Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

The true cost of taking Carlos Tevez to Manchester City from rivals United may have cost the Eastlands club an astonishing £47m. (The Times) 
But a spokesman for Kia Joorabchian, who fronts the company that effectively owned Tevez before his switch to Eastlands, insists that figure is "not true". (Independent) 
Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley has rejected the club's first offer of a new contract.(Daily Mail) 
Mexico striker Guillermo Franco claims he has signed a one-year deal with West Ham, bringing to an end Gianfranco Zola's long search for a new forward.(Daily Mail) 
Chelsea intend to open new contract talks with Salomon Kalou to fend off an approach from former boss Jose Mourinho, the Inter Milan manager.(Daily Mail) 
Former Middlesbrough and Newcastle striker Mark Viduka is returning home to live in Australia, according to his agent.(The WorldGame.com.au) 
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson expects negotiations over a new contract for Arsenal and Everton target Brede Hangeland to speed up now the transfer window has closed.(Metro) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina fears Liverpool's title assault may already be over after just four games. (The Sun) 
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has taken a swipe at Manchester City by insisting their money is not guaranteed to give them success.(Sun) 
Emmanuel Adebayor claims he wanted to stay at Arsenal but was forced to leave the club and join Manchester City because of financial reasons. (Times) 
Scotland manager George Burley has demanded showdown talks with the Scottish FA after learning that it's bosses will discuss his possible sacking next week and are considering Gordon Strachan and Craig Levein as replacements. (Daily Record) 
Former Rangers and Liverpool manager Graeme Souness says he does not want the job of Scotland's national coach at this stage in his career. (Daily Mail)
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray fears that midfielder Scott Brown might have to undergo another operation on his injured ankle. (The Sun) 
Celtic midfielder Scott Brown may need to rest his injured ankle and will visit a specialist later this month. (Various)
Henry McLeish, who is leading a wide-ranging review of Scottish football, says the government must provide money to improve facilities. (Daily Mail)
Emmanuel Adebayor claims he will not forgive Arsenal fans for the way they have treated him for as long as he lives.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has earmarked Owen Hargreaves for a return to action in early November.(Times) 

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AND FINALLY

Dimitar Berbatov has revealed chats with his grandad while helping with the gardening back in Bulgaria persuaded him to quit Spurs for Manchester United. "My grandfather is a very wise man and a great man to talk to. When I am home in the summer I will go to his allotment and help him dig. The allotment has been the place for some great chats and it was there where we talked about me moving to a club where I could win major trophies and I asked him what he thought about Manchester United," he said.(The Sun)
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Monday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Striker Henri Camara, available on a free transfer after leaving Wigan Athletic, is lining up a transfer to Hull City. (Sky Sports) 
Blackburn are closing in on Nantes midfielder Aurelien Capoue with the 27-year-old midfielder set to seal a loan move. (L'Equipe)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City are set to turn their sights towards West Ham centre-half Matthew Upson after having two bids for Everton defender Joleon Lescott rejected. (The Guardian) 
Barcelona are preparing a variety of tactics in an attempt to capture Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, with a fund of at least £25m and a number of fringe players set to be offered. (The Times) 
Mark Viduka's move to Portsmouth is in doubt, with the threat of administration still hovering over the Premier League club. The striker currently has no club after being released by Newcastle.(Various) 
Aston Villa's PFA Young Player of the Year Ashley Young is unlikely to be released, says Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who has been linked to the England winger. (Press Association) 
Liverpool are considering a move for Stoke's 21-year-old centre-half Ryan Shawcross (on photo).(Daily Mail) 
Derby County are on the verge of signing 19-year-old Tottenham midfielder Jake Livermore on loan. (Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

