Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will launch a £9m move for West Ham striker Carlton Cole if Nicklas Bendtner fails a fitness test on Friday. "If Bendtner is out for another two months we will need to buy someone, absolutely," admitted Wenger.(The Sun) 
However, Arsenal are set to lose highly-rated Spanish midfielder Fran Merida, who has snubbed a new deal at the Emirates and is set to join Atletico Madrid. (Daily Star) 
The Gunners are battling it out with Manchester United for Cardiff City's 17-year-old defender Adam Matthews, who is seen as one of the best prospects outside the Premier League.(The Sun) 
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has played down suggestions he will leave the club for Real Madrid, insisting he has "a marvellous understanding" with manager Sir Alex Ferguson. (The Sun) 
Bolton are prepared to cash in on £15m-rated defender Gary Cahill in order to provide prospective new manager Owen Coyle with substantial funds during the transfer window.(Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham have renewed their interest in Miguel Veloso after seeing the Sporting midfielder score in the Portuguese Cup win over Braga.(The Times) 
Spurs have joined Chelsea and Manchester City on the trail of Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who is valued at £22m by his club. (Daily Mirror) 
Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who plays for Estudiantes, has been linked with a shock £7m move to Manchester City.(Daily Mail) 
Andrea Dossena's agent claims a deal to take the Liverpool defender to Napoli is all but done. "I believe the player will arrive in Napoli tomorrow," Roberto La Florio told Tuttomercatoweb. (Press Association)
Liverpool have turned down Birmingham's £9m bid for winger Ryan Babel, as the price falls short of their £12m valuation.(Daily Mirror) 
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is ready to swoop for Sporting Gijon left-back Roberto Canella - and open the door for Maynor Figueroa to be sold.(Daily Mirror) 
Midfielder Kevin Kilbane and striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink are heading out of Hull as the Premier League strugglers attempt to cut costs.(Daily Star) 
Blackburn are prepared to listen to offers for striker Benni McCarthy who has told Rovers manager Sam Allardyce he would like to leave Ewood Park.(The Sun) 
Wolves are on the trail of £2m-rated Derby winger Kris Commons.(The Sun) 
Derby boss Nigel Clough wants Bolton's out of favour right back Nicky Hunt on loan. (Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Burnley have put manager Owen Coyle on gardening leave until Bolton agree to pay them £3m in compensation to take him to the Reebok. The Clarets released a statement yesterday saying Coyle had requested to leave Turf Moor to join the Trotters.(The Sun) 
Hibernian's John Hughes is an early candidate to replace Burnley manager Owen Coyle, who is poised to take over at Bolton. (The Guardian) 
Portsmouth will have to sell some of their stars to avoid becoming the first club in Premier League history to go into administration, with defender Younes Kaboul likely to be the first to leave in a £5m switch to French side Lyon.(Daily Mirror) 
West Ham and Millwall face the threat of ground closures when the two clubs answer Football Association charges on Wednesday brought after violence marred a Carling Cup clash between the sides last August.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester City are set to hand goalkeeper Joe Hart a double-your-money pay rise, even though they intend to send him out on loan again next season. The England man is currently on a season-long loan at Birmingham. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is putting in up to five hours extra training a day in order to boost his fitness so he can last the season. "One of the reasons I'm working really hard is because I know in this situation Liverpool need every player fit," said Torres.(The Sun)

