Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Portsmouth are ready to make a move for Tottenham forward Giovani dos Santos.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett's talks with a Saudi firm to sell part, or all, of his stake in the club are "on hold" despite his visit to the Middle East last week, an official from the FC investment vehicle has claimed. (Daily Telegraph) 
Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has been ruled out for three weeks after tweaking medial ligaments in his knee during a challenge by Birmingham defender Liam Ridgwell on Saturday. (Daily Star) 
The Swedish Football Association want Notts County director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson to become the new manager of their national team. (Daily Mirror)
Referee Mike Jones is set to be withdrawn from next weekend's Premier League fixture list after allowing Sunderland striker Darren Bent's winner against Liverpool to stand when it deflected in off a beach ball thrown on to the pitch by a supporter.(The Sun) 
Stoke defender Robert Huth looks certain to be charged by the Football Association and may face a three-match ban after appearing to aim a punch at West Ham defender Matthew Upson on Saturday.(The Sun) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he turned down a move to Real Madrid last summer because he wants to win the Champions League with the Gunners.(The Sun) 
Fifa president Sepp Blatter will reiterate that England is the spiritual home of football and deserves to host the 2018 World Cup finals when he takes on a role with the world's oldest club on Monday. Blatter will officially accept the honorary presidency of the Sheffield FC Foundation.(The Times) 
Mike Ashley has spoken publicly for the first time about retaining control of Newcastle United in the event of the club's long-running takeover saga failing to reach fruition.(The Times) 
Ashley has told local businessman Barry Moat to offer £80 within a seven-day deadline if he wants to buy the Championship club. (Daily Star) 

AND FINALLY

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo is set to become football's first billionaire, earning £16,000 per minute. The former Manchester United star is being offered £1.5m a game by foreign tycoons to show off his skills in a series of friendlies. (Daily Star) 
Cheeky Manchester United fans plan a rendition of the pop classic 99 Red Balloons when they arrive at Anfield for Sunday's Premier League match against Liverpool. (The Sun) 
The inflatable off of which Bent's strike veered into the net was official Liverpool merchandise, part of a beach set recently reduced to £10 in the club shop. (Various)
David Beckham's healthy food range has been kicked into touch by shoppers. Just £633 worth of microwave dishes - picturing the LA Galaxy midfielder and promising low fat pasta, noodles, omelettes and fish sticks - were sold last month. (Daily Star)
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Stoke City - Sunderland

After three rounds in Premier, Stoke already showed they’re capable to secure their status in Premier. Opening win at home (3-0) against new-comers Burnley got the real weight after Burnley defeated Man.Utd. and Everton. Then heavy 0-4 defeat at Enfield (that surely didn’t discourage them) and first point on the road against Birmingham (0-0). So, key of the success is the same like in previous season, winnings at home and grabbing as much points away as it is possible. Last season, only Everton, Chelsea, Man.Utd. and West Ham took all three points from Britannia Stadium (Stoke collected 35 of their 45 points at home). Club’s management is very active in the finish of transfer window. Beside earlier signed Dean Whitehead (ex Sunderland midfielder), German international Robert Huth has completed his transfer to Stoke from Middlesbrough, with Tuncay expected to join him once personal terms are agreed. Also, Sunderland defender Danny Collins is in talks over a potential move to the Potters. It seems the club is a little bit stronger than in previous season and we should expect at least the results at same level. Defender Ryan Shawcross will have a late fitness test, while James Beattie should be fit to play despite limping off against Birmingham with a knee injury. Boss Tony Pulis rested his keys in Cup against Leyton and all will be ready for the game.

The Black Cats have made their best start to a Premier League campaign. Two wins from three games give a faith the club can finish in top half of the table. It is the result of big investments in new players in past two years and the current squad under the lead of Steve Bruce seems very competitive, but surely will need some time to reach their limits. After opening win on the road against Bolton (1-0), Sunderland noticed a defeat at Stamford Bridge (1-3), but team didn’t disappoint with performance. In the last round team made, public judgment is, very lucky win (2-1) against Blackburn at home. During the mid-week, Bruce gave a chance to fringe players vs. Norwich, who used it on the right way and with 4-1 win on the road just additionally raised the confidence in the club. Fit-again goalie Craig Gordon could make his first league appearance since April, with first solution Marton Fulop nursing a heel injury. Mentioned defender Danny Collins, a transfer target for Stoke, is unlikely to be involved in this encounter. As Stoke, Sunderland usually put the better displays at their Stadium of Light than on the road. Last season noticed just three away wins from 19 games and I simply don’t believe they can take three points at Britannia, where btw. they have lost their last two visits.

Considering the players’ individual qualities, Sunderland have a clear advantage. But, Stoke have a home crowd behind, they traditionally notice good results there and visitors are still far from using their full potential. I think hosts will win, but just in case cover a draw with more than decent odd (about 1.74). So, dnb on  home side.

