Thursday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Manchester United are ready to make a £28m bid for Aston Villa midfielder James Milner. Villa have already turned down a £20m bid from Manchester City for the 24-year-old who is currently with England at their pre-World Cup training camp in Austria. (caughtoffside.com) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Barcelona are preparing to launch a £70m bid for Liverpool's Fernando Torres after signing David Villa, his strike partner in Spain's national side, from Valencia.(Daily Mirror) 
However, the Catalan side's hopes of luring Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal to the Nou Camp could be hit by Yaya Toure's reluctance to move in the opposite direction. The Ivory Coast midfielder is said to be attracting the interest of Manchester City.(Daily Mail) 
Barca have decided they will not pay more than £30m for Fabregas, which could also put the deal at risk.(Daily Star) 
Arsenal are looking for £80m before they allow their talismanic skipper to return to his former club.(Daily Mail) 
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is actually hopeful of persuading midfielder Fabregas to stay for one more season.(Daily Mirror) 
However, should Fabregas leave, Arsenal can forget plans to replace him with Mikel Arteta, according to the Everton midfielder's agent. Manchester United have also been linked with a move for Arteta.(the Sun) 
Manchester United are planning a £15m bid for Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell despite Toffees boss David Moyes saying the 19-year-old is not for sale.(the Sun) 
Manchester City will need to pay Benfica £43m if they want to bring Brazilian defender David Luiz to Eastlands. (the Independent) 
Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool are competing to sign £11m-rated Ajax centre-back Jan Vertonghen.(Daily Mirror) 
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is planning a major spending spree after being told he has "an open chequebook".(the Sun) 
Birmingham City are considering a £2.5m bid for Fulham full-back Paul Konchesky.(Daily Mail) 
The Blues have also joined the race for Burnley striker Steven Fletcher as their hopes of landing Fulham's Bobby Zamora fade.(Daily Mirror) 
West Brom are poised to sign Hull star Stephen Hunt - even though he won't be fit for the start of next season. The Baggies have agreed a £4m fee for the Republic of Ireland winger, rising to £5.5m if Roberto di Matteo's men stay in the Premier League.(Daily Star) 
The Baggies are also set to make a £2m move for Stoke striker James Beattie. (the Sun) 
Sol Campbell has welcomed Celtic's interest and made it a clear a bumper two-year deal could tempt him to reject a one-year offer from Arsenal.(the Sun) 
Veteran defender David Weir is set to hang up his boots if Walter Smith quits as Rangers boss over the summer. (Various) 
Fulham are ready to table a pre-World Cup bid of £1m for Hibernian defender Sol Bamba.(Scottish Daily Express)
Peter Houston's first task as permanent manager of Dundee United will be to fight off bids for Craig Conway and Garry Kenneth from Middlesbrough.(Daily Record) 
Meanwhile, Houston will sign a three-year contract at Tannadice tomorrow. (Various)

OTHER GOSSIP

Inter Milan have denied they have made an approach for Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez to replace Real Madrid-bound Jose Mourinho.(the Sun) 
Benitez says he wants a further four years at Anfield and also feels there is no evidence that star striker Fernando Torres wants to leave the club.(the Times) 
Manchester United failed in a last-ditch attempt to sign Spain international striker David Villa, who joined Barcelona for £34m.(Mirror) 
The Red Knights consortium's hopes of taking over United from the Glazer family looks set to fail because of internal wranglings.(Guardian) 
Dutch champions FC Twente want Portsmouth manager Avram Grant to replace Steve McClaren, who has left to manage German side Wolfsburg. However, Grant is being linked with the vacant post at West Ham.(Daily Star) 
Grant will be unveiled as the Hammers new manager next month. (the Sun) 
Ivory Coast and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba believes he can finish as the World Cup's top scorer.(Daily Star) 
England World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks believes Fabio Capello should use David James as his number one goalkeeper for the World Cup.(the Guardian) 

AND FINALLY

England midfielder Steven Gerrard says team-mate Joe Cole is just as good as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo - in training.(Daily Mirror) 
If you fancy owning the shirt worn by England's World Cup winning hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst, pop down to Harrods where it is set to go on sale on Friday. Hurst no longer owns the number 10 shirt he made history in at the 1966 World Cup final. The price tag? Only £2m...plus VAT! 
(Daily Express)
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England to win WC - thoughts and history of failures

I was talking with a friend about the possibility England to win WC. Capello, Rooney, few other players in a great shape are the main public arguments for. Against? Goalie, for sure. This is not a league tournament and if James (he’s the closest for number 1) doesn’t stay focus (as he didn’t before Drogba’s free kick at Wembley) it could be the end. Also, I think the history of England’s failures looks interesting.

My memories (correct me if I’m wrong somewhere) start in Mexico ’86. England were eliminated after “god’s hand” by El Pibe. I think, you must have a real bad luck to exit the tournament after referee allows goal like that on WC. Three refs didn’t notice something that all people in front tv saw. One time in thousand cases, I think.
Italy ’90, Shilton conceded a spectacular fluke after free kick against Germany. Later lost after penalties against them.
USA ’94 did not qualify!
France ’98, “Beckham’s case” and another loss after penalties (Argentina).
Korea and Japan ’02. England were stronger than ever. Again free kick and this time Seaman. Well it wasn’t a fluke, but Ronaldinho’s spectacular goal from 40m average goalie should easily stopped.
Germany ’06, again penalties and again Beckham (launched the ball in the orbit from the spot).
My first thought about ECs is 1996. when England were the host. Then was really expected from them to win. But… Again Germans and again penalties. In extra time they were very close to a golden goal, but missed few sitters. Darren Anderton’s was the worst.

