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Page last updated at 06:36 GMT, Friday, 10 October 2008 07:36 UK

Friday's gossip column

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to make a �6m raid for PSV Eindhoven's versatile 22-year-old midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, who has 11 caps for the Netherlands. (The Sun)

Manchester City are preparing to show off their new financial muscle with a mind-blowing �200,000-a-week offer to Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. (Daily Mirror)

Juventus are weighing up a move for Arsenal's utility man Emmanuel Eboue in January and will attempt to lure the Ivory Coast international with the prospect of regular first-team football. (Daily Mirror)

Ipswich want to re-sign Charlton midfielder Darren Ambrose in a cut-price deal. (The Sun)

Liverpool have been knocked back in setting up a �5m January move for Borussia Dortmund's free-scoring Polish right winger Jakub Blaszczykowski. (Daily Mail)

Sampdoria have ruled out the possibility of former Real Madrid and Roma striker Antonio Cassano moving to Manchester City this winter, insisting he is not for sale. (The Independent)

OTHER GOSSIP

England coach Fabio Capello will start with a three-man attack consisting of Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey and Theo Walcott against Kazakhstan on Saturday. (Various)

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admits he would back salary capping for players if it stops clubs going bust amid the credit crunch. (The Sun)

Injury-hit Australian striker Mark Viduka could miss the rest of Newcastle's season after it was revealed he may need an Achilles operation. (The Sun)

Defender Micah Richards says Manchester City need a bigger squad after claiming the players are knackered. The Blues have already played 14 matches this season. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped centre-back Jonny Evans as Rio Ferdinand's long-term successor. (Various)

606: DEBATE
CW

England striker Wayne Rooney says one day he wants to reach the same level of play and recognition as Fifa World Footballer of the Year favourites Lionel Messi and Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. (The Sun)

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has been appointed to the club's plc board, a move which was never granted to former favourite Jose Mourinho. (The Guardian)

Banker Keith Harris, the man charged with selling Newcastle for owner Mike Ashley, has admitted that finding a buyer for the club may prove impossible in the current financial crisis. (The Guardian)

Financially troubled West Ham could be snapped up by a buyer for a cut-price �100m by this weekend. (Daily Star)

League Managers Association chief Richard Bevan says that 10% of its members have a gambling addiction. (Daily Telegraph)

Barcelona president Juan Laporta has claimed that arch rivals Real Madrid did not truly earn the last two La Liga titles which they won, but rather that the Catalan giants "lost" them. (Daily Telegraph)

Blackburn chairman John Williams wants to see the introduction of a salary cap to make the Premier League more competitive. "To make everything equal really excites me," he said. (The Times)

Rangers are set to be given the go-ahead for an ambitious �350m development around Ibrox Stadium. (Daily Record)

AND FINALLY

Watford star Al Bangura is in trouble with manager Aidy Boothroyd after flying to Africa to make his international debut for Sierra Leone without permission. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth have kept their pledge to supporters to peg adult ticket prices at �20 for their Uefa Cup games, despite being drawn against seven-time Champions league winners AC Milan. (Daily Express)

Barcelona's Belarussian midfielder Alexander Hleb has likened the regime of England boss Fabio Capello to communism, describing his bans on mobile phone calls and computer games "absurd". (Daily Mail)

Jaap Stam has made a surprise return to Manchester United as a scout. The Dutch centre-back was spotted in Brazil this week at a youth match involving players United are interested in. (Daily Mail)

The Spanish national football team have each received a reward of their body weight in beer for winning the Euro 2008 this summer, their first trophy in 44 years. (Daily Telegraph)




see also
Thursday's gossip column
09 Oct 08 |  Gossip
Wednesday's gossip column
08 Oct 08 |  Gossip
Tuesday's gossip column
07 Oct 08 |  Gossip
Monday's gossip column
06 Oct 08 |  Gossip
Transfers - October 2008
08 Oct 08 |  Football


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