Saturday's gossip column

[Scottish Mag 3]

TRANSFER RUMOURS

 

Chelsea have increased their offer for Arsenal defender Ashley Cole to £23m, which should clinch the deal. (Times)

 

Middlesbrough have launched an improved £4.5m bid for Manchester City defender Sylvain Distin. (The Sun)

 

Man Utd are keen to sign Bayern Munich and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, despite already shelling out £18m for Michael Carrick. (The Times)

 

Darren Anderton is considering a move to Norwich after being released by Wolves in the summer. (The Sun)

 

Arsenal striker Arturo Lupoli will join West Brom on loan. (Daily Mirror)

 

Portsmouth want to sign Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins for a club record £9.5m. (Daily Mirror)

 

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder is also interested in the 21-year-old. (The Times)

 

Sunderland will hear on Monday whether former Black Cats hero Kevin Phillips is to return to the club from Aston Villa. (The Times)

 

Dunfermline have failed in their bid to sign former Hearts striker Mark de Vries, now at Leicester. (Daily Record)

 

Hearts