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Page last updated at 06:44 GMT, Friday, 2 April 2010 07:44 UK

Friday's gossip column

TransfersOther gossipAnd finallyNews image

BREAKING GOSSIP

1313 BST: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has quashed rumours that midfielder James Milner might move to Manchester United.
Full story: ESPN Soccernet

1220 BST: Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has indicated that he would like to extend his contract at St James' Park beyond the end of next season.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

1025 BST: Lille playmaker Eden Hazard wants to go to Real Madrid or Arsenal should he leave the Stade Metropole. Liverpool are believed to be interested in the 19-year-old who impressed in their Europa League tie.
Full story: Daily Mail

0941 BST: West Brom will look to recruit another goalkeeper as competition to Scott Carson as Dean Kiely takes up the role of goalkeeping coach at The Hawthorns.
Full story: wba.co.uk

0833 BST: Juventus have resumed their pursuit of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez after Bordeaux's Laurent Blanc and Fiorentina's Cesare Prandelli turned down the chance to take charge of the Italian club.
Full story: imscouting.com

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Inter Milan's ambitious attempts to sign midfielder Steven Gerrard could see forward Mario Balotelli go in the other direction to Liverpool.
Full story: Daily Mail

Wolfsburg's £25m-rated striker Edin Dzeko, a target of Chelsea and Manchester City, says he is open to a move to England despite AC Milan being his preferred option.
Full story: Daily Mail

606: DEBATE

AC Milan are lining up a £20m bid for Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic after making the defender their top priority in this summer's transfer market.
Full story: Daily Star

Manchester United could move for unsettled Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson attempted to buy the £30m-rated Frenchman from Lyon last summer.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

Blackburn have agreed a £2m fee with Aruna Dindane's parent club Lens and may loan the striker back to Portsmouth where he has spent this season on loan. (Daily Mail)

West Bromwich Albion are ready to rival Wigan for Hamilton's £2m-rated midfielder James McArthur.
Full story: Daily Mail

Notts County have told Birmingham and Blackburn they can have keeper Kasper Schmeichel in the summer - but the cash-strapped League Two side have put a £2m price tag on him.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will use this weekend's meeting with Tottenham to sound out the possibility of making Spurs full-back Alan Hutton's loan spell at the Stadium of Light permanent. (Daily Mirror)

Kris Boyd will leave Rangers in the summer for Birmingham City after the Scotland striker was offered a contract worth £1m per year. (The Herald)

Rangers striker Kris Boyd has laughed off suggestions that he has agreed to join Birmingham City when his contract ends in the summer. (Various)

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan will attempt to sign Stephen McManus when the Celtic defender's loan deal ends in the summer. (Various)

West Brom are poised to battle it out with Wigan to sign Hamilton midfielder James McArthur in the summer and are lining up a £1.5m bid. (Daily Record)

Hamilton chairman Ronnie MacDonald expects the club to cash in on midfielder James McArthur and goalkeeper Tomas Cerny in the summer. (The Herald)

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas may have already fractured his right leg before taking to the pitch against Barcelona on Wednesday. The injury is on exactly the same spot the Gunners captain hurt when tackled by Birmingham's Craig Gardner last weekend.
Full story: The Sun

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has reprimanded his midfielder Martin Olsson for cheating to win a crucial penalty in the 1-0 win against local rivals Burnley last weekend.
Full story: Daily Mail

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola may be replaced by assistant Steve Clarke at the end of the season. Former England boss Steve McClaren is also in the running for the post should the Hammers preserve their top-flight status.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Tottenham defender Ledley King is set to be offered a two-year extension to his current White Hart Lane deal. (Daily Express)

Portsmouth and England goalkeeper David James has been ordered to cut back his workload to avoid aggravating a niggling calf injury during the closing stages of the season. (Daily Express)

Derby captain Robbie Savage says that Celtic should appoint former Blackburn and Manchester City boss Mark Hughes as their manager ahead of caretaker Neil Lennon.
Full story: Daily Record

Steven Pressley, manager of relegation-threatened Falkirk, has compared debt-ridden Scottish Premier League clubs to drugs cheats. (Various)

Mark McGhee expects to be sacked by Aberdeen if his side are still struggling in the first few months of next season. (Various)

AND FINALLY

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti's attempt at an April Fool gag was scuppered by midfielder Michael Ballack. The Italian told his squad their training hours would double ahead of their match with Manchester United, but Ballack immediately called his bluff.
Full story: Daily Mirror

West Ham striker Mido has been given the nickname "Kung Fu Panda" by his team-mates in reference to his weight and running style.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Australians were taken in by an April Fools spoof radio interview with a David Beckham impersonator that claimed the LA Galaxy midfielder would coach their national team in this summer's World Cup. The sports minister even rang the Australian Football Association to congratulate it on the coup.
Full story: Daily Star



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see also
Transfers - March 2010
23 Mar 10 |  Football
Friday's Scottish gossip
02 Apr 10 |  Scottish Premier
Thursday's gossip column
31 Mar 10 |  Gossip
Wednesday's gossip column
31 Mar 10 |  Gossip
Wednesday's Scottish gossip
31 Mar 10 |  Scottish Premier
Tuesday's gossip column
30 Mar 10 |  Gossip
Tuesday's Scottish gossip
30 Mar 10 |  Scottish Premier


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