Wednesday's gossip column

[khay 10]

TRANSFER RUMOURS

 

Chelsea are set for a £70m fight with Italian side AC Milan to sign Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho, who is falling out of favour at Barcelona. (The Sun)

 

Meanwhile, the Blues are also considering a £12m move for Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka. (Daily Mail)

 

The Stamford Bridge club are also set to buy Lokomotiv Moscow midfielders Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Branislav Ivanovic for £20m in the January transfer window. (Independent)

 

Magpies boss Sam Allardyce is looking at a £6m move for Benfica and Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo. (The Sun)

 

Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg will join Italian side Juventus when his contract expires at the end of this season. (Independent)

 

Villa boss Martin O'Neill is planning to bring Liverpool striker Peter Crouch back to Villa Park. The England hitman had a forgettable stint at Villa from 2002-04. (Daily Mirror)

 

Sunderland manager Roy Keane will offer £2m for Manchester United defender Johnny Evans, who impressed while on loan on Wearside last season. (Various)

 

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is eyeing £9m-rated Brazil striker Afonso Alves who plays for Dutch side Heerenveen. (Daily Mirror)

 

Bolton boss Gary Megson has told chairman Phil Gartside to expect an expensive January as he tries to save the team from relegation. (Daily Star)

 

Tell us your transfer rumours

 

 

OTHER GOSSIP

 

Chelsea boss Avram Grant says there are no "untouchables" at the club now and only the best players will play. Previous manager Jose Mourinho named nine Chelsea players he said were "untouchable" and he would always select to play if fit. (Various)

 

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was conspicuous by his absence as the club formally unveiled Juande Ramos as their new manager. (Various)

 

Lifelong Spurs fan and American basketball star Steve Nash is keen to form a consortium capable of buying the club. (Guardian)

 

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry admits he is struggling to adapt to playing for Barcelona. (Various)

 

Leeds manager Dennis Wise is expected to ask his former Wimbledon boss Dave Bassett to replace Gus Poyet as his number two. (Various)

 

Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins is also being lined up as Wise's Elland Road assistant. (Various)

 

New Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has banned former chairman Freddy Shepherd from St James' Park. (Daily Mirror)

 

Former Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has revealed that he had Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill under contract to take over as manager three months before he was forced out of Elland Road. (The Sun)

 

Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry is to be given a testimonial, at the age of 26, after making his debut for the club in 1998. (Daily Mail)

 

Birmingham midfielder Wilson Palacios's 15-year-old brother, Edwin, has been kidnapped by an armed gang in his home country, Honduras. (Various)

 

Back to top

 

AND FINALLY

 

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says he would be happy to let former striker Robbie Fowler score for Cardiff when the sides meet in the Carling Cup at Anfield on Wednesday.

 

Benitez said: "Maybe we can leave him to score a fantastic goal in front of the Kop, but at the end of the game, if we have scored three." (Various)

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The striker just joined for them this summer.