www.bbc.co.uk

Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid are ready to capitalise on the growing rift between Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson and Nemanja Vidic by bidding for the defender. Vidic was a late withdrawal for Sunday's FA Cup match against Leeds, which United lost 1-0.(The Times) 
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to bring Atletico Madrid's Argentine winger Maxi Rodriguez to Anfield this January, initially on a short-term loan deal.(Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham will attempt to beat the Reds to Rodriguez's signature though by offering midfielder David Bentley on loan as part of the deal.(Daily Mail) 
Liverpool are also looking to offload player's during the transfer window with Italian left-back Andrea Dossena set to sign for Napoli in a £5m switch.(Goal.com) 
Birmingham will test Liverpool's desire to hold on to Ryan Babel by bidding £8m for the Dutch winger in January.(Independent) 
Birmingham are also set to tie up a £2.5m deal for Sporting Gijon's Spanish midfielder Michel but they have pulled out of a proposed move for Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi.(Daily Mirror) 
Leeds have put a £2m price tag on FA Cup hero Jermaine Beckford after he scored the winner in the third round tie at Manchester United. Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest all keen on the striker, who is out of contract in the summer.(Daily Mirror)
Newcastle though will win the race for Beckford's signature by paying Leeds £3m - double the asking price before his goal at Old Trafford.(The Guardian) 
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Italian striker Giampaolo Pazzini for £22m but Sampdoria will only let him leave if the 25-year-old is loaned back to them for the rest of the season.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City are in advanced discussions with Inter Milan to bring French midfielder Patrick Vieira back to the Premier League. Vieira left Arsenal for Juventus in 2005.(The Times) 
West Ham and Bolton are both chasing Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes, who is out of favour at Benfica and desperate for first-team football to boost his hopes of making his country's 2010 World Cup squad.(Daily Mirror) 
Stoke City have slapped a staggering £20m price tag on Ryan Shawcross in a bid to scare off the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Spurs, who are all keen on the defender.(Daily Express) 
Defender Matthew Upson's exit from West Ham appears to be gathering pace after Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola enquired about Stoke centre-back Robert Huth.(The Sun) 
Celtic are set to boost their Scottish Premier League title bid with a loan move for Stoke striker Dave Kitson.(Scottish Sun) 
Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is setting up a move for his old Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink - in a loan switch from Hull City.(Daily Mirror) 
However, the Bhoys could be set to lose Australian striker Scott McDonald, who is wanted by Wigan.(Daily Mirror) 
The Latics are also poised to bid £3m for Leicester striker Matty Fryatt.(The Sun) 
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has turned his back on a loan move to the Championship in favour of joining another Premier League club on a short term deal to prove to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger he can hack it at the top level.(Daily Mirror) 
Fulham hope to tie up a loan deal for Roma striker Stefano Okaka after the player's agent revealed his client was keen on the move.(The Sun) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to axe seven players for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final with bitter rivals Manchester City following his side's humiliating defeat by Leeds in the third round of the FA Cup. Striker Dimitar Berbatov and right-back Gary Neville head the list of those for the chop.(The Sun) 
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is set to hand a home debut to rookie defender Dedryck Boyata in the Carling Cup semi-final with United. City are without regular defenders Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott and Nedum Onuoha due to injury.(Daily Mirror) 
Former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has been offered a quick return to management - with the Turkish national team.(Daily Mirror) 
The Professional Football Association is on standby to hold emergency talks at Fratton Park today if Portsmouth's players are not paid their December wages by the club.(Daily Star) 
Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda has held clear-the-air talks with manager Carlo Ancelotti and team-mate Frank Lampard after appearing to suggest he was being overlooked by the former and that the latter was given preferential treatment in a recent interview.(The Times) 
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer says he has no interest in taking the vacant manager's job at Sheffield Wednesday.(Daily Mirror) 
However, the Owls may well make a shock move for Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock, who used to manage Wednesday's bitter rivals Sheffield United.(Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY

An unlikely figure has offered to help Michael Owen in the Manchester United striker's bid to claim a place in Fabio Capello's 2010 World Cup squad. Former England cricket captain and United fan Geoff Boycott has written to Owen suggesting he try the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui after the Test Match Special commentator utilised it during his recovery from cancer. (The Sun) 
Darts legend Phil Taylor, who claimed a record 15th world title on Sunday by winning the PDC world final, says he can help England win the World Cup this summer by delivering a rousing team talk to the players.(The Sun)

