BBC Sportfootball

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 09:16 GMT, Tuesday, 9 September 2008 10:16 UK

Tuesday's gossip column

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

LATEST NEWCASTLE GOSSIP

Brazil legend Zico has revealed he is "very interested" in becoming Newcastle manager. The 55-year-old has previous managerial experience with Japanese side Kashima Antlers and Turkish club Fenerbahce, where he was manager until June this year. (PA)

Tottenham assistant manager Gus Poyet is on the brink of becoming Newcastle's new manager after the 40-year-old Uruguayan met club officials in London. (The Sun)

Gianfranco Zola, Didier Deschamps, Roberto Mancini and Slaven Bilic are believed to be the names on Newcastle's managerial shortlist. (The Guardian)

Newcastle fans angry at the way the club is being run want to ban owner Mike Ashley from sitting amongst supporters and from wearing his black and white replica shirt at games. (Various)

LATEST WEST HAM GOSSIP

Zola will be offered the manager's job at West Ham today after a second round of talks between the 42-year-old Italian and Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury. (Various)

Zola will be offered the job after West Ham rejected Croatia manager Slaven Bilic's offer to take the job on a part-time basis until January. (Daily Mirror)

Paolo Di Canio may also join the club to work under Zola, although Pierluigi Casiraghi is also tipped for a role at Upton Park. (Daily Star)

Former Italy manager Roberto Donadoni also remains in the frame to replace Alan Curbishley at Upton Park. (Daily Mirror)

TRANSFER RUMOURS

World player of the year Kaka has said he will not leave AC Milan to join Manchester City. The 26-year-old Brazilian is a reported target for the club's new owners, but Kaka says he will never ask to leave Milan and is happy to stay at the club. (Gazzetta dello Sport, 1014 BST)

Man City will launch a bid for 23-year-old Bayern Munich and Germany striker Lukas Podolski in January. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will try to sign 30-year-old Wigan striker Emile Heskey in the January transfer window. (Daily Mirror)

Valencia and former Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes has said he would welcome a move back to the Premier League with Tottenham. (Daily Mirror)

Stephane Mbia has pleaded with his club Rennes to let him join Arsenal in January after the Gunners failed with a bid for the 22-year-old during the summer as the French club are holding out for �10m. (The Times)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is also keeping an eye on 21-year-old Juventus midfielder Sebastian Giovinco, who impressed for Italy during the Olympics. (The Times)

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, 25, could be out for six months after injuring his cruciate ligaments playing for Ghana on Friday. (The Sun)

Sami Hyppia, 34, has said he would have considered leaving Liverpool if he knew he was not to be included in the Reds' 25-man Champions League squad. (Various)

Croatia manger Slaven Bilic has criticised Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson for not allowing Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves to join up with the England squad. (The Sun)

Gerrard, 28, has told Benitez that he will not be ready to face Man Utd at Anfield on Saturday after participating in only one training session since a minor groin operation. (Daily Star)

Joe Cole has warned that no-one is assured of a place in the England team under manager Fabio Capello. (Various)

AND FINALLY

According to a new survey the average cost of going to watch a Premier League match is �106.21 - a 35% increase over two years. The poll also revealed that 26% of fans would consider going to fewer games as a result. (The Sun)

England manager Fabio Capello has wasted little time in getting to grips with the English language after Joe Cole revealed the Italian knows plenty of swear words. (Various)

New Man Utd striker Dimitar Berbatov has moved into the Presidential Suite of the Lowry Hotel in Manchester for the next 12 weeks at a cost of �42,000 while he searches for a new home in the north west. (Daily Star)

Manchester City's new owners, the Arab United Group for Development, plan to turn the club into one of the most recognisable brands in the world. The plan includes marketing soft drinks, cars, fast food restaurants and credit cards. (Daily Star)




see also
Monday's gossip column
08 Sep 08 |  Gossip
Sunday's gossip column
07 Sep 08 |  Gossip
Transfers - September 2008
06 Sep 08 |  Football


related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites