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Page last updated at 15:41 GMT, Thursday, 7 January 2010

Thursday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

BREAKING GOSSIP

Arsenal want Gonzalo Higuain to replace Cesc Fabregas should the Spain midfielder join either Real Madrid or Barcelona this year. However, Real will not sell the Argentine international for less than 35m Euros (£31.4m). Full story: Marca.com (in Spanish)

One-time Manchester United target Douglas Costa springs surprise by signing for Shakhtar Donetsk. (Press Association, 1733)

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini brushes aside reports linking defender Simon Kjaer with a move to Manchester City in the January transfer window.

"They are just rumours, I have not had any contact with anyone," said Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini.

"Several clubs are interested in Kjaer but for the time being we have not received any offers. For sure, he will remain with us until June." (Press Association, 1540 GMT)

Federico Macheda's agent says Bologna want to take the Manchester United striker back to Italy on a loan deal, although he feels it is unlikely to happen. (Tuttomercatoweb, 1505 GMT)

Stefano Okaka's agent believes the Roma striker could join Fulham on loan by the end of the week (Romagiallorossa.com, 1207 GMT)

Arsenal may be ready to sell midfielder Cesc Fabregas to Real Madrid - if they get Argentine star Gonzalo Higuain in return. (Spanish newspaper Marca, 1115 GMT)

Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira has told Eurosport he is leaving the Serie A champions to join Manchester City in a bid to secure more first-team action that would help him earn a place in France's World Cup squad. (Reuters, 0919 GMT)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United have been told they will have to pay £40m if they want to sign Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa.
Full story: The Sun

Cash-strapped Portsmouth have put their entire squad up for sale.
Full story: Daily Star

Manchester City are set to sign former Arsenal midfielder and Patrick Vieira from Inter Milan on Thursday.
Full story: The Sun

City boss Roberto Mancini is also expected to land Palermo centre-half Simon Kjaer for £18m.
Full story: The Sun

606: DEBATE

A player who could be on his way out of Eastlands is Roque Santa Cruz, with Espanyol keen to sign City's Paraguay striker on loan.
Full story: The Sun

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is tracking CFR Cluj's 6ft 6in Ivorian striker Lacine Traore - dubbed 'The New Adebayor'.
Full story: Daily Express

Tottenham are ready to offer captain Robbie Keane as bait to secure a deal for Aston Villa striker John Carew.
Full story: Daily Star

Everton are considering a deal for out-of-favour Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy as boss David Moyes looks to boost his options in attack.
Full story: Daily Mail

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is ready to capitalise on the financial uncertainty around crisis club Portsmouth by attempting to hi-jack their bid to re-sign Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara on loan.
Full story: Daily Mirror

West Ham hope to wrap up a loan deal for Fiorentina's former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu early next week.
Full story: Daily Star

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has launched a £9m bid for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones.
Full story: Various

Sunderland want to replace Jones with Schalke 04 striker Kevin Kuranyi.
Full story: Daily Mirror

And Black Cats manager Steve Bruce is on the verge of signing £5.5m Hamburg defender Guy Demel. (The Sun)

McLeish, meanwhile, is set to improve his offer for Liverpool forward Ryan Babel from £8m to £10m.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen is wanted by Greek champions Olympiakos - but they are unwilling to meet Rovers' £1.8m valuation.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Bolton could make a move for Eskisehirspor's Bosnia defender Safet Nadarevic, who is due for talks with Bolton on Monday.
Full story: Daily Mail

Newcastle will target Napoli's Ezequiel Lavezzi, nicknamed 'the Tank', if they make it back to the Premier League but the Italian club want more than £5m for their striker.
Full story: The Sun

Magpies boss Chris Hughton has received a setback after Sheffield United centre-back Matt Kilgallon decided he will remain at Bramall Lane until his contract expires in the summer, despite the clubs having agreed £2m fee.
Full story: The Sun

The Blades want to take Kyle Naughton back from Tottenham on loan - the full-back has played only once since his joint £12m summer transfer with Kyle Walker.
Full story: Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United defender Gary Neville is set to retire from football at the end of the season.
Full story: The Sun

West Ham are the target of £100m takeover offer, which could lead to a bidding war for the Upton Park club.
Full story: The Sun

Chelsea are bracing themselves for a financial hit next week when a compensation fee for their signing of Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City will finally be settled. The London club could end up forking out £8m for the 20-year-old striker Sturridge, who was Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti's first signing after taking over as manager last summer.
Full story: Daily Express

LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham may have nowhere to play once his AC Milan loan deal ends in May because Major League Soccer faces a strike. International players union DIDPro is deadlocked in talks with MLS about a new deal for all players in the United States and the league is threatening a lock-out if a new contract is not signed by 31 January.
Full story: The Sun

AND FINALLY

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he once tried to sign legendary AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini - only to be rebuffed by his father, the former Italy boss Cesare Maldini. "I always wanted to get Paolo here but it was impossible," said the Scot.

"I met his father at a game and told him how much I'd love to have his son at United. Cesare smiled at me and said 'My grandfather was Milan, my father was Milan, I played for Milan and now my son is Milan'. And that was it - story over!"
Full story: The Sun

Michael Oliver will become the youngest referee in Premier League history when he takes charge of Fulham's home game against Portsmouth on Saturday at the age of 24. (Daily Mail)

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has scored a chart-topping single in South Korea. But the Chelsea star is unlikely to celebrate when he hears the lyrics to Mister. They refer to the England star as "cute chubby Frank".
Full story: Daily Star

A 100-inch plasma television has been installed by Manchester United players at the club's Carrington training ground. It is believed Sir Alex Ferguson's stars had a whip-round to buy the £80,000 TV set for the lounge area. (Daily Star)



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see also
Transfers - January 2010
27 Jan 10 |  Football
Thursday's Scottish gossip
07 Jan 10 |  Scottish Premier
Wednesday's gossip column
06 Jan 10 |  Gossip
Wednesday's Scottish gossip
06 Jan 10 |  Scottish Premier
Tuesday's gossip column
05 Jan 10 |  Gossip
Tuesday's Scottish gossip
05 Jan 10 |  Scottish Premier
Monday's gossip column
04 Jan 10 |  Gossip
Monday's Scottish gossip
04 Jan 10 |  Scottish Premier
Gossip column of the year
01 Jan 10 |  Gossip


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