Thursday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Former West Ham defender Lucas Neill is set to undergo a medical at Everton today. (Sky Sports)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Valencia's Spanish forward David Silva has admitted he is interested in a move to Manchester United.(Daily Mirror) 
Hull striker Caleb Folan is set to join Middlesbrough on a three-month loan deal.(The Sun) 
Aston Villa are hoping to beat Chelsea and Manchester City in the race to sign Feyenoord's £5million-rated Netherlands Under-21 midfielder Jonathan De Guzman.(Daily Mail) 
Bolton defender Danny Shittu has turned down a loan move to Sheffield United because he does not want to step down from the Premier League.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool target Angel Di Maria has had his buy-out clause increased to £40m by Portuguese club Benfica as they brace themselves for a bid from the Premier League side.(Daily Mirror) 
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has blocked Diomany Kamara's move to Newcastle United because he needs him for his squad.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United and Burnley are likely to need a tribunal to thrash out compensation for defender Richard Eckersley, who joined the Clarets from United in the summer.(The Sun) 
Everton are giving a trial to Colo Colo's 18-year-old Chilean striker Nicolas Millan, who has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo.(Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced he can persuade midfielder Paul Scholes to put his retirement plans on hold in favour of one more year at Old Trafford.(Daily Mirror) 
Fabio Capello has revealed that his current job as coach of England will be his last in football and he never wants to manage the national side of his native Italy.(The Sun) 
QPR owner Flavio Briatore faces being kicked out of the Loftus Road club following his departure from Formula 1 team Renault. Should F1 bosses decree that Briatore is no longer a "fit and proper person" to operate within their sport, he would have to relinquish his control of QPR as Football League rules state any shareholder or director must be removed if they are banned by a recognised sport's governing body.(The Sun) 
Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen fears he could be the next high profile departure from Stamford Bridge following the exit of chief executive Peter Kenyon.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will not discipline striker Wayne Rooney for his enraged reaction to being substituted during the Champions League victory over Besiktas on Tuesday.(The Sun) 
Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are ready to put up to 25% of the club up for sale to raise £100m that can be used to build a new stadium.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has joked that he will join United's fans in booing former teammate Carlos Tevez if he lines up for Manchester City in the derby between the sides on Sunday.(The Sun) 
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has promised that investment in the club's new £30m training complex will not harm Harry Redknapp's team-building programme.(Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth have put Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane on a special fitness programme in a bid to get him fit for the club's battle to get off the bottom of the Premier League.(Daily Mirror) 
Karren Brady has turned down an offer from prospective Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung to remain as chief executive of the Blues.(The Sun) 
Manchester City have confirmed they will not appeal the violent conduct charge against Emmanuel Adebayor for his stamp on Arsenal's Robin Van Persie in City's 4-2 win on Saturday.(The Sun) 
Ipswich boss Roy Keane has told defenders Gareth McAuley, who has been stripped of the captaincy, and Ben Thatcher that they have no future with the club.(Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY

England manager Fabio Capello joked that his wife may have taken a shine to David Beckham after having photos taken with the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder.(The Sun) 
Capello has also revealed that had he not pursued a career in football he would have chosen a career as an airline pilot.(Daily Star)
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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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Tuesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

AC Milan playmaker Kaka insists he wants to stay at the San Siro. Speculation has been rife that the Brazil star, who turned down a move to Manchester City in January, will follow his former coach Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea. (PA 0948 BST)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

New Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has made AC Milan's Brazilian striker Pato and Portsmouth defender Glen Johnson his top targets. The Blues have bid £30m for Pato and have offered £12m for their former player Johnson. (The Sun) 
AC Milan have hinted it will be hard for them to reject a substantial offer for their Brazilian playmaker Kaka, which could alert Chelsea and Real Madrid.(The Sun) 
Everton manager David Moyes is offering Newcastle striker Michael Owen £50,000 a week to make the switch to Goodison Park. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City's Brazilian forward Robinho has ruled out a summer switch to his homeland club Santos. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United hope to sign striker Carlos Tevez on a permanent deal on Wednesday - but only on their terms. (Daily Mirror) 
Real Madrid will use rookie striker Negredo as bait in a bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso - but they will first have to buy back the forward from Almeria.(The Sun) 
Birmingham have tabled a club record £6m bid for Santos Laguna's Ecuador striker Christian Benitez but face competition from several other Premier League clubs. (The Sun)
Fulham look set to beat Portsmouth to the signing of Brazilian left-back Felip Lopes, who plays for Portuguese side Nacional. (The Sun) 
Tottenham are keen to sell defender Pascal Chimbonda to Blackburn for about £3m as the Londoners chase Marseille utility man Lorik Cana, who is valued at £5m. (Various)
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is keen to bring goalkeeper Paul Robinson back to the club, a year after he was sold to Blackburn. (Daily Star) 
Sunderland will make a £5m bid for Wigan defender Titus Bramble, once Steve Bruce is installed as manager. (Daily Star)
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate wants to hand Manchester United defender Gary Neville a lead role in getting Boro back into the Premier League.(Daily Mirror) 
Hull boss Phil Brown is eager to sign Newcastle midfielder Kevin Nolan.(Daily Mirror) 
Wolves and Birmingham are set to battle for the signature of Bolton defender Danny Shittu. (Daily Mirror) 
Bristol City midfielder Marvin Elliott is a £2m target for West Brom but Blackburn and Wolves are also interested. (Various)
Derby boss Nigel Clough is set to sign Exeter midfielder Dean Moxey in a £275,000 deal.(Daily Star)
Charlton are lining up a double defensive swoop, with Southend's Peter Clarke and Miguel Llera of MK Dons the targets. (Daily Star) 
Gillingham are set to open talks with Oldham for midfielder Kevin Maher. (Daily Star)
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is keen on signing Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara. (Daily Star) 
Leeds United look set to lose midfielder Bradley Johnson to Crystal Palace and forward Robert Snodgrass to Sheffield United. (Daily Mirror)


OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich picked Italian Carlo Ancelotti as the club's new manager because he wants a yes man in charge. The Russian tycoon plans to be more hands-on at Stamford Bridge than before, deciding which players will come in and are let go. (Daily Star) 
England coach Fabio Capello has recommended under-21s manager Stuart Pearce for a new improved contract. (The Sun) 
Alan Shearer still wants to become Newcastle manager on a permanent basis, despite owner Mike Ashley's sale plans causing meltdown at the club. (The Sun) 
Former Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor believes current incumbent Martin O'Neill needs to sign five new players if the club are to challenge for a Champions League spot. (Daily Mirror) 
Reading want to offer Watford boss Brendan Rogers their vacant manager's job. (Daily Mirror)
West Ham defender Lucas Neill has hinted he may stay with the club, despite rejecting one offer of a new deal. (The Sun) 
Fears are growing for the viability of Setanta's financial commitment to the Scottish Premier League after the broadcaster defaulted on a £3m payment. (The Herald)
Celtic face competition from Wigan and Real Sociedad in their pursuit of Swansea manager Roberto Martinez. (Various) 
Wigan may turn to Dundee United's Craig Levein if they miss out on Martinez. (Scottish Sun)

AND FINALLY

Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has lifted the lid on his team's pampered lifestyle - admitting he even rings someone to rush over and change a lightbulb. Evra says he can call player liaison manager Barry Moorhouse night or day. (Daily Mirror)
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