Wednesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini would rather remain at AC Milan than return to England amid reports the Italian club will offer the France international a new deal. (PA)
Juventus director Roberto Bettega insists goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is not for sale and is confident the Italy international will still be be playing for the Serie A giants next season. (PA) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Inter Milan are set to launch a bid for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. (imscouting.com) 
Arjen Robben has called for Chelsea and Real Madrid target Franck Ribery to stay at Bayern Munich. (imscouting.com) 
Chelsea are closing in on Real Madrid's £10m-rated Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. (The Sun) 
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists he has no interest in signing Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, who is likely to be available on a free transfer at the end of the season. (The Guardian) 
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has rejected a a bid by Spartak Moscow to sign winger Albert Riera on loan. (Daily Mail) 
Fulham are favourites to snap up Wigan defender Paul Scharner when he quits at the end of his contract in the summer.(Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is lining up a £1m bid for Notts County goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.(Daily Mirror) 
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been put up for sale by the Serie A giants, who hope to lure Manchester City and Bayern Munich into an auction to raise £30m for the Italy international.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

England and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham has lost his position as the best paid footballer in the world to Lionel Messi, with the Barcelona forward's annual pay rising to £29.6m.(Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal captain William Gallas is ready to sign a new contract following showdown talks between the club and his agent Pierre Frelot.(Daily Mirror) 
Gunners midfielder Andrey Arshavin has claimed the north Londoners will not win the title because they do not have enough "real stars". (Various) 
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed striker Robin van Persie is looking "very sharp" and could be back playing before the end of the season. (The Independent) 
West Ham are set to launch their bid to rent the Olympic Stadium after the Games in 2012. (The Independent) 
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident he will still be in he job next season, even if he wins nothing this term.(Various) 
Everton manager David Moyes believes Manchester City's megabucks stars have no genuine feeling for their club. (Daily Star) 
Peterborough boss Jim Gannon is poised to sign a new four-year contract. (Daily Star) 
England coach Fabio Capello has been given a boost after Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Blues defender Ashley Cole will be able to resume running in training in a fortnight as he steps up his rehabilitation from a fractured ankle.(The Guardian) 
Outgoing Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney has accused the Football Association of failing to face up to its structural problems in the wake of the shock departure of its chief executive, Ian Watmore.(The Guardian) 
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has spoken out against Wembley Stadium being used for sports other than football following the disunity at the FA that led to Watmore's resignation.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester United defender Gary Neville will be handed a one-year contract extension by the club this summer.(Daily Mirror) 

AND FINALLY

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has criticised Jamie O'Hara for saying he hopes Spurs lose their FA Cup quarter-final replay against Fulham to give the on-loan Portsmouth midfielder the chance of playing in the FA Cup final at Wembley.(Daily Mail)

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Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Steven Gerrard is unhappy with Liverpool's latest plight and is keen on a move to Real Madrid or AC Milan if things don't improve quickly. A source close to the 29-year-old midfielder said: "Stevie knows time is running out if he wants to win more honours."(Daily Star)
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he's not going anywhere, and he is also keen on swapping winger Ryan Babel for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones. Babel, 23, has struggled to make the first XI following his £11.5m move from Ajax in 2007.(The Sun) 
Sunderland winger Kieran Richardson has been offered for sale to Tottenham, Birmingham and Fulham. The 25-year-old moved to the Stadium of Light from Manchester United for £6m three years ago. (The Times) 
Chelsea and Manchester City are keen on securing a deal for Palermo's 20-year-old centre-back Simon Kjaer. The Danish star is reported to have an £11m release clause, but that hasn't stemmed the growing interest in the Serie A star from the two Premier League sides. (Daily Star) 
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has branded suggestions that £8m may be enough to take Aiden McGeady from Celtic to the Premier League as "ridiculous". (The Guardian) 
CSKA Moscow winger Milos Krasic has rejected an approach from Roberto Mancini's Manchester City, saying he only wants to join Manchester United or Arsenal. (Daily Mail) 
Spanish side Real Zaragoza have joined the chase for Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos. Bayern Munich, Cagliari and Atletico Madrid are also interested in the 23-year-old who wants to stay in the Premier League. (Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Italian side Juventus are keeping an eye on events at Anfield amid speculation that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may soon be relieved of his duties. Former Italy striker Roberto Bettega, who has just moved into the Juve boardroom, is a close friend and admirer of Benitez. (Daily Mail) 
Despite everybody suggesting it's a matter of when, and not if, Benitez will leave Anfield, the Spaniard has vowed to remain as Liverpool boss until 2014. "Inside, I am as strong as ever," he said. (The Sun) 
Russia coach and former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has revealed that he would be keen to manage in England again, adding weight to the rumour that he will succeed Benitez at Liverpool. (Daily Mail) 
Meanwhile, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has played down rumours linking him with the Liverpool manager's job. (Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth keeper David James is believed to be concerned that the collapse of his proposed move to Stoke could affect his prospects of being selected for England's squad for this summer's World Cup as Portsmouth may decide not to play him in order to avoid triggering a clause in his contract. (The Guardian) 
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told Michael Owen that he will get more games over the coming months after starting the striker only once since his Champions League hat-trick at Wolfsburg almost six weeks ago. (The Guardian) 
At the age of 39 years and 79 days Edwin van der Sar will become Manchester United's oldest post-war player if he plays against Burnley. The Dutch keeper has been on compassionate leave since the end of December. (The Guardian) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Sol Campbell could play his way back into the England squad for the World Cup in South Africa this summer. (Daily Mail) 
Alex McLeish is ready to commit his long-term future to Birmingham City by agreeing a new contract at St Andrew's. (Daily Mail) 
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson believes that the cash-strapped SPL has become little more than a feeder league for England's lower divisions and he can only envisage that state of affairs worsening in the immediate future. (Daily Telegraph) 
Championship side Cardiff have begun talks over a new contract with highly-rated Adam Matthews as Manchester United and Arsenal keep an eye on proceedings over the 17-year-old left-back. (Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY

England and LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, on loan with AC Milan, plans to hang his boots up after the World Cup and return to Britain. A friend of the 34-year-old, says: "His mind is made up. He wants to walk away to be a dad." (The Sun)

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