A friend asked me, why they lose tragically every time, what could be the reason. I guess Geoff Hurst’s second goal in ’66 did not cross the line : ), who knows.

.

Best odd for England to win WC 2010 is 7.50.

Anyway, wish them luck unless they face Serbia in some round.

Bet for today. If Paynter starts for Swindon, take both to score. Otherwise, no bet. So wait the teams confirmation, bbc make it 45 mins before the kick off.

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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United have made Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric their number one target this summer and are preparing a £25m bid for the Croatian 24-year-old. (The Sun) 
United's Wayne Rooney has been linked with a move to Real Madrid after his representatives requested that the striker recorded two versions of a commercial in Barcelona: one wearing a red kit and the other in a white strip as worn by the Spanish side.(Daily Mirror) 
The Red Devils are said to be interested in signing Borussia Dortmund's Serbia centre-back Neven Subotic.(imscouting.com) 
Former United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has urged current club Real Madrid to sign Old Trafford left-back Patrice Evra. (imscouting.com) 
Italian side Roma are ready to offer Brazil goalkeeper Doni, 30, to Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United in a bid to raise funds.(Daily Mail) 
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's head talent spotter, Steve Rowley, ran the rule over their summer targets at Blackburn - defender Phil Jones, 18, and midfielder Steven N'Zonzi, 21, while scouting Rovers ahead of Arsenal's trip to Ewood Park. (Daily Mail) 
The Gunners are leading the chase to sign Roma's £10m-rated centre-back Philippe Mexes.(caughtoffside.com) 
Tottenham are battling it out with Arsenal to sign Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland. 
(caughtoffside.com) 
Liverpool have emerged as favourites to sign Rangers highly-rated 18-year-old defender Danny Wilson.(imscouting.com) 
The Reds are also keeping tabs on Rangers' Algeria defender Madjid Bougherra who is valued at £5m. (Daily Mail) 
Andrey Arshavin's agent says the forward is committed to Arsenal despite the Russia star recently saying that he would like to join Barcelona.(Daily Telegraph) 
Benfica's £25m-rated defender David Luiz has issued a come-and-get-me plea to Premier League suitors Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City. (goal.com) 
Manchester City are also tracking Lazio defender Stefan Radu, who is said to worth £8.7m.(footylatest.com) 
Birmingham, West Ham and West Brom are interested in Portsmouth keeper David James. (footylatest.com) 
Midfielder James Milner's future at Aston Villa will be decided after the World Cup and hinges on whether manager Martin O'Neill stays at the club. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham are keeping tabs on Bayern Munich midfielder Hamit Altintop who is out of contract this summer.(Daily Star) 
West Ham are plotting a cut-price summer move for Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, while the Hammers are also on the trail of Cardiff winger Peter Whittingham and Burnley winger Chris Eagles.(Daily Mail) 
Meanwhile the Hammers, along with Blackburn, have been priced out of the market for former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse. The Panathinaikos striker is currently valued at around £12m.(Daily Mail) 
West Ham are also hoping to sign Tottenham's Jamie O'Hara. O'Hara is currently on loan at Portsmouth and the Hammers are prepared to offer either Matthew Upson or James Tomkins to help land the midfielder. (Daily Telegraph) 
Newcastle are facing a fight to keep Slovenia youngster Haris Vuckic, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool ready to make bids for the 17-year-old forward.(Daily Mirror) 
Reading are ready to cash in on goalkeeper Adam Federici and midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson. Federici is linked with Tottenham and Liverpool, while Sigurdsson is a £2m target for West Brom and Wolves.(Daily Mail) 
Derby County will sell striker Rob Hulse, 30, in the summer with Coventry and West Bromwich Albion interested.(Daily Mirror) 
County are battling it out with Bristol City for Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper, who is rated at around £1.5m. (Daily Mirror) 
Wolves are set to offer relegated Burnley £3m for defender Andre Bikey. (The Sun) 
Southampton are hoping to take advantage of rivals Portsmouth's financial problems by launching a £1m bid for midfielder Hayden Mullins. (Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Cristiano Ronaldo says he does not expect to be at Real Madrid for the rest of his playing career. "I spent several years wanting to play in Madrid but I don't see myself here at 40. Football is all about cycles - if you have already won everything with a team you have to change." (The Sun) 
England boss Fabio Capello has turned down the chance to take over at Juventus to concentrate on England's World Cup campaign.(Daily Mail) 
Juventus are also keen on Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, who fears the Merseyside club are trying to force him out of Anfield.(the Sun) 
Benitez has admitted that with his future at Liverpool in doubt and claims no-one has asked him to stay at the club. (the Times) 
Former Manchester United striker Andrew Cole has urged Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson to launch a summer bid for Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema.(Daily Star) 
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has held clear-the-air talks with his employers and is poised to commit his future to the club.(Daily Mail) 
Uefa president Michel Platini believes Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc should be the next France coach.(Daily Mirror) 
England legend Geoff Hurst says Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes should be tempted out of international retirement and go to this summer's World Cup. (the Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton, 27, has given up alcohol and says he lives "a monk-like existence" in an attempt to avoid trouble and reproduce his best form on the pitch.(Daily Star) 
Manchester United fans are being urged to boycott the purchase of season tickets to demonstrate their opposition to the ownership of the club by the Glazer family. The Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association has written to its members asking them not to renew their season tickets this summer. (the Guardian)
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