Monday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Roma are close to signing out-of-favour Bayern Munich and Italy striker Luca Toni, who has been linked with both West Ham and Chelsea. (Reuters)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Craig Bellamy has rubbished claims he wants to quit Manchester City and denies he led a player rebellion in the wake of Mark Hughes' sacking.(Daily Mirror) 
Bolton boss Gary Megson is attempting to sign veteran Real Madrid midfielder Guti.(Daily Mirror) 
Harry Redknapp has paved the way for Roman Pavlyuchenko's Tottenham exit and says he would not necessarily need a replacement if the Russian quit White Hart Lane in January.(Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth goalkeeper David James has refused to rule out a January switch to Spurs as he attempts to ensure he is England's No 1 at the World Cup.(Sun) 
Manchester City are on the brink of signing Inter Milan defender Ivan Cordoba, 33, who has fallen out with boss Jose Mourinho.(Daily Mail) 
New Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wants record signing Robinho to remain at Eastlands, despite the the 25-year-old Brazilian striker being linked with a move away from the club next month. Mancini said: "The important thing for me is that Robinho stays here because he can earn a place in the history of the club." (Various) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth are being sued by French side Lens over alleged unpaid transfer fees for striker Aruna Dindane and defender Nadir Belhadj.(Daily Mail) 
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted for the first time Chelsea are low on confidence, despite his side still heading the Premier League table.(Sun) 
Former Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson has set his sights on becoming the Reading new boss after Brendan Rodgers was sacked by the Royals earlier this month.(Daily Star) 

AND FINALLY

South Korean playmaker Ki Sung Yueng has told his new Celtic team-mates to just call him Dave to avoid confusion. "Communication is so important if players are to be comfortable with each other," the 20-year-old said helpfully. (Daily Record)
Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is planning to make his first trip back to Stamford Bridge since he was sacked to watch his former club Chelsea play Fulham on Monday.(Sun)

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Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Argentine striker Sergio Aguero will be offered to Chelsea and Manchester rivals United and City for £40m by his club Atletico Madrid. Chelsea were favourites to sign the 21-year-old, but discussions on his personal terms have stalled.(The Mirror) 
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is keen to sign Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy despite branding the player a "nuisance". Bellamy, one of City's top performers this season, was reportedly unhappy at the sacking of Blues manager Mark Hughes. (The Times)
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is desperate to sign a target man in January, with Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones, Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz and Liverpool old boy Emile Heskey all on his wanted list.(The Mirror) 
Manchester United will offload 22-year-old Serbian winger Zoran Tosic in January. Tosic signed last January in a £7m deal, but has yet to start a game for the club.(The Mirror) 
Meanwhile, City could bolster their attack by moving for Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini. The 25-year-old averages a goal every other game in Serie A.(The Sun) 
Striker Luca Toni could make a January move to Chelsea, with the Blues forced to cope without Didier Drogba, among others during, the African Cup of Nations. Toni, 32, was top scorer for Bayern Munich last season, but has been linked with a move since exiting the ground after being substituted in a recent match.(The Sun) 
Wolves will look to tempt Craig Gardner from Aston Villa in January. The £3m-rated midfielder could move in search of first-team football. (The Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told rivals City that he will outlast 20 more managers at Eastlands, having already seen 14 come and go. Ferguson, 68, has hinted he could retire within the next two years.(The Times) 
Ferguson, though, has been rocked by the news that striker Dimitar Berbatov requires knee surgery and will be out for three months.(The Sun) 
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, 25, will be offered a new long-term contract to stave off interest from Real Madrid.(The Times) 
Michael Dawson could have played his way into England's World Cup squad. The Spurs centre back started the season as fourth choice at club level, but injuries and a string of fine performances have seen club manager Redknapp push his case to England coach Fabio Capello.(Daily Star) 
However, Michael Owen is still unlikely to make the plane despite his recent Champions League hat-trick against Wolfsburg. Capello will only pick the striker if he gets more regular football for Manchester United.(The Sun) 
And Owen's Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand could also be a doubt for South Africa, with club manager Ferguson admitting there is "no light" in terms of his recovery from a back injury.(The Independent) 

