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Page last updated at 06:26 GMT, Thursday, 1 May 2008 07:26 UK

Thursday's gossip column

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Tottenham boss Juande Ramos will offer cash-strapped Valencia �16m for striker David Villa to replace Dimitar Berbatov at White Hart Lane. (Daily Mail)

Arsene Wenger will rebuff any offer from AC Milan for Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor. (Daily Express)

Wenger will move for Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson if Mathieu Flamini leaves the club. (The Times)

Wigan manager Steve Bruce is keen to sign a third Honduran, midfielder Hendry Thomas. (The Sun)

He could replace Antonio Valencia whose agent claims Manchester United and Liverpool are among the club's hoping to sign him. (Daily Mail)

Manchester City and Tottenham are chasing Lille's �6m-rated midfielder Jean Makoun. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa and Portsmouth will battle it out for Pascal Chimbonda after the full-back was told he has no future at Tottenham. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth are also planning a �1.5m move for West Brom defender Paul Robinson. (Daily Mirror)

Mark Hughes is in talks with Bulgarian winger Ivelin Popov over a move to Blackburn. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland manager Roy Keane will swoop for Birmingham's on-loan Argentine Striker Mauro Zarate, if the midlands club are relegated. (Daily Mirror)

Switzerland striker Eren Derdiyok has said he would love to play with Michael Owen at Newcastle. (Daily Mirror)

Spurs goalkeeper Radek Cerny will sign for QPR on a free transfer at the end of the season. (Various)

Hibernian boss Mixu Paatelainen is keen on signing St Mirren pair David van Zanten and Franco Miranda. (The Sun)

Meanwhile another St Mirren man, out-of-contract striker Stewart Kean, is being tracked by Hereford. (Daily Express/Daily Star)

Inverness manager Craig Brewster has registered his interest in Ross County forward Andy Barrowman. (Daily Record/The Sun)

The Highlanders are also in the hunt for Dundee United winger Steven Robb (Daily Express/Daily Star)

Kilmarnock are close to signing Airdrie striker Alan Russell, after failing to land the frontman in January. (Various)

Ayr midfielder Ryan Stevenson is attracting interest from English League One outfit Hartlepool. (Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes is set to sign a new one-year contract with the club. (Various)

Reading boss Steve Coppell has banned Ibrahima Sonko and Emmerson Fae from training and playing after the pair refused to play in a reserve game. (The Sun)

Jose Mourinho is close to agreeing a deal to take over as the new Inter Milan manager. (The Times)

Wayne Rooney's hip injury will keep him out of Man Utd's last two league games. (The Sun)

AZ Alkmaar are claiming �5.9m compensation from Afonso Alves after the Brazilian striker joined Middlesbrough in January despite apparently agreeing a deal with the Dutch club. (Various)

Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard believes an all-English Champions League final is a disaster for the neutrals. (Various)

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will lead his side on an end-of-season tour of Thailand, before being sacked by owner Thaksin Shinawtra. (Various)

AND FINALLY

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has been picked to portray Dumbo the elephant in a Disney Dream portrait series by acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz. (Daily Star)

Ipswich Town legend Kevin Beattie will finally receive a Uefa Cup winner's medal, 27 years after his side's win over AZ Alkmaar. Beattie missed the final with a broken arm, but played in eight of their 12 games and will be presented with the medal by Uefa president Michel Platini at this year's final.




see also
Wednesday's gossip column
30 Apr 08 |  Gossip
Tuesday's gossip column
29 Apr 08 |  Gossip
Monday's gossip column
28 Apr 08 |  Gossip
Sunday's gossip column
27 Apr 08 |  Gossip
Transfers - April 2008
15 Apr 08 |  Gossip


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