Wednesday, August 5, 2009

BREAKING GOSSIP

1549 BST: Fulham boss Roy Hodgson says he will do everything possible to keep highly-rated defender Brede Hangeland at Craven Cottage this summer. (Press Association).
1522 BST: AC Milan have told Chelsea that midfielder Andrea Pirlo is not for sale and that he will finish his career at the Italian club. (AFP)
1505 BST: Fulham have agreed a fee with Golden Arrows for Kagiso Dikgacoi and are now awaiting just a work permit for the South Africa midfielder. (Press Association)
1141 BST: Real Madrid say they have wrapped up their summer spending spree with the transfer of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool, ruling out a move for Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery or Valencia forward David Villa. (Associated Press)
1038 BST: Hull City will try and tempt Cardiff City with a £3.5m offer for striker Ross McCormack. (Wales Online)
1013 BST: Bayern Munich have dismissed speculation that striker Luca Toni is to join West Ham on loan. Full story: The Sun
0928 BST: Bolton manager Gary Megson says he is prepared to listen to offers for defender Danny Shittu. (Bolton Evening News)
Keep an eye on the gossip column throughout the day for updates and breaking news during the transfer window.
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Liverpool are expected to use some of the £30m they gained from the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid to make an £18m offer for Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani.Full story: The Independent
Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour is also linked with a move to Anfield and his agent Paul Stefani says he would not turn down a move to Liverpool. Full story: The Independent
Italian side AC Milan are preparing a £31m bid for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.Full story: The Sun
Darren Bent's transfer to Sunderland has still not been completed, despite the Tottenham striker passing a medical on Monday. (Daily Star)
Sunderland, meanwhile, are set to sign Lyon defender John Mensah on a season-long loan deal. Full story: The Sun
The Black Cats are also keeping tabs on Tottenham centre-back Michael Dawson.Full story: The Sun
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has failed with a £5.5m bid for Sevilla centre-back Federico Fazio. Full story: The Sun
Wenger says he will wait to sign Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer next season, rather than improve his £6m offer for the striker this summer. (Daily Mirror)
Tottenham hope to sign Blackburn defender Christopher Samba for £10m to help ease their defensive crisis.Full story: The Sun
Manchester United will use their friendly with Valencia to run the rule over midfielder David Silva and forward David Villa. (Daily Star)
Stoke City want to take injury-prone Everton striker James Vaughan on loan. Full story: Daily Mail
Hull are set to sign Villarreal striker Jozy Altidore and have agreed a £3m deal for Stoke midfielder Seyi Olofinjana. (Daily Mail)
Burnley are in talks with Independiente winger Fernando Guerrero. (Daily Mail)
South African midfielder Kagiso Dikgacoi claims he has secured a move to Fulham from Golden Arrows after impressing on trial at Craven Cottage.Full story: The Independent
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies has told Hamilton Accies they must make a substantial offer for midfielder Craig Bryson. (Various)
Hamilton have been busy making offers for Killie's Bryson, Motherwell's Jamie Murphy and Inverness midfielder Dougie Imrie - all of which have been rejected. (Scottish Daily Express)
Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee is ready to sell one of his top players to raise cash to bolster his squad. (Various)
Watford have joined Romanian side Unirea Uriziceni in the chase for Morton Jim McAlister. (Scottish Daily Express)
Southampton are interested in signing former Birmingham defender Radhi Jaidi. (Daily Mirror)
Ipswich are set to sign Watford striker Tamas Priskin in a £1.2m deal. (Daily Mirror)
Bristol City have told striker Lee Trundle that he is surplus to requirements at Ashton Gate. (Daily Mirror)
OTHER GOSSIP
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has agreed a new three-year contract at the club worth over £100,000 a week. Full story: The Sun
Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong has been fined two weeks wages for refusing to travel to play in a friendly at Dundee United, adding to speculation he may be about to leave for Tottenham.Full story: Daily Mail
Crystal Palace have been banned from signing players due to a dispute over unpaid bonuses and signing-on fees from last season.Full story: Daily Mail
AND FINALLY
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has written off Liverpool's title chances, claiming he has more chance of achieving a hole in one in golf. Full story: The Sun
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham is being considered for a goodwill ambassador's role at former club Manchester United when he hangs up his boots.Full story: The Sun
Meanwhile, Beckham and his wife Victoria are in negotiations to buy a £10m luxury home in Chelsea, sparking rumours of a move to the west London club. Full story: The Sun
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is being haunted by a vacuum cleaner that keeps turning itself on. Full story: Daily Star
Northampton's players will turn out for free on the opening day of the season with their wages being split between the club's eight nominated charities. (Daily Star)
It has been revealed that Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez suffered his recent heel problem after slipping in the shower. Tevez is in danger of missing the start of the season. Full story: The Guardian