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Page last updated at 13:46 GMT, Monday, 21 December 2009

Monday's gossip column

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

BREAKING GOSSIP

1327 GMT: Craig Bellamy is the first high-profile Manchester City player to be considering handing in a transfer request because he is so disgusted at the sacking of manager Mark Hughes. Shay Given, Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez are also angered by the Welshman's departure.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

1135 GMT: Barcelona president Joan Laporta tells Catalan radio station Rac1 his club will not be making a renewed bid to sign Brazilian midfielder Robinho after revealing Manchester City rejected their initial offer.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Everton will battle it out with Arsenal to sign Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh for £7m in the summer.
Full story: The Sun

New Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has given the club's chief executive Garry Cook a list of players he wants to sign, with Juventus left-back Giorgio Chiellini one of his targets.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Mancini is also keen on Inter Milan right-back Maicon. (Daily Telegraph)

Tottenham are set to move for Portsmouth full-back Nadir Belhadj in January, with Blackburn and Everton also interested in the Algeria defender.
Full story: Daily Mail

Blackburn have offered a four-year deal to United States midfielder Stuart Holden, who plays for Major League Soccer outfit Houston Dynamo. (The Sun)

Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan are monitoring 16-year-old Anderlecht striker Romelo Lukaku.
Full story: Daily Mail

Birmingham City want to turn Joe Hart's loan switch from Manchester City into a permanent move and are also close to agreeing a £2.5m deal for Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel.
Full story: Daily Mirror

West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans is wanted by Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Everton, Stoke City and Sunderland but the Baggies say the 22-year-old midfielder is not for sale.
Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Roberto Mancini's first job as Manchester City manager will be to hold showdown talks with £32.5m Brazilian forward Robinho, who the Italian sees as the key to City's future.
Full story: The Sun

Mancini faces a battle to win over a number of disillusioned City players who are outraged by the sacking of former boss Mark Hughes.
Full story: Daily Mirror

City delayed sacking Mark Hughes for three weeks to give Mancini an easy start as manager, after the Italian verbally agreed to take charge at Eastlands on 2 December.
Full story: Daily Mail

Hughes had 18 months left on his contract and will receive a maximum pay-out of £3m following his departure from City, but the final figure he receives will depend on how quickly he finds a new job.
Full story: The Guardian

Mancini took the Eastlands job knowing he was not the club's first choice. City's chief executive Garry Cook flew to Amsterdam at the start of December to offer the post to Guus Hiddink.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Former England midfielder David Platt, a close friend of Mancini, is set to join the Italian's coaching team at Eastlands.
Full story: The Independent

Alan Curbishley could return as West Ham boss if David Sullivan's takeover of the Upton Park club goes through.
Full story: Daily Express

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce says he will have to sell players before he can strengthen his squad in the January transfer window.
Full story: Daily Mirror

AND FINALLY

Sunderland striker Darren Bent is terrified of spiders and will consider hypnotherapy to combat his arachnophobia, with the possibility that he may be part of England's squad for the 2010 World Cup in spider-infested South Africa.
Full story: The Sun



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see also
Transfers - December 2009
31 Dec 09 |  Football
Sunday's gossip column
20 Dec 09 |  Gossip
Sunday's Scottish gossip
20 Dec 09 |  Scottish Premier
Saturday's gossip column
19 Dec 09 |  Gossip
Saturday's Scottish gossip
19 Dec 09 |  Scottish Premier


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