David Beckham has received a heap of praise from Los Angeles Galaxy team-mate Landon Donovan after the 2-1 win at New England in Major League Soccer. The American striker, who recently questioned Beckham's commitment following the England midfielder's loan spell at AC Milan, said: "David's been great since he's been back, in every way."(The Sun)
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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham striker Darren Bent has seemingly launched a scathing attack on his chairman Daniel Levy with the help of social network site Twitter. (Various)
It appears the 25-year-old has become a little frustrated with his desired move to Sunderland currently stuttering. 
"This is the longest day in the world because I can't wait to get started," a tweet purportedly posted by Bent is reported to have read. 
"Why can't anything be simple. It's so frustrating hanging round."(The Times) 
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is holding out for £30m following Xabi Alonso's transfer request, with Real Madrid having already offered £24m.(The Guardian) 
Manchester United will launch a £35m bid for Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery in two weeks.(The Sun) 
Mark Hughes is set to offer £22m for Joleon Lescott, with Everton so far unwilling to release their defender to Manchester City. (Daily Express) 
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is targeting Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi, with the Italian star valued at around £30m.(The Independent) 
It looks like a busy time for the Gunners with St Etienne's defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi being lined up for a move, while midfield legend Patrick Vieira is set to return and be his mentor.(Daily Mail) 
Liverpool are keen on signing Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani.(The Independent) 
Having signed Southampton striker Stern John, Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of Derby defender Claude Davis. (Daily Star)
Portsmouth are close to signing Australian striker Mark Viduka on a one-year deal after they failed to get Croatia's Nikola Kalinic.(Daily Mail) 
Ipswich boss Roy Keane may splash out £1m for Watford's Hungarian forward Tamas Priskin. (Daily Mail)
QPR have signed Italian striker Alessandro Pellicori on a three-year deal after a successful trial. (Sky Sports) 
West Brom have offered £1.5m for Real Betis winger David Odonkor. (The Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Everton skipper Phil Neville has criticised Manchester City's chase of defender Joleon Lescott, with Mark Hughes about to table a third offer. 
"There are ways and means of doing things, and Everton do it the right way," Neville says.(Liverpool Echo) 
Ipswich boss Roy Keane has taken his players for a two-day pre-season mission on an army boot camp in Colchester.
"It was hard work and the players are tired but I think they enjoyed it and their attitude was spot on," Keane says. (Daily Telegraph) 

AND FINALLY

Man City boss Mark Hughes is refusing to get embroiled in any mind games with Sir Alex Ferguson. The United manager was recently unhappy with the Carlos Tevez poster erected in the city centre with the message: 'Welcome to Manchester'. 
"It was just a bit of fun. I didn't get too het up but Sir Alex did," Hughes says.(The Guardian)
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Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal are poised to hijack Manchester United's £25m bid to sign 21-year-old striker Karim Benzema from Lyon.(News of the World) 
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will intensify negotiations to for £45m Atletico Madrid playmaker Sergio Aguero and complete the £14m signing of Wigan striker Luis Antonio Valencia. (Sunday Mail) 
Manchester City have completed a £25m swoop for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, 28, and they are expected to announce that they have also signed Carlos Tevez. (News of the World) 
Chelsea will make a new £50m offer for AC Milan's Brazilian striker Pato after their initial £45m bid for the 19-year-old was rejected. 
Meanwhile, Blues striker Didier Drogba, midfielder Michael Essien and defender Ashley Cole are to be offered new £125,000-a-week deals, but Joe Cole and Jose Bosingwa could be on their way out of Stamford Bridge. (News of the World) 
Chelsea are also set to test Bayern Munich's resolve with a £50m bid for French winger Franck Ribery.(Sunday Express )
Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is agonising over a switch across Stanley Park to join Everton. (News of the World) 
Xabi Alonso's future at Anfield depends on Real Madrid's bid to sign David Villa from Valencia. If Real fail to purchase the striker, they will meet Liverpool's £25m asking price for Alonso. (News of the World)
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has urged manager Rafael Benitez to try and sign one of his Spanish international team-mates David Villa, David Silva or Juan Mata, who all play for Valencia. (News of the World) 
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley expects to receive two bids for the club this week which could determine Alan Shearer's long-term future at St James' Park.(Sunday Mirror) 
Aston Villa are ready to make a £5m swoop for German international Tim Borowski, 29, who plays in midfield for Bayern Munich.(News of the World) 
Stoke are ready to smash their transfer record and spend £6m on Newcastle's Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins. But they are likely to face competition from Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham.(News of the World) 
West Ham want to bring Anton Ferdinand back to Upton Park from Sunderland in a cut-price deal. New Black Cats boss Steve Bruce does not want the 24-year-old, who moved to Wearside last summer, and Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola will make a £2m bid.(News of the World) 
Meanwhile, Bruce is ready to make a £5m bid for Rangers 24-year-old midfielder Steven Davis.(News of the World) 
Southampton could this week be forced to sell former England Under-21 midfielder Andrew Surman just to meet the club's wage bill. (The Sun)
QPR are expected to head a queue of clubs willing to pay a cut-price £400,000 for the 22-year-old who has made 133 appearances for the Saints.(Sunday Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Newcastle face a £750,000 wage bill for strikers Michael Owen and Mark Viduka, even though the pair may not play for the club again.
Both players' deals expire on Tuesday, but they have a clause in their contracts that means they will be paid for another month if they do not sign for clubs in July.(News of the World) 

AND FINALLY

Brazil and Real Madrid playmaker Kaka has delivered a stinging blow to Manchester City by revealing that they were not a big enough club to tempt him to the Premier League. (News of the World)
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