www.bbc.co.uk

Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

David Bentley could be off to Atletico Madrid in a loan deal, with the 25-year-old winger desperate for a move away from Tottenham.(Daily Mirror) 
Or Bentley will stay closer to home after Sunderland manager Steve Bruce declared his interest in securing the services of the former England man.(The Sun)
Jermaine Beckford could have played his last game for Leeds with Newcastle United top of the list to sign the striker who scored the winner at Old Trafford on Sunday to dump Manchester United out of the FA Cup. A fee of £2.5m is being discussed for the 26-year-old.(Daily Star) 
Everton boss David Moyes wants to bring Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne, who is currently on loan at Portsmouth, to Goodison Park, with Blackburn, Liverpool and Aston Villa waiting in the wings.(Daily Mail) 
American star Freddy Adu, who once had a trial at Manchester United, is considering a move to Hull City after the Portuguese side Belenenses told the 20-year-old he can look for other employers.(Daily Mirror) 
Stoke City boss Tony Pullis wants to beat Liverpool in the race to sign Real Madrid and Holland striker Ruud van Nistelrooy by using a regular starting spot as bait in the build-up to the World Cup.(The Sun) 
Manchester City have joined the list of clubs who want to sign Crystal Palace striker Victor Moses. The 19-year-old is tipped to leave the cash-strapped Championship club with West Bromwich, Everton, Liverpool and Birmingham all keen on a transfer.(Daily Mail) 
Stoke City could make a shock loan move for Barcelona's 18-year-old midfielder Oriel Romeu.(Daily Mirror) 
Birmingham are closing in on a £3.5m move for Aston Villa's 23-year-old midfielder Craig Gardner.(Daily Mirror) 

.

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Newcastle United boss Alan Shearer wants to become Sheffield Wednesday's new manager following the sacking of Brian Laws last month. The England legend is believed to want Gary Speed as his number two.(The Sun) 

.

AND FINALLY

How well do parents know their kids? According to Pep Guardiola's dad, the Barcelona coach may leave at the end of the season. Despite the 38-year-old winning six trophies in his first year at Camp Nou, Guardiola senior said: "I don't know if he will stay or take a break from football and relax. The dad is always the last to know about these things."(The Independent)