AND FINALLY

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti could see his extremities turn blue if he goes back on a promise not to sign anyone during the January transfer window.
The Premier League leaders, who have had a transfer ban suspended, will be deprived of several first-team players during the African Cup of Nations, but Ancelotti has promised to run naked in the snow if they dip their toe into the winter market.(Daily Star)

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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni has edged closer to a move to West Ham after refusing to play for the German side's reserves.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United and Liverpool are battling it out for Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies will consider his future at the club in January over a contract row.(Daily Mirror) 
Sheffield United are handing a trial to French striker Vincent Pericard, who is a free agent. (Daily Mirror) 
Leeds are targeting Oldham winger Chris Taylor and are offering defender Alan Sheehan in exchange.(Daily Mirror) 
Notts County are hoping to pip Sheffield United and Coventry to the loan signing of Birmingham winger Gary McSheffrey.(Daily Star) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth players will demand answers from new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim after they were not paid their wages this month.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio has revealed how manager Rafael Benitez erupted with fury like never before after their Champions League defeat to Fiorentina on Tuesday. (The Guardian) 
Middlesbrough defender David Wheater has conceded the Championship club, who were relegated from the Premier League in May, are struggling with the physical nature of life in English football's second tier and are also finding it hard to cope with 'flying elbows.'(Daily Mirror) 
Brighton defender Jim McNulty has been welcomed back to the squad after spending eight months on the sidelines following the removal of a kidney. (Daily Star)
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Saturday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Andrea Pirlo believes his decision to snub Chelsea proves that AC Milan are a team with ambition. "If I thought Milan's aim was a good place in the standings I'd be at Chelsea now," he said. (Reuters)
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia believes defender Kolo Toure left the Gunners because he was "bored" and fears the same could happen with captain Cesc Fabregas. (Press Association). 
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has already sealed a deal with Bayern Munich to buy Franck Ribery on a five-year contract starting in 2010.(Goal.com) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is closing in on Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin after being priced out of a move for Manchester City's Richard Dunne.(The Sun) 
Liverpool have had a £6m move for defender Michael Turner rejected, with Hull demanding £12m.(Daily Mail) 
Everton and Tottenham are both tracking Inter Milan's Nigerian striker Victor Obinna, who should cost around £3m.(Daily Mail) 
Sunderland are set to make a second attempt to prise Lee Cattermole from Wigan Athletic.(The Times) 
Luca Toni's agent believes the Italian international is close to joining countryman Gianfranco Zola at West Ham.(Independent) 
Manager Roy Hodgson fears for Brede Hangeland's Fulham future after Arsenal admitted an interest in the Norwegian defender.(The Sun) 
Free-agent Mark Viduka is holding out for a two-year, £40,000 a week deal to solve Portsmouth's striker crisis, although Pompey have offered the Australian forward, 33, a one-year, £30,000-a- week contract.(The Sun) 
Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storie has confirmed that the Fratton Park side are monitoring Celtic full-back Lee Naylor, while reiterating the club's desire to hold onto Sylvain Distin, Niko Kranjcar and David James.(The Independent) 
Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc has questioned Arsene Wenger's desire to sign Marouane Chamakh and says he could have the striker within "48 hours" if he really wanted him.(Daily Mail) 
Everton are monitoring 25-year-old Toulouse right back Albin Ebondo, who is available for around £2m.(Daily Mail )

OTHER GOSSIP

Newcastle defender Steven Taylor has branded the club "a joke", adding the players "haven't got a clue what is going on".(Daily Mail) 
Arsene Wenger has stressed that the looming Champions League qualifier against Celtic will carry a crucial significance for Arsenal from a sporting rather than financial perspective.(Daily Telegraph) 
Michael Owen will miss the cut when Fabio Capello trims his pre-selection squad to a 23-man party for England's friendly match against Holland on Wednesday.(The Times) 
Frank Lampard has described himself as a "Chelsea lifer" and insisted he could play until he is 38. The England midfielder has also revealed he would love to manage the Blues one day.(The Times) 

