Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham could extend striker Eidur Gudjohnsen's loan for a further 12 months. The Monaco player has scored two goals in his last three appearances and impressed in top scorer Jermain Defoe's absence.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United are considering a move for 24-year-old Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is valued by the Bundesliga club at about £10m. (Daily Mirror) 
Bolton, Birmingham and Preston are keeping tabs on Manchester United's England Under-21 international Tom Cleverley, currently on loan at Watford.(Daily Mail) 
Defender Liam Ridgewell will look to leave St Andrew's unless Blues stump up a new four-year, £20,000-a-week deal for the in-form 25-year-old.(Daily Mirror) 
Hull misfit Geovanni is in talks with Greek side AEK Athens as the Brazilian hopes to leave the KC Stadium, where his £25,000-a-week wages are set to be cut by 40%. (Daily Mail) 
And Geovanni's team-mate, midfielder Jimmy Bullard, will be top of Newcastle's shopping list if the Magpies secure promotion to the Premier League. Bullard, 30, has only started eight games since a £5m move 14 months ago but scored in Saturday's win against his former club Fulham.(The Sun) 
Derby County manager Nigel Clough is chasing Den Haag midfielder Danny Buijs.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Roy Keane will be sacked as Ipswich manager this week, although he could make a quick return to work, with Celtic considering making him Tony Mowbray's successor.(The Guardian) 
But West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola will remain in his post at least until the end of the season, despite a six-game losing streak that has left the Hammers only a point above the relegation zone. The Italian, who said he would consider his future in the wake of Saturday's loss to Stoke, has the backing of senior players.(The Times) 
Or, Zola will not return to the club after taking flight to Sardinia following Saturday's home loss.(The Independent) 
However, a friend of Zola's has spoken to him and learnt that he has no intention of walking out on the job and will be in charge for Sunday's trip to Everton.(Daily Mail) 
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas faces a race to be fit for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, first-leg against Barcelona. The former Barca trainee could be joined on the sidelines by Abou Diaby, while Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss the tie with a hamstring strain.(The Guardian) 
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic fears being banned for four of the club's remaining six Premier League matches after appearing to catch Bolton's Johan Elmander with an elbow during Saturday's 4-0 victory.(Daily Mirror) 
A group of Rangers fans have taken the first tentative steps towards a potential takeover of the club. The Rangers Supporters Trust has sent an exploratory document and members hope to buy the shares of majority shareholder and former chairman Sir David Murray.(Daily Mirror) 
Chris Hughton has confirmed he will remain as Newcastle manager next season and insists he is keen to keep both striker Andy Carroll and captain Steven Taylor at the club, despite the pair allegedly being involved in a training-ground row that left Taylor with a broken jaw.(Daily Mirror) 

AND FINALLY

Football fans will be given the right to buy their club under new proposals announced by the Labour government. Under the proposal, fan groups would get priority over other bidders. (The Times)
West Ham had a novel approach to combating Stoke midfielder Rory Delap's long throws on Saturday - deploying advertising hoardings within feet of the pitch. They even made an announcement over the public address system for a ball boy to replace a hoarding that had been knocked over. (The Sun)

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Wednesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Schalke 04's German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is being tracked by Manchester United according to the player's agent Thomas Kroth. (German newspaper Bild)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea look set to shake off competition from Inter Milan to seal a £40m-plus deal for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero. (Daily Mirror)
Or, Atletico Madrid have turned down a £44m offer for Argentinean Aguero and are holding out for the £50m they believe he is worth. (Daily Star) 
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, who is currently with Real Zaragoza, is a target for Aston Villa.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge and right-back Micah Richards are facing the axe as manager Mark Hughes looks to sharpen up his defence.(The Sun) 
Holland defender Gregory Van der Wiel has said he is committed to Ajax despite interest from Manchester City.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United, neighbours City, Arsenal and Chelsea are all interested in CSKA Moscow's £9m-rated playmaker Milos Krasic. (Daily Mail) 
West Ham's owners have insisted they do not have to sell £10m-rated Matthew Upson in January despite the club's financial problems. (Daily Star)
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is ready to make a £6m bid for Red Bull Salzburg striker Marc Janko. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin feels that manager Arsene Wenger will need to go on a spending spree to save Arsenal's season. (The Sun) 
Wenger looks set to renew his interest in Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh but the French side are adamant that the Morroco international will not be leaving in January. (Daily Star) 
Other players interesting Wenger include Andre-Pierre Gignac of Toulouse, AC Milan's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Mario Balotelli of Inter Milan and Sampdoria's Giampaolo Pazzini. (The Sun) 
Spartak Moscow's Brazilian striker Welliton could be involved in a swap deal with Tottenham forward Roman Pavlyuchenko. (Daily Mail) 
Hull want to cash in on Crystal Palace's money problems by launching a cut-price £1m move for former Newcastle and Charlton midfielder Darren Ambrose. (Daily Star) 
League Two side Notts County are targeting former England striker Francis Jeffers who is out of favour at Sheffield Wednesday. (Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Fears are growing that West Ham striker Carlton Cole may need an operation after a scan revealed serious knee ligament damage. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Derby's mascot Rammie the Ram has written a letter of apology to Reading's Brian Howard for claiming the midfielder was faking injury, when in fact he had fractured his jaw. (The Sun) 
Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez believes that former United team-mate Wayne Rooney is a better player than international colleague and Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi. (Daily Mirror)
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U21 Championship

England U21 3-3 Sweden U21 5-4 on penalties

England Under-21s set up a European Championship final against Germany with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Sweden despite losing a 3-0 half-time lead.

Martin Cranie's strike, a Nedum Onuoha shot and a Mattias Bjarsmyr own goal put England in control at the break. 
A revitalised Sweden forced extra-time after Ola Toivonen's free-kick and two Marcus Berg goals levelled the score. 
Frazier Campbell saw red, but England held on to set up a final with Germany, who beat Italy 1-0 in their semi-final. 
England had fallen at the semi-final stage of this 31-year-old tournament five times, including a 13-12 penalty defeat to the Netherlands two years ago. 
But they were able to put that long-running hoodoo to bed after Guillermo Molin's miss from the penalty spot sealed their win.

.

Italy U21 0-1 Germany U21

The Italians dominated the second semi-final in Helsingborg but Beck scored the all-important goal three minutes after half-time when he ran in from the right wing and unleashed a shot which swerved beyond the keeper's grasp. 
Manuel Neuer had been the main reason Italy were not ahead at half-time after making a number of crucial saves. 
The German goalkeeper beat out a shot from Sebastian Giovinco which was going high into the net before knocking a header on to his defender on the line who then cleared. 
Marco Motta hit the crossbar before well-placed defender Mesut Ozil cleared off the line from the near post as Italy dominated with forward Mario Balotelli influential, but the interval arrived goalless. 
The game was then turned on its head in the 48th minute when Beck shocked the Italians with his fantastic strike. 
Balotelli almost equalised minutes later when his powerful free-kick flashed wide and the same player had another effort pushed out by Neuer. 
Marco Andreolli put a header inches wide and Neuer produced an improvised save when he kicked Balotelli's powerful shot away with his right foot.
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