www.bbc.co.uk

Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Fernando Torres will become the most expensive player in the world if he leaves Liverpool in the summer. Chelsea and Manchester City have made the Spanish striker their number one target, but would have to splash out £140m in transfer fees and wages. (News of the World) 
Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho is trying to pull off a shock £40m move for Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard. The former Chelsea boss is hoping Gerrard may want a move if the Reds fail to qualify for next season's Champions League. (Sunday Express) 
Manchester United are weighing up a £20m move for Porto's Brazilian striker Hulk. The 23-year-old, whose real name is Givanildo Viera de Souza, is also highly rated by Arsenal. He is called Hulk because he looks like the 1970s Incredible Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno (Kids, ask your dad). (News of the World) 
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is lining up a £4m bid for Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey as a replacement for Didier Drogba, who will be absent for four weeks at the Africa Cup of Nations.(The Mail on Sunday) 
However, the Blues have told Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery that they will not break their pay structure to sign him. Chelsea are prepared to pay a £45m transfer fee, but will cap his wages at only £150,000-a-week. (The People)
Arsenal target Marouane Chamakh, 25, has said the Gunners are "pressurising" him to join them - but he will ignore them to stay with Bordeaux. The Morocco striker says five other Premier League clubs have approached him - Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton and Sunderland. (The People) 
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is keen to renew his relationship with former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira. Mancini coached the now 33-year-old to two Serie A titles after signing him for Inter Milan in 2006. (The Mail on Sunday) 
Mancini is also aiming to bring in £6m-rated defender Cristian Ansaldi, 23, from Russian side Ruban Kazan.(News of the World) 
A Manchester City insider has also urged Mancini to sign Stoke centre-back Ryan Shawcross, 22. (Sunday Mirror) 
Aston Villa and Manchester City are ready to lock horns over West Brom's highly-rated young defender Paul Downing, 18, this month.(Sunday Mirror) 
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is now unlikely to move for Holland striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 33, in the transfer window, with the striker's recent injury record counting against him. (News of the World) 
Benitez is instead keen to bring Emile Heskey back to Anfield, although Aston Villa's price tag of at least £5m could be beyond what Liverpool can afford.(The Mail on Sunday) 
Portsmouth will listen to offers for all of their players as the club lurches deeper into crisis. And goalkeeper David James will be the first to go, reuniting with former boss Harry Redknapp, for a nominal fee, at Tottenham. (News of the World) 
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is keen to sign Eidur Gudjohnsen. The 31-year-old Iceland international, who is currently at Monaco, played for Allardyce at Bolton 10 years ago.(News of the World) 
Hull City are plotting an ambitious £1.5m swoop for American striker Freddy Adu. The 20-year-old was sent out on loan by Benfica to fellow Portuguese club Belenenses but he has been axed him from their squad. (News of the World) 
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez intends to offer Leicester £3m for Matty Fryatt. Martinez knows the striker, 23, from their time together at Walsall a few years ago. (News of the World) 
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is prepared to wait until the summer to sign Middlesbrough's England Under-21 winger Adam Johnson. (Sunday Mirror) 
Crystal Palace remain hopeful that their £3m-rated winger Victor Moses will be sold in the transfer window to stop the club going bust. Barcelona, Wigan and Tottenham have been tracking the England Under-19 international. (Sunday Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is being lined up to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager after this year's World Cup in South Africa. (The People) 
Burnley boss Owen Coyle was spotted in the tunnel 45 minutes after the Clarets' 2-1 FA Cup third round win at MK Dons, fuelling speculation that he is set to take over succeed Gary Megson as Bolton manager. Coyle had missed the post-match press conference with his club saying he had to leave early to catch a flight to Scotland.(The Mail on Sunday) 
Bolton will make a formal approach for Coyle on Sunday but Burnley will demand £4m compensation. (News of the World) 
The Clarets meanwhile, are poised to report Bolton to the Premier League for tapping up Coyle. (Sunday Mirror) 
Alan Curbishley will hold talks with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside about taking over as manager at the Reebok Stadium. The 52-year-old has been out of work since leaving West Ham in 2008. (Sunday Express)
Former Birmingham owners David Sullivan and David Gold are on the brink of gaining control at West Ham after the club's Icelandic owners agreed to sell a 50% stake in the Premier League side. The £50m deal is still subject to formal ratification. (Sunday Mirror) 
The 25 Premier League footballers who are set to play in the Africa Cup of Nations later this month will be given 24-hour protection by armed guards to protect them from gun gangs in Angola. (Sunday Express) 
Manchester United owners, the Glazer family, have asked banks to help them raise £600m in a bid to cut the massive debts they owe financial institutions. (The Mail on Sunday) 
Carlo Ancelotti has pleaded with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to stick with him as coach for the long haul and give him chance to build a dynasty to match Sir Alex Ferguson's at Manchester United. (Sunday Express) 
Liverpool are lining up Ian Rush for a shock return to the club as a striker coach. Rush has held talks over the position he previously held under Gerard Houllier. (News of the World) 

AND FINALLY

Manchester United-supporting vicar Father Paddy McMahon welcomed Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini into his midnight mass service at St John's Roman Catholic church in Chorlton on Christmas Eve. "The congregation gave him a round of applause so I said we'd pray for City to do well," said Father McMahon. "But not too well." (Sunday Express)

www.bbc.co.uk

Middlesbrough 0-1 Man City

Manchester City overcame a spirited Middlesbrough side to maintain Roberto Mancini's unblemished record and book a place in the FA Cup fourth round.
Benjani broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when he swept home an incisive pass from Martin Petrov. 
Boro impressed with their work-rate and commitment, but struggled to create. 
Their attacking play improved after the break, however, with Rhys Williams heading over their best chance as City squandered several opportunities. 
The win maintains City's flawless start under new Mancini, who has now guided his side to three wins in three games, with six goals scored and none conceded. 
But while Mancini might have racked up 10 Coppa Italia wins as a player and manager, his team selection will have left some onlookers questioning his determination to build on that notable cup record in England. 
Adopting a conservative approach, the Italian made five changes to the City line-up, leaving Benjani to plough a lone furrow up front and handing young defender Dedryck Boyata a first-team debut. 
Even with City in fine form since he replaced Mark Hughes, it was a risky call by Mancini and on another day it might have backfired. 

