clark. "I don't have to worry about him being sold because we have a very wealthy owner."(Daily Mirror) 

AND FINALLY

Argentina coach Diego Maradona celebrated his side's last-minute winner against Peru in the crucial World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires with a jubilant belly slide. Martin Palermo's goal, which secured a 2-1 win over Peru, lifted Argentina to fourth place, with a game to go in the South American group, from which the top four qualify.(Daily Star) 
The internet coverage of England's match with Ukraine - the first national team match to be shown exclusively online - has been hailed a success by Kentaro and Perform, the companies behind the transmission, after nearly half a million people subscribed to the programme. (The Guardian)
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Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United will target Russia and CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev as they look to bring in a replacement for veteran Edwin van der Sar. (The Sun) 
Portsmouth could sign former Wigan striker Henri Camara, who is currently without a club, in time to face Bolton on Saturday following talks with the Senegal international. (Daily Mirror) 
Former Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos is available on a free transfer from Turkish club Fenerbahce and would consider a move to Notts County. (Daily Mirror) 
Newcastle have put the loan move for Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood on hold as he recovers from a foot injury suffered during pre-season. (Daily Mirror) 
Australia defender Lucas Neill has agreed to join Atletico Madrid after turning down a new deal to stay at West Ham. (Daily Mail) 
West Brom are keen to bring striker Diomansy Kamara back to the Hawthorns by signing him on loan from Fulham. (Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has defended his striker Eduardo over the Arsenal forward's alleged dive against Celtic and says England captain John Terry's comments on the matter have an air of double standards. "I think we all agree that Eduardo was a dive," Terry said last week. "Do England players have an extra responsibility to stay on their feet? I think we all have a responsibility, not just the England players." (The Sun) 
Bilic also claims England coach Fabio Capello has eroded the 'Englishness' which typifies the national side. (The Guardian) 
England striker Emile Heskey says he would not complain if England manager Fabio Capello gave rival forward Jermain Defoe the nod ahead of him for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Croatia. (Daily Star) 
Steven Gerrard captained England when they missed out on a place at Euro 2008 after a 3-2 defeat by Croatia in November 2007 and he says he is out to avenge that loss when the two countries meet again on Wednesday. (Daily Express) 
Newcastle's prospective new owner Barry Moat will have a second round of talks in 24 hours with the club's owner Mike Ashley about buying the Tyneside outfit. (Daily Telegraph)
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has been told Carson Yeung's takeover of the club will not put his position under threat. (The Independent) 

AND FINALLY

Argentina legend and national team boss Diego Maradona is facing the wrath of his critics after the 3-1 home defeat by Brazil left his side precariously placed in their attempts to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. (The Guardian)
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