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Page last updated at 20:40 GMT, Sunday, 25 May 2008 21:40 UK

Sunday's gossip column

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

BREAKING GOSSIP

Sven-Goran Eriksson is set to accept an offer from the Mexican FA to coach the national side. (Mexican newspaper La Jornada 2017 BST)

Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes has been linked with a move to Spanish Primera Liga side Mallorca. (IB3 Television 1630 BST)

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Clubs in the USA's MLS have turned down the chance to sign Chelsea striker Andrei Shevchenko. (Mail on Sunday)

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is holding out for a move to AC Milan or Inter Milan despite Real Madrid being interested. (Mail on Sunday)

Arsenal are to begin negotiations for St Etienne duo Mouhamadou Dabo and Blaise Matuidi and Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez. (Mail on Sunday)

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will listen to offers for Alvaro Arbeloa, Jermaine Pennant and Steve Finnan as he looks to raise funds for new signings. (Mail on Sunday)

Xabi Alonso, Peter Crouch, Scott Carson and John Arne Riise are also available as Benitez hopes to raise �50m in sales to bolster the �20m he has been given to spend by the club's owners. (News of the World)

West Brom boss Tony Mowbray is set to pay �3.5m for Aston Villa striker Luke Moore and �2.3m for Hearts hit-man Roman Bednar. (News of the World)

Barcelona striker Thierry Henry was set to join Manchester United for �10m until the Spanish side's new boss Pep Guardiola blocked the move two weeks ago.

606: DEBATE
Cruzeiro striker Marcelo Moreno is weighing up a move to Tottenham or Shakhtar Donetsk, according to his father. (The Observer)

Arsenal, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Everton, Manchester City, Tottenham and Middlesbrough are all interested in Valencia midfielder Edu. (Sunday Mirror)

West Ham are leading the chase for Everton striker Andy Johnson. (News of the World)

Hearts are lining up a bid for Paris St Germain's veteran goalkeeper Jerome Alonzo. (News of the World)

Rangers have been monitoring Watford central defender Danny Shittu. (News of the World)

Norwich City are the latest club to approach out-of-contract Aberdeen midfielder Barry Nicholson. (News of the World)

Burnley star James O'Connor has agreed a move to Sheffield Wednesday. (News of the World)

OTHER GOSSIP

Sir Alex Ferguson has set the date for his retirement as Manchester United boss and will quit in three years. (The Mail on Sunday)

Real president Ramon Calderon has responded to criticism from Ferguson over Cristiano Ronaldo. "Real Madrid have conducted themselves exquisitely in this whole affair with Ronaldo. We have always said that he is a player who has a contract and that Manchester United is not a selling club. That's everything."

Chelsea skipper John Terry has not slept properly since his spot-kick miss in the Champions League final. (Various)

AND FINALLY

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will not use the number seven in his squad next year because of the pressure it puts on players to live up to previous incumbents like Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish. (News of the World)




see also
Grant gossip
25 May 08 |  Gossip
Saturday's gossip column
24 May 08 |  Gossip
Friday's gossip column
23 May 08 |  Gossip
Transfers - May 2008
23 May 08 |  Gossip


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