Wednesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Germany captain Michael Ballack insists his international career is not over despite missing the World Cup after injuring his ankle playing for Chelsea in the FA Cup final. "I won't let my international career come to an end because of a foul like this," said the 33-year-old (Press Association).
Tottenham have joined Arsenal in the chase for Dynamo Kiev's Senegalese defender Pape Diakhate.(goal.com) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are prepared to allow Anderson leave Old Trafford in a player-swap-plus-cash deal to land £38m-rated Benfica winger Angel di Maria.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester City have entered the race to sign Bayern Munich's £50m-rated winger Franck Ribery. Barcelona and Real Madrid have dropped out because of the player's personal problems, thus leaving City and Manchester United as the only serious interested parties.(Footylatest.com) 
Ajax have told Manchester United that it will cost £35m to persuade them to sell Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez this summer.(Daily Mirror) 
The potential stumbling block surrounding the return of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona could involve the transfer fee, with Arsenal not prepared to accept less than £50m.(Footylatest.com) 
Barcelona are ready to spend £70m to thwart Chelsea's interest and bring Liverpool's Spanish international striker Fernando Torres to the Nou Camp.(Daily Express) 
Manchester United are set to table a bid of £20m for Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson hoping his offer will see off Chelsea, who are reported to have tabled a bid of £16m.(Footylatest.com) 
The agent of Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has quashed reports that the 32-year-old Italy star is heading for a Premier League club this summer. (The Sun) 
Liverpool are preparing a double swoop for Manchester City's Stephen Ireland and Chelsea's Joe Cole. The Anfield club are confident they have sufficient funds to finance both fees, and hope to persuade Cole to take a lower wage.(Footylatest.com) 
West Ham have rejected bids from Fulham, Birmingham and Stoke for striker Carlton Cole as none of their offers matched the Hammers' £15m valuation.(Daily Telegraph) 
Beaten League One play-off side Huddersfield are keen on Falkirk midfielder Scott Arfield and Rangers defender Steven Smith.(Daily Record) 
Celtic are interested in signing defender Sol Campbell, who is a free agent after his deal at Arsenal expired, although the Gunners are thought to be keen to keep hold of him. (The Sun) 
Veteran midfielder Nick Barmby, 36, is close to agreeing a one-year contract extension with Hull (The Sun). 
But Jimmy Bullard could be leaving the KC Stadium for a season-long loan at Celtic.(Daily Star) 
Bolton have seen off competition from Blackburn, Wolves and Greek champions Panathinaikos to win the race to sign Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane after his loan spell at Portsmouth. (The Sun) 
Hearts are interested in taking Burnley's former Rangers striker Steven Thompson back to Scotland after his contract with the Turf Moor club expired.(Daily Express) 
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton says he expects to have money to spend in the summer but has ruled out making wholesale changes to the squad that won the Championship this season. (Daily Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Juventus are set to confirm Luigi del Neri as their new manager after running out of patience with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.(Daily Telegraph) 
Owen Hargreaves wants showdown talks with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to know what he told England boss Fabio Capello about his fitness, after the midfielder was left out of the England World Cup squad.(The Sun) 
Sunderland have passed on the chance to sign striker Benjani on a permanent basis after his loan spell from Manchester City came to an end.(Daily Star) 
Chelsea's Michael Ballack is considering legal action against Portsmouth's Kevin Prince-Boateng over the challenge in the FA Cup final that ruled the Germany captain out of the World Cup.(Daily Express) 
Uefa president Michel Platini says England's 2018 World Cup bid can survive the embarrassment of the Lord Triesman affair.(the Guardian) 
Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies will hold crisis talks with club owner Nigel Doughty on Friday after discussing his potential availability for other jobs in television interviews.(the Guardian) 
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has been told by England boss Fabio Capello that he has an equal chance of being first choice keeper at the World Cup as David James and Robert Green.(Daily Telegraph) 

AND FINALLY

Rotherham striker Drewe Broughton could need to find a stand-in best man for his summer wedding as first choice, West Ham defender Matthew Upson, could be at the World Cup with England. (The Sun)
Welshman Ryan Giggs says he will be cheering on England at the World Cup but says Spain are overwhelming favourites to win the tournament.(Daily Star)
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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Everton manager David Moyes has issued a hands-off warning to rival clubs interested in signing teenage midfielder Jack Rodwell.(Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole has put the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona on alert over his future because he is unhappy at the way he has been treated at Stamford Bridge over the issue of his personal conduct.(Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea are set to pip Spanish duo Barcelona and Real Madrid to the 40m euro signing of Benfica winger Angel Di Maria.(imscouting.com) 
West Ham are planning a summer swoop for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. The Hammers hope to leapfrog Birmingham and take Hart on loan next season as a replacement for current number one Robert Green, who may leave Upton Park at the end of the season.(The Sun) 
Tottenham are set to swoop for Zambia's 16-year-old left back Emmanuel Mbola in a £1m deal from Armenian side Yerevan.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth are on the brink of becoming the first side in Premier League history to go into administration after a rescue bid by a mystery South African consortium faltered. Owner Balram Chainrai set a deadline of the close of business yesterday for the group to provide proof they had the funds to take on Pompey's £70m debts.(Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth's off-field troubles boiled over on to the training ground on Monday when Jamie O'Hara and Michael Brown were involved in a bust-up following an over-zealous challenge by the latter on the former.(Daily Mail) 
Former Football League chairman Keith Harris, the man behind a proposed £1billion buy-out of Manchester United has encouraged United fans not to turn up to matches or purchase club merchandise in a bid to force current owners the Glazer family into selling the club.(Daily Mail) 
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon will discover if his World Cup dream lies in tatters on Tuesday when he undergoes a scan on his injured groin. The 22-year-old has not played since 28 December because of the problem and broke down in training on Saturday. (Daily Star) 
Joe Hart will start in goal for England in their friendly against Egypt at Wembley on 3 March. The 23-year-old has been in excellent form during his season-long loan period at Birmingham from Manchester City.(Daily Mail) 
Winger Luis Boa Morte could make a shock return for West Ham before the end of the season. The 32-year-old was expected to miss the whole campaign after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage in a pre-season game with Tottenham.(The Sun) 
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is so serious about his side's Carling Cup bid he plans to check his squad into their hotel three nights before Sunday's final against Manchester United.(The Sun) 
Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Anderson has admitted that he has considered whether he has a future at Old Trafford since falling out of Sir Alex Ferguson's team in the last month.(Daily Mail) 
Former Burnley boss Steve Cotterill will be named new boss of Notts County on Tuesday.(Daily Mirror) 
Reports in Holland claim that former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink will be allowed to leave his role as Russia coach early to be allowed to coach Ivory Coast at this summer's World Cup in South Africa. Hiddink will then take over as Turkey boss in August.(imscouting.com) 

AND FINALLY

Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard says he cracked up when he missed a penalty against Portugal at the last World Cup - but insists it won't happen again. "You know all the fans back home are watching and when you're tired, when you're under so much pressure, that's when mistakes happen," he said.(Daily Mirror) 
Ipswich manager Roy Keane says that the emotional rollercoaster of football is better than anything offered at a Disney theme park. The Tractor Boys plunged into the Championship relegation zone with defeat at Peterborough last Tuesday but climbed out with Saturday's win at Sheffield Wednesday.(The Sun)
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