Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea could make a shock move for Inter Milan star and former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira in January.(News of the World) 
West Ham striker Carlton Cole is Arsenal's number one January target.(Sunday Mirror) 
Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas is determined to leave the Emirates Stadium in the summer, but could move to either Real Madrid or Barcelona for £45m in January.(Sunday Mirror) 
David Moyes wants to lure former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan, currently playing for Atletico Madrid, to Everton.(Daily Star) 
But Moyes will get no joy when he tries to tempt defender Steven Taylor away from Newcastle.(News of the World) 
Chelsea are keen to sign Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano in January, but may have to wait until the summer, when the 29-year-old Brazilian will be available for £24m.(News of the World) 
Both Chelsea and Sunderland are on the trail of Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson, but the 22-year-old looks set to stay at the Riverside Stadium with a new contract worth £1.5m a year.(News of the World) 
Barcelona will come in with a £30m bid for Liverpool's Javier Mascherano in January.(News of the World) 
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is therefore understandably eager to tie Mascherano to a new long-term contract, and the club have priced Barca out of a move for the Argentine captain.(Sunday Mirror) 
Manchester United are tracking 6ft 4in Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, who may be available for £15m - but he wants to move to AC Milan.(News of the World) 
Alternatively, Dzeko is at the centre of a three-way battle between United, Arsenal and Manchester City, and is available for just £10m.(Sunday Mirror) 
But Bayern Munich believe United face a financial crisis and have no money to spend, having offered them Franck Ribery for £60m in the summer and heard nothing back.(Mail on Sunday) 
Tottenham will come in for Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand in January or, failing that, will pursue Manchester City's Micah Richards. (Sunday Express)
New Portsmouth boss Avram Grant's first moves will be for Chelsea pair Daniel Sturridge and Juliano Belletti on loan.(News of the World) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Portugal star Luis Figo says England are "not among the favourites" to win the World Cup in 2010.(Mail on Sunday) 
Should manager Mark Hughes leave Eastlands, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will block any attempt by Manchester City to bring in former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink, whose salary as Russia coach is underwritten by the billionaire.(News of the World) 
Portsmouth's cash crisis has reached the point where the club left Aruna Dindane on the bench against Aston Villa on Tuesday because they did not have the cash to meet the £4m permanent transfer deal one more appearance would have triggered with French club Lens.
However, Pompey renegotiated the deal in time for Dindane to appear against Burnley on Saturday.(Sunday Mirror) 
The Football Association's allocation of just 4,000 tickets for England's opening World Cup game against the US will create a scramble on the black market.(Sunday Mirror) 
Mike Ashley is once again preparing an attempt to sell Newcastle United, with fresh interest from America in taking over the club.(News of the World) 
Phil Brown has been told his job as Hull boss is safe - until Christmas, at least.(Sunday Mirror) 
Aston Villa could earn a £30m sponsorship windfall if they reach the final of the Carling Cup.(Sunday Mirror) 
Everton hope to raise £7m from the sale of their old training ground, having had plans for a new stadium at Kirkby turned down.(News of the World) 

AND FINALLY

Manchester United paid magicians more than £50,000 over a two-year period, and gave a similar sum to a firm which supplies clowns. (News of the World) 
Cristiano Ronaldo had an incident-packed Saturday as he missed a penalty, scored, then was sent off as Real Madrid beat Almeria 4-2.(Mail on Sunday) 
South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira believes England will be a force at the World Cup because Fabio Capello has ended the WAG culture within the squad. "When you go to war, you don't take the wife," said Parreira.(Independent on Sunday)
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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid are confident of landing Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso for £23m if Florentino Perez is appointed president again.(The Sun) 
Inter Milan are preparing a double-swoop for Chelsea duo Ricardo Carvalho and Jon Mikel Obi and hope to land the pair for £21m. (Daily Express) 
Meanwhile Chelsea are confident they can hold off the advances of Barcelona and tie left-back Ashley Cole to a new deal. (The Guardian) 
Manchester United have been warned they face stiff competition to land Wigan winger Antonio Valencia.(The Sun) 
Aston Villa are prepared to lose £9m and let Gareth Barry run out the remainder of his contract, rather than sell him to a Premier League rival.(The Sun) 
Liverpool are preparing a £10m bid for Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson. (Daily Star) 
However, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may be prepared to pay as much as £15m for the Portsmouth man. (Daily Mail) 
Middlesbrough will slap a £9m price tag on defender David Wheater if they are relegated to the Championship on Sunday. (The Sun) 
Wheater is wanted by Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill who is hopeful of landing the centre-back for £7m. (Daily Star)
Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has been assured he has a future at the club. (Daily Express) 
Chelsea are leading the chase for Wolfsburg's £6m-rated striker Edin Dzeko. (Daily Mirror)
Olympiakos are set to offer Blackburn £2m for striker Matt Derbyshire, who is on loan at the Greek side. (Daily Mirror) 
Joseph Yobo looks set to leave Everton after turning down a new deal at the club. (Daily Mail) 
Tottenham have joined Wigan, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Celtic in the chase for Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher. (Scottish Daily Mail)
Celtic outcast Bobo Balde has agreed to try and win a move to Birmingham City. ( Daily Record) 
Guinea international Balde must prove his fitness and desire during a trial period if he wants a move to Birmingham. (Scottish Sun) 
Palermo lead the race to take Massimo Donati back to Italy from an unhappy spell at Celtic. (Various)
Lazio have been linked with a move for Rangers playmaker Pedro Mendes. (Daily Express)

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea are set to confirm AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager as early as next week. (Daily Star)
Celtic want David Moyes to become their new manager next season.(The Sun) 
Alan Shearer has given the strongest hint yet that he will stay on as Newcastle manager, even if the club are relegated on Sunday.(The Sun) 
However, assistant manager Iain Dowie has cast doubt over Shearer's long-term involvement at the club. (The Telegraph) 
Hull striker Dean Windass is set to land a role as player-coach, alongside Colin Todd, at League Two side Darlington. (Daily Mirror)
Exeter boss Paul Tisdale has emerged as the leading contender to replace Steve Coppell as Reading manager. (The Sun) 
Newcastle coach Colin Calderwood is on the short-list to become the new Chesterfield manager. (Daily Mirror)
Falkirk boss John Hughes is the leading contender for the Blackpool job, while Ayr United's Brian Reid is also in the running. (The Herald) 

AND FINALLY 

Former world player of the year Luis Figo is considering an offer to play in the Chinese Super League. (Chinese sports newspaper Titan Sports)
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