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Page last updated at 16:51 GMT, Thursday, 21 May 2009 17:51 UK

Thursday's gossip column

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

BREAKING GOSSIP

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo insists he will be at Old Trafford next season.

"At the moment I'm at United and I don't care about what happens at Real," Ronaldo told Atena 3. "I only care about what will happen next season at Manchester United."

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid are confident of landing Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso for £23m if Florentino Perez is appointed president again.
(Full story: The Sun)

Inter Milan are preparing a double-swoop for Chelsea duo Ricardo Carvalho and Jon Mikel Obi and hope to land the pair for £21m.
(Full story: Daily Express)

Meanwhile Chelsea are confident they can hold off the advances of Barcelona and tie left-back Ashley Cole to a new deal.
(Full story: The Guardian)

Manchester United have been warned they face stiff competition to land Wigan winger Antonio Valencia.
(Full story: The Sun)

Aston Villa are prepared to lose £9m and let Gareth Barry run out the remainder of his contract, rather than sell him to a Premier League rival.
(Full story: The Sun)

Liverpool are preparing a £10m bid for Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson. (Daily Star)

However, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may be prepared to pay as much as £15m for the Portsmouth man.
(Full story: Daily Mail)

Middlesbrough will slap a £9m price tag on defender David Wheater if they are relegated to the Championship on Sunday.
(Full story: The Sun)

Wheater is wanted by Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill who is hopeful of landing the centre-back for £7m. (Daily Star)

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has been assured he has a future at the club. (Daily Express)

Chelsea are leading the chase for Wolfsburg's £6m-rated striker Edin Dzeko. (Daily Mirror)

Olympiakos are set to offer Blackburn £2m for striker Matt Derbyshire, who is on loan at the Greek side. (Daily Mirror)

Joseph Yobo looks set to leave Everton after turning down a new deal at the club.
(Full story: Daily Mail)

Tottenham have joined Wigan, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Celtic in the chase for Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher. (Scottish Daily Mail)

Celtic outcast Bobo Balde has agreed to try and win a move to Birmingham City. (Full story: Daily Record)

Guinea international Balde must prove his fitness and desire during a trial period if he wants a move to Birmingham. (Scottish Sun)

Palermo lead the race to take Massimo Donati back to Italy from an unhappy spell at Celtic. (Various)

Lazio have been linked with a move for Rangers playmaker Pedro Mendes. (Daily Express)

Kilmarnock aim to sign former St Johnstone striker Keigan Parker from Huddersfield. (Scottish Sun)

Motherwell midfielder Stephen Hughes is wanted by Hearts, Nottingham Forest and Derby, while Plymouth are keeping an eye on Fir Park loan star Maros Klimpl. (Daily Express)

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray is bidding to land Hibs skipper Rob Jones after signing the giant defender for the Easter Road club three years ago. (Daily Express)

Hibs have joined the list of clubs chasing Livingston's teenage striker Leigh Griffiths. (various)

Meanwhile, Dundee have had a £300,000 offer for Griffiths rejected by Livingston. (Daily Express)

Dundee have reopened talks with Partick Thistle about signing midfielder Gary Harkins. (Daily Record)

St Johnstone are after Dunfermline goalkeeper Paul Gallacher but may face competition from Hibs. (Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea are set to confirm AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager as early as next week. (Daily Star)

Celtic want David Moyes to become their new manager next season.
(Full story: The Sun)

Alan Shearer has given the strongest hint yet that he will stay on as Newcastle manager, even if the club are relegated on Sunday.
(Full story: The Sun)

However, assistant manager Iain Dowie has cast doubt over Shearer's long-term involvement at the club. (The Telegraph)

Hull striker Dean Windass is set to land a role as player-coach, alongside Colin Todd, at League Two side Darlington. (Daily Mirror)

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale has emerged as the leading contender to replace Steve Coppell as Reading manager. (The Sun)

Newcastle coach Colin Calderwood is on the short-list to become the new Chesterfield manager. (Daily Mirror)

Falkirk boss John Hughes is the leading contender for the Blackpool job, while Ayr United's Brian Reid is also in the running. (Full story: The Herald)

AND FINALLY

Former world player of the year Luis Figo is considering an offer to play in the Chinese Super League. (Chinese sports newspaper Titan Sports)

Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho is being lined up to replace Juande Ramos as Real Madrid manager. (Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport)



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see also
Transfers - May 2009
24 May 09 |  Football
Wednesday's gossip column
20 May 09 |  Gossip
Tuesday's gossip column
19 May 09 |  Gossip
Monday's gossip column
18 May 09 |  Gossip


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