AND FINALLY

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway admits he will have mixed feelings when he leads his new side into battle with former club QPR. "If you met your ex-missus in a pub, would you have feelings for her? Of course you would," he said. (The Sun)
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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City finally expect to complete the signing of Everton defender Joleon Lescott on Thursday in a deal worth £22m.(The Sun) 
Chelsea have not given hope of signing midfielder Andrea Pirlo, despite AC Milan saying the 30-year-old is not for sale.(Daily Star)
Portsmouth goalkeeper David James could be set for a move to Sunderland with Pompey close to signing Antti Niemi on a free transfer.(The Sun) 
Portsmouth striker David Nugent could be set for a move away from the club after a bust-up with team-mate Marc Wilson, with Stoke in discussions over a £4m move.(Various)
Tottenham have had a £12m bid for 19-year-old Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko rejected by the French club who claim he is worth double that amount.(Various) 
Spurs' pursuit of Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar appears to be at an end with the 25-year-old set to sign for AC Milan.(The Independent) 
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has insisted that midfielder Cesc Fabregas will not be leaving the club after reported interest from AC Milan. (Various)
Lucas Neill, who is a available on a free transfer after leaving West Ham, is set to sign for Sunderland on Thursday.(Daily Mail) 
Bayern Munich have played down reports linking 32-year-old Italy striker Luca Toni with a move to West Ham.(The Independent) 
Nottingham Forest are planning a £2m bid for Bolton defender Danny Shittu, who has been told he can leave the Reebok Stadium.(Various) 
Hull have given a trial to former Wigan and Stoke striker Henri Camara.(Various) 
Sunderland are close to signing 21-year-old Egyptian winger Ahmed Al-Muhammadi from ENPPI.(The Independent) 
West Brom and Nottingham Forest are battling it out to sign 19-year-old Leicester full-back Joe Mattock for about £2m. (Daily Express)
Ipswich manager Roy Keane is attempting to resurrect a deal to sign Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy for about £2m.(Daily Mirror) 
Hamilton are still hoping to sign Inverness's Dougie Imrie, Motherwell's Jamie Murphy and Kilmarnock's Craig Bryson despite having bids rejected for the players. (Daily Express)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Aston Villa and Leeds manager David O'Leary has turned down the chance to become Newcastle manager after being offered a two-year contract by owner Mike Ashley.(Daily Mail) 
Local businessman Barry Moat is set to buy Newcastle United from Mike Ashley for £100m and his first task will be to appoint Alan Shearer as manager.(Various)
American tycoon Clark Hunt is interested in buying West Ham for £120m. Hunt owns two Major League Soccer teams in the United States and his late billionaire father founded the league in 1993.(The Sun) 
Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has said the club is living in the "stone age" compared to rivals Manchester United. (Daily Telegraph) 
Manchester City forward Robinho believes the club are destined for "greatness" and are as big as Real Madrid and Brazil.(The Sun) 
Chelsea have offered captain John Terry a new contract worth £151,000-a-week, putting him on a par with team-mate Frank Lampard.(The Times) 
New Manchester United striker Michael Owen is set to miss out on an England recall for the friendly with the Netherlands later this month.(Daily Star) 
Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who has just returned from a six-month lay-off, could miss the first six weeks of the season after straining a hamstring in training. (The Sun) 
Former England manager Terry Venables has warned Newcastle that are not too big a club to be relegated to League One. (The Sun)
Scotland manager George Burley says his side can still make the World Cup qualifiers even if they lose to Norway in Oslo this month. (Various) 
Burnley's Steven Caldwell is dreaming of partnering brother Gary in Scotland's defence for the World Cup qualifier against Norway. (Various) 

AND FINALLY

Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin is being mocked by his Gunners team-mates who say his accent sounds like the meerkat featured on the Compare the Market television advert. (The Sun)
Everton's plans for a new stadium in Kirby are on hold because the site is currently occupied by voles. The rodents are protected by law and have to be rehoused before work can begin on the 50,000 seat venue. (The Sun) 
West Brom will back England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup by displaying the campaigns logo on the club's shirts for Saturday's Championship match against Newcastle. (Daily Star)
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