Boro, labouring 26 places below City on the league ladder, had won just twice in 10 games since Gordon Strachan's late-October arrival on Teesside.

.

Scunthorpe Utd.  1-0  Barnsley

1-0 P. Hayes 68.min.

.

Blackpool  1-2  Ipswich T.

0-1 J. Colback 3.min.  
1-1 B. Ormerod 51.min.  
1-2 O. Garvan 77.min.
www.bbc.co.uk

Two more

Scunthorpe Utd. - Barnsley

Home side has just a single win in last eleven games. Big problem will be missing their key striker and best goal scorer Gary Hooper. Midfielder Michael O'Connor is in doubt as is first goalie Joe Murphy. Midfielders Andrew Wright and Grant McCann are suspended. The Iron will have a best friend in bad pitch.

Visitors are in run of eight games without a defeat. No injury worries, best eleven should start the game.

Can not imagine home win here. Odd around 1.85 for dnb2 looks like a gift.

And one gamble.

Blackpool - Ipswich Town, Away win.

.

That's it. See you soon.

.

Available free bets, bonus offers and promotions:
Expekt - First deposit bonus up to €35 / £25 for all new customers
Make your first deposit at expekt.com and we will immediately double your money up to max €35 / £25. Take these 3 easy steps to start profiting from sports betting: 1.Register an account with expekt.com here. 2.Deposit a minimum of €10 into your expekt.com account. 3.Send an email to 35eurbonus@expekt.com with your customer number and deposit amount included. The bonus amount up to €35/£25 will be added to your account within 48 h

Middlesbrough - Manchester City

December was surely the worst betting month in my life. The fact it was a failure for 99% of punters doesn't make me feel better. However, I hope new year should return my record in green. Here is the first analyze for today. Before the 4pm kick-off will probably write few more words about the rest. Stay tuned.

.

Gordon Strachan was appointed to secure promotion to Premier. Boro have talented team, considering players’ potential, they should be in play-off zone at least. Strachan has specific training methods, in previous clubs (Coventry, Southampton and Celtic) he noticed first win after 4-5 games. Fine. In Boro first win came in fifth game and in big style, QPR were trashed 5-1 on the road. But, instead a start of good run, Riverside was froze by Blackpool 0-3. So, after 10 games under new boss Middlesbrough lie at 11^th position with shameful record of two wins, same draws and six defeats! For this game they will be without a number of important players. Key strikers Leroy Lita is suspended, Dave Kitson returned to Stoke and Jeremie Aliadiere is in a doubt with an ankle injury. Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne is ineligible, key defender Emanuel Pogatetz is out, while David Weather (defense), Adam Johnson (midfield) and Chris Riggot (defense) are doubtful. Defense will also be weakened than usual for Sean St Ledger who returned to his parent club – Preston.

 

Mancini has made a perfect start in City. Two wins from two games and two clean sheets. He has been talking seriously about Cup competition, the least he wants is early upset, Hughes was fielding strong squads and I believe Mancini will keep that manner. But, he also has injury problems. Wright-Phillips is major concern with his ankle problem, Stephen Ireland is definitely out, while Craig Bellamy is doubtful. Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor are at the African Cup of Nations. But the fact is City have a huge number of quality players and whoever will start the game will have a motive to put a good display. To prove himself to the new boss or to advertise before a transfer market, doesn’t matter.

 

My major concern wasn’t teams’ quality. Weather is cold, but it’s the same for both sides. Pitch is in good condition, won’t limit City’s pass play. I was thinking a lot about their seven draws in a row. In every case you could put an own house on City. This game also looks obvious. However, Mancini’s era has just started in great style and I don’t believe they’ll allow an early shock. Odd for Boro's win is based on mutual history that favors Boro, their 8-1 win from May 2008 and definitely has a value. I choose away win and handicap as a gamble.

.

