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Page last updated at 12:28 GMT, Friday, 7 August 2009 13:28 UK

Friday's gossip column

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

BREAKING GOSSIP

2150 BST: Cash-strapped Valencia have refused an offer of over 20 million euros from European champions Barcelona for their Spanish international winger Juan Mata. (El Mundo Deportivo)

1323 BST: Paris St Germain winger Jerome Rothen, 31, is expected to arrive in Blackburn to discuss a move with Rovers manager Sam Allardyce.
Full story: Football365

1255 BST: Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc has accused Arsenal of not being serious in their attempts to sign striker Marouane Chamakh. The Gunners have reportedly bid £6m for the 25-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, but the French club want about £10m.

"Do Arsenal really want Chamakh? It is exactly the question that I ask myself and I believe no," said Blanc. "Frankly, I believe if they really want him, he could join them within 48 hours."
Full story: Metro

1244 BST: Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has admitted that he is interested in signing Lyon defender John Mensah as he looks to bolster his defence. "I was interested in Mensah when I was at Birmingham, but he went for a lot of money - £9m," said Bruce. "We'll see on him. Yes, there's an interest."
Full story: The Shields Gazette

Bruce has also said Sunderland have ended their interest in Chamakh.
Full story: The Shields Gazette

1218 BST: Atletico Madrid rejected an offer from city rivals Real Madrid for striker Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan earlier this summer. Real bid about £31m for the 30-year-old Uruguay international before signing Karim Benzema from Lyon. (AFP)

1151 BST: Birmingham's hopes of signing Arsenal left-back Armand Traore on loan for the start of the season appear to have been dashed by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger who will not make a decision until the end of the transfer window.
Full story: Teletext

0910 BST: Tottenham are looking to hijack West Ham's bid to sign Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has targeted the 32-year-old after missing out on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who has joined AC Milan from Real Madrid, while West Ham are unlikely to be able to meet Toni's £90,000-a-week wage demands.
Full story: Clubcall

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea have turned down an £18m bid from Real Madrid for Brazilian defender Alex.
Full story: The Times

Manchester United are still monitoring Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Valencia's David Silva, despite insisting that their summer spending is over.
Full story: The Times

Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva has said he may leave the club and return to his homeland if he does not get more first-team action next season.
Full story: The Sun

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he is interested in signing Fulham defender Brede Hangeland but said the club are yet to make an offer for the 28-year-old Norwegian.
Full story: The Independent

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has expressed an interest in bringing Real Madrid's 25-year-old Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder to Villa Park.
Full story: The Guardian

Manchester City will make one final offer for Everton defender Joleon Lescott, believed to be about £22m. (Daily Mirror)

Wigan have agreed a £3.5m deal for highly-rated Rayo Vallecano midfielder Mohamed Diame and his team-mate, defender Antonio Amaya.
Full story: Daily Mail

The move for Diame could signal the end of Lee Cattermole's Wigan career, he is a target for Sunderland, Liverpool, Spurs and Everton.
Full story: Daily Mail

Portsmouth have made a £2m bid for Vitoria Guimaraes midfielder Nuno Assis and the 31-year-old said he is keen on a move to Fratton Park if "the money and sport aspects can be united". (The Sun)

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate admits that he is "amazed" that Tuncay is still with the club but expects the 27-year-old to leave by September.
Full story: Daily Star

Wigan striker Olivier Kapo, 28, is a target for French club Nice. (The Sun)

West Brom are keen on 25-year-old St Mirren midfielder Billy Mehmet. (Daily Star)

Celtic are lining up a move for Indian international striker Sunil Chhetri, who signed for Dempo Sports Club in May but is available for £1m. (Daily Express)

Portsmouth are poised to make a move for Celtic left-back Lee Naylor. (The Sun)

Falkirk could hand a contract to former Brann Bergen striker Robbie Winters a contract after the veteran striker impressed as a trialist with Livingston. (The Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he is more worried about Aston Villa this season than he is about Manchester City and said that Mark Hughes' side will not break into the Premier League's top four.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Wenger also believes that 17-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere can make the same impact as when Wayne Rooney first played for Everton.
Full story: The Guardian

Liverpool are expected to end their 17-year association with shirt sponsor Carlsberg when their current £8m-a-year deal finishes at the end of the season. Banking giants Standard Chartered are expected to replace Carlsberg for about £15m-a-year.
Full story: Daily Mail

Darren Bent has taken a swipe at former club Tottenham after the striker completed a move to Sunderland. The 25-year-old said he never felt wanted at White Hart Lane and criticised manager Harry Redknapp for not giving him enough support.
Full story: The Sun

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Michael Owen to score goals for Manchester United this season after the striker missed four good chances in a friendly against Valencia on Wednesday.
Full story: The Sun

Livingston will today appeal against their relegation to the Third Division, forcing the Scottish Football League to postpone three opening-day fixtures. (The Sun)

Burnley manager Owen Coyle will not release his three Scotland internationals from their pre-season fixture against St Johnstone ahead of the international side's World Cup qualifier against Norway. (Daily Record)

Celtic's Scott McDonald and Glenn Loovens, plus Rangers' Kyle Lafferty, will learn today if they will be suspended at the start of the season after the SFA disciplinary committee reviews video evidence of incidents last season. (Daily Record)

Hearts are bracing themselves for a record fine today for their poor disciplinary record last season. (The Scotsman)

Derek Riordan has rejoined the Hibernian squad after the forward was disciplined by the club for a nightclub incident. (The Sun)

Manchester City's former Celtic striker Craig Bellamy has blamed Rangers' Lee McCulloch for a foot injury he picked up in Wednesday's friendly defeat at Ibrox. (Various)

Hull captain Ian Ashbee believes his career could be over as the 32-year-old is struggling to recover from a knee injury. (Daily Mail)

AND FINALLY

Burnley striker Steve Thompson has been fined for drinking a fan's pint of beer on the club's pre-season tour of the United States. The 30-year-old fell over the advertising hoardings and took a swig from the fan's drink as a joke. (The Sun)

Chelsea's players are reported to have spent about £120,000 on champagne during a night out to celebrate Saloman Kalou's 25th birthday. (Various)



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see also
Transfers - August 2009
01 Sep 09 |  Football
Friday's Scottish gossip
07 Aug 09 |  Scottish Premier
Thursday's gossip column
06 Aug 09 |  Gossip


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