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Thursday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, linked with a return to the Premier League, is being tipped to leave Real Madrid and join European giants Bayern Munich (German media) 
Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth is set to join Stoke for £6m. (Sky Sports news)
Inter Milan have agreed to sign Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder in a deal worth about 16m Euros. Sneijder had been linked with Manchester United and Aston Villa. (Spanish media) 
Tottenham's have had their loan offer for Le Havre midfielder Kevin Anin rejected by the French club. (L'Equipe)
Everton have been knocked back in their efforts to replace Joleon Lescott with Benfica's Brazilian central defender Luisao. (Portuguese media) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Spartak Moscow have made a £10m offer to re-sign Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.(The Mirror) 
Ipswich manager Roy Keane is to raid his former club for four players with Carlos Edwards, Grant Leadbitter, Daryl Murphy and Nyron Nosworthy set to leave Sunderland.(The Mirror) 
Striker Andriy Shevchenko finally looks set to leave Chelsea after he was left out of their Champions League squad.(The Mirror) 
Chelsea are set to re-ignite their interest in Feyenoord forward Jonathan de Guzman.(The Mirror) 
Aston Villa are closing in on a double swoop for Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock and Manchester City centre-back Richard Dunne.(The Mirror) 
Middlesbrough are set to sign striker Danny Webber who was released by Sheffield United in the summer.(The Mirror) 
Bolton have launched a bid to re-sign midfielder Kevin Nolan from Newcastle United.(The Mirror) 
Sunderland are set to launch a £6m bid for Hull defender Michael Turner. (Daily Mail) 
Brazilian side Internacional have rejected a £14m bid from Tottenham for midfielder Sandro.(The Independent) 
Celtic captain Steve McManus has rejected the opportunity to join Ipswich Town on loan. (The Guardian) 
Notts County director of football Sven Goran Eriksson has failed in his bid to tempt Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved out of retirement.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester United are set to sign Empoli's Italian duo Manuel Pucciarelli and Alberto Masacci. (Daily Telegraph) 
Wigan are ready to make a £1m move for Honduras forward Carlos Costly, who currently plays for Polish side GKS Belchatow. (Daily Telegraph)
Birmingham are set to sign Middlesbrough forward Tuncay for £5m. (Daily Mail) 
Stoke are lining up a £5m bid for young Uruguay midfielder Diego Arismendi.(The Mirror) 
The Potters have also made a renewed offer for Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley. (The Times) 
Bolton have had a £6.5m offer for midfielder Achille Emana turned down by Real Betis. (The Times)
Fulham are poised to sign Salzburg striker Marc Janko on a season-long loan. (The Mirror) 
Hull are interested in signing Reading defender Liam Rosenior.(The Mirror) 
Reading manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping Watford striker Tommy Smith will snub interest from Portsmouth and instead join the Royals.(The Sun) 
Greek champions Olympiakos are ready to take Tottenham forward Giovani dos Santos on loan. (Daily Star)
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle believes David Beckham should pursue a move to Chelsea to keep alive his dream of playing at next year's World Cup. (Daily Star) 

OTHER GOSSIP

New Portsmouth owner Sulaiman Al Fahim has vowed to turn the club into a major Premier League force after finally taking control of the south coast outfit.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Furious Celtic players have called for Eduardo to be banned after the Arsenal striker appeared to dive to win a penalty during the Gunners' 3-1 Champions League victory on Wednesday.(Daily Mail)
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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants Patrick Viera to return to the Gunners - four years after the 33-year-old Inter Milan midfielder left for Juventus. And Wenger is willing to match Tottenham's offer, which is believed to be a one-year deal with big bonuses.(Various) 
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is keen to add more English players to his squad and is preparing a £12m bid for Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole (on photo) and will offer Hull £5.5m for defender Michael Turner.(Daily Mail) 
However, any deal for Cattermole and Turner is dependent on the sale of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid but the clubs are close to a £30m deal for the 27-year-old.(Daily Mail) 
Liverpool have given Real 48 hours to complete Alonso's signing with the Spanish giants set to make an improved bid of between £28m and £30m.(The Times) 
Aston Villa are monitoring forward Robbie Keane's situation at Tottenham after the arrival of fellow striker Peter Crouch. (Daily Mail) 
West Ham and England defender Matthew Upson is also a target for Villa and they are poised to make a £12m bid for the 28-year-old. (Daily Mirror) 
Villa manager Martin O'Neill wants to pair Upson with Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin and is ready to offer £4.5m for the 30-year-old. (Daily Mirror)
Tottenham striker Darren Bent is attracting interest from Aston Villa, but Sunderland remain favourites to sign the 25-year-old for about £15m. (The Independent) 
Inter Milan could revive their interest in Chelsea midfielder Deco, with Barcelona winger Alexander Hleb - who was due to arrive at the San Siro on loan - set to sign for his former club Stuttgart. (Daily Mail) 
Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth could be set for a return to the Premier League with Fulham prepared to pay £2m for the 24-year-old. (Daily Mirror) 
Newcastle have accepted a £9m bid from Wolfsburg for 24-year-old striker Obafemi Martins. (The Times) 
Everton are interested in signing 18-year-old Stockport defender Josh Thompson. (The Sun) 
Portsmouth had hoped to sign Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic but the 21-year-old's club Hadjuk Split are not happy with the £5.5m fee being spread over three years.(Various) 
Celtic are interested in signing Sheffield United defender Matthew Kilgallon for £2m. (Daily Mirror) 
Sheffield United want goalkeeper Nicky Weaver to replace Paddy Kenny, who faces a two-year ban after failing a drugs test. (The Sun) 
QPR, Leicester and Crystal Palace are all vying to sign 24-year-old striker Leroy Lita who is available on a free transfer after leaving Reading. (Daily Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Kevin Keegan could be in line for yet another return to Newcastle as manager - if a Dubai tycoon succeeds with a £100m takeover of the club.(The Sun) 
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he failed to get the best out of Dimitar Berbatov last season and has warned their Premier League rivals that there is more to come from the Bulgarian striker. (Daily Express) 
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard says winning the Premier League title is more important than the Champions League for the west London club. (Daily Star) 
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill believe the Midlands club need to sign five new players before the start of the season. (Daily Star) 
Chelsea have moved to secure midfielder Joe Cole and defender Ashley Cole on long-term contracts, while strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are also set to sign new deals. (Daily Mirror)

AND FINALLY

Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy has revealed the club have turned to the Pilates fitness system in their preparations for the new season.(The Sun)
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