Available free bets, bonus offers and promotions:
Expekt - First deposit bonus up to €35 / £25 for all new customers
Make your first deposit at expekt.com and we will immediately double your money up to max €35 / £25. Take these 3 easy steps to start profiting from sports betting: 1.Register an account with expekt.com here. 2.Deposit a minimum of €10 into your expekt.com account. 3.Send an email to 35eurbonus@expekt.com with your customer number and deposit amount included. The bonus amount up to €35/£25 will be added to your account within 48 h

Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid are preparing a £60m move for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who is their top summer transfer target, and will pursue him in the same way they chased Cristiano Ronaldo last season.(Daily Star)
Liverpool are set to sign Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy next week and also hope to bring in his Real Madrid team-mate Rafael van der Vaart on loan until the end of the season.(The Sun) 
As well as Van Nistelrooy, Reds boss Rafael Benitez is poised to bring in Atletico Madrid winger Maxi Rodrigez on loan - but he will have to offload striker Andriy Voronin first to free up space on the club's wage bill and hopes to sell him to CSKA Moscow or Dynamo Moscow in a £1.5m deal.(Daily Telegraph) 
Voronin is set to join German side Hertha Berlin, who he played for on loan last season, in a permanent £2.5m deal.(The Sun) 
Tottenham are poised to make a £12m January swoop for Manchester City right-back Micah Richards, while City will bolster their defence by signing Sol Campbell on a short-term deal and spending a total of £25m on West Ham's Matthew Upson and Borussia Dortmund's Neven Subotic.(Daily Express) 
Birmingham are close to wrapping up a £2.5m deal for Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel and are set to make a £3.5m bid to sign midfielder Craig Gardner from Aston Villa. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out making another bid for Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh. (The Sun) 
Wenger is confident of beating Tottenham and Everton to sign Chamakh when he becomes a free agent in the summer after being told there is no chance of buying the Moroccan in January - but the Gunners boss is also considering buying another striker this month and is interested in Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko and Toulouse's Andre-Pierre Gignac.(Daily Mirror) 
Hull City boss Phil Brown hopes to agree a loan deal with Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo, who is currently on loan at Sporting Lisbon.(The Sun) 
Cash-strapped Portsmouth's hopes of raising money by selling players in the January transfer window have been hit by a lack of interest in their players. (Daily Telegraph) 
Portsmouth's hopes of selling former Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng to Blackburn for £4m could be scuppered by a Fifa rule preventing players from playing for more than two clubs in the same season.(The Times) 
Burnley boss Owen Coyle fears Portsmouth's financial crisis could ruin his hopes of keeping on-loan Pompey striker David Nugent at Turf Moor.(Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham will recall midfielder Jamie O'Hara when his loan spell ends at Portsmouth this month and send him on loan to another Premier League club.(Daily Mail) 
Birmingham have made an offer of more than £3m for Peterborough striker Aaron McLean, who has been watched by scouts from a host of other Premier League sides.(The Sun) 
Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign Brazilian international midfielder Sandro from Internacional but may have to wait until the summer for him to arrive at White Hart Lane.(The Times) 
Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan looks like being priced out of a move for Celtic striker Scott McDonald after being told the Australian international would cost him £3.5m.(Daily Mirror) 
Celtic are interested in Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy, who would be allowed to leave Ewood Park for £2.5m.(Daily Mail) 
Sheffield United have turned down Newcastle's £1m bid for centre-back Matt Kilgallon.(The Sun) 
Crystal Palace must sell teenage winger Victor Moses this month to ease their financial problems and will accept £3m for the 19-year-old - who is being trailed by Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Birmingham, Wigan, Everton and West Brom. (Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Burnley boss Owen Coyle, who ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Bolton job earlier this week, is set to make a dramatic U-turn and will leave the Clarets to take charge at the Reebok Stadium.(The Sun) 
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock is desperate to get the Bolton job, and Wanderers will turn to the former Sheffield United boss if they fail to land Coyle.(Daily Express) 
Sacked Preston boss Alan Irvine is on the shortlist to become Sheffield Wednesday's next manager, along with former Bolton manager Gary Megson.(The Sun) 
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill insists winger Ashley Young is not a diver. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will rest most of his first team in Sunday's FA Cup tie against West Ham, and says "winning the League is more important". (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan says taking on mega-rich Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup third round is like using a water pistol in a machine-gun battle.(The Sun)

www.bbc.co.uk