Saturday, February 28, 2009

Sunday's gossip column

Transfers Other gossip And finally

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is plotting a move for Brazilian striker Diogo Luis Santo and is ready to offer his club Olympiakos £12m for the 21-year-old's services. (The People)

Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt believes Michael Owen will stay at Newcastle, even though the striker's contract expires in the summer. "He's happy here, fully committed to Newcastle, and I think there could be a bit of a shock in that maybe he might stay," he says. (Various)

Manchester City and Liverpool are vying for Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland, but will have to pay £7m for the 27-year-old Norwegian. (The People)

Everton manager David Moyes will lead a summer chase for Niko Kranjcar by bidding £14m for the Portsmouth and Croatia midfielder. (The People)

Florent Malouda says he would consider a move to Juventus after failing to impress at Chelsea since a £13.5m move from Lyon in 2007. (Various)

Tottenham manger Harry Redknapp is planning a massive overhaul of his squad in the summer and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric could be the biggest casualty, with Inter Milan and Juventus interested in the 23-year-old. (News of the World)

Redknapp will renew his interest in Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing in the summer and is planning a £15m bid. (Sunday Mirror)

Atletico Madrid have targeted Liverpool right-back Alvaro Arbeloa and could offer £7m for the Spaniard. (The People)

Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell could move to French club Monaco when his Fratton Park contract expires in the summer. (Various)

Newcastle are planning a move for former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson who is currently a free agent. (News of the World)

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has lined up 22-year-old Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzecko as a replacement for Roque Santa Cruz. (The People)

Carlos Kameni is a target for Tottenham, Fulham and Newcastle after the 25-year-old Cameroon goalkeeper rejected a new deal to stay at Espanyol. (The People)

Steve Bruce is considering a move for 30-year-old West Brom left-back Paul Robinson, who almost joined the Latics for £1.5m two years ago. (The People)

Hull striker Dean Windass, currently on loan at League One Oldham, has said he will "jump on my bike and cycle back" to help the Tigers avoid relegation. (Sunday Mirror)

Nottingham Forest and Leicester City both want to sign Aston Villa midfielder Isaiah Osbourne on loan. (The People)

OTHER GOSSIP

Rio Ferdinand believes Inter Milan and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is the ideal candidate to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester Untied boss when the Scot decides to call it a day. (Mail on Sunday)

Real Madrid want Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as their new boss next season and will also employ former world player of the year Zinedine Zidane to work under the Frenchman. (News of the World)

Newcastle are set to offer manager Joe Kinnear a new two-year deal at St James' Park. (Various)

Cristiano Ronaldo has been offered a new five-year deal, worth £140,000-a-week, to stay at Manchester United - even though he has three-and-a-half years left on his current £120,000 weekly deal. (The People)

Or the Portuguese winger will become the Premier League's first £200,000-a-week player if he signs a new deal at Old Trafford. (News of the World)

Former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard has been lined up to take over as Chelsea manager when Guus Hiddink's short-term deal ends at the end of the season. (News of the World)

Rafael Benitez will finally sign a new contract with Liverpool before the second leg Champions League match with Real Madrid. (The People)

Dirk Kuyt says Benitez told him to wait until his own future was resolved before agreeing to a new deal at Anfield. (Various)

West Ham are set to be taken over by a group of Asian investors in a deal worth £90m after advanced talks took place with the club's current Icelandic owners. (Sunday Mirror)

Dennis Wise is ready to call time on his troubled reign as Newcastle executive director by quitting the club in the summer. (Various)

Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has launched a scathing attack on current owner Mike Ashley, saying he needs to take some blame for the club's current financial situation and that he should stop "acting like a cry baby". (Sunday Mirror)

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has been labelled as the Premier League's greatest ever player by Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho. (Sunday Mirror)

Sir Alex Ferguson says he is more interested in winning the Champions League this season than he is the Premier League. (Various)

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn wants to bring in ex-Black Cats manager Peter Reid as director of football to assist current boss Ricky Sbragia. (The People)

Former West Ham and Charlton manager Alan Pardew is a leading contender to fill the vacant position at League One Brighton. (Sunday Mirror)

AND FINALLY

Clint Dempsey has promised to record an FA Cup final song if Fulham reach the Wembley final. The American midfielder goes by the alias 'Deuce' and says his rapping will eclipse the efforts of Liverpool players in the 1990s. "I've heard about FA Cup final songs - especially that Anfield Rap," he said. "I was thinking about hanging up my mic and retiring, but if we get to Wembley I can do better than that." (The People)

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy wants to make peace with manager Sir Alex Ferguson after the pair had a bitter falling when the Dutch striker was sold to Real Madrid. "I want to talk and make up, clear the air between us," he said. (Sunday Mirror)

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