Sunday's gossip - column inches

[imallstokedup]

TRANSFER GOSSIP
Chelsea are set to sell striker Didier Drogba at the end of the season to help fund a move for Manchester City's Robinho. (News of the World)

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes remains optimistic about landing Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn on the final day of the transfer window with an improved £20m bid. (Sunday Times)

Liverpool striker Robbie Keane is on the verge of a £15m return to White Hart Lane. (Mail on Sunday)

Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta will snub Arsenal and Manchester City to sign a new four-year deal at Goodison Park. (News of the World)

Djibril Cisse will quit Sunderland at the end of the season after the departure of best mates Pascal Chimbonda and El-Hadji Diouf. (News of the World)

Wigan winger Antonio Valencia has snubbed a loan move to Real Madrid to stay at the JJB Stadium. (Sunday Express)

Wolves are closing in on a £2.3m deal for Hearts captain Christophe Berra. (Sunday Times)

Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia has made a £5m approach for Manchester City captain Richard Dunne. (NOTW)

Bolton are planning a club record £15m for Sporting Lisbon's Miguel Veloso, who is also attracting interest from Newcastle and Manchester City. Wanderers are also lining up a £3m bid for Portsmouth's Sean Davis. (Sunday Express)

West Ham have made inquiries about bringing 37-year-old former Sweden international Henrik Larsson, currently a free agent, to Upton Park. The club face competition from Bolton. (Independent on Sunday)

Hull boss Phil Brown is eyeing Spurs striker Darren Bent. (NOTW)

Newcastle want Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson as part of the deal to take goalkeeper Shay Given to Eastlands. (Sunday Express)

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is chasing £4.5m-rated Gary O'Neil of Middlesbrough. (Daily Star Sunday)

Striker Steven Fletcher has begged Hibernian not to price him out of a move to Celtic. (Sunday Mail)

However, Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen has told the 21-year-old that the time is not right to leave Easter Road. (NOTW)

Newcastle are ready to launch a £2m deadline day swoop for Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson. (Sunday Mail)

Nottingham Forest are lining up a late £200,000 bid for Hibs captain Rob Jones. (NOTW)

Hibernian misfit Abdessalam Benjelloun has sealed a move to Belgian side Roeselare. (NOTW)

Motherwell are set to land Derby and Scotland winger Gary Teale in a surprise loan move. (NOTW)

OTHER FOOTBALL GOSSIP
Portsmouth manager Tony Adams is considering his future at Fratton Park after the 3-1 defeat by Fulham, a result which leaves Pompey with just one point from their last seven matches. (Sunday Telegraph)

Stephen Ireland is ready to open new contract talks to keep him at Manchester City until 2014. The midfielder is holding out for £60,000 a week. (News of the World)

Aston Villa are chasing a deadline-day £7m swoop for Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards. (Daily Star Sunday)

Former Nottingham Forest boss Colin Calderwood is being lined up as the new manager at Southampton. (News of the World)

PFA chief Gordon Taylor has backed Newcastle's Charles N'Zogbia following his refusal to play for Joe Kinnear after the Magpies boss mispronounced his name during a television interview. (Sunday Times)

Liverpool will offer striker Dirk Kuyt a new three-year contract to stave off interest from Italian giants Juventus. (Sunday Express)

Former England boss Sir Bobby Robson has urged David Beckham to quit the LA Galaxy to maintain his hopes of playing in the 2010 World Cup. (Mail on Sunday)

Australian side Sydney FC want ex-Sunderland boss Roy Keane as their new manager. (Mail on Sunday)

AND FINALLY
Leeds chairman Ken Bates gave Fabio Capello his two-pence worth about the talents of the club's rising stars when he bumped into the England boss at a restaurant. "I sent him a note to his table with the names of Jon Howson, Fabian Delph, Aidan White and Ben Parker," said Bates. (Daily Star Sunday)

[Bick]

Not sure about O'Neill. Seems similar to whelan. 4.5 mil????

[armitagestokie]

Fabio sent Ken a reply with just one word on it -----MASTER.

[ihateronaldo]

Oneill would be an excellent addition. Hopefully this will be concluded tomorrow......

[foals]

i think that o neill would be a great addition. he's got bollocks, he can tackle and he can pass the ball. a far better option than amdy faye who simply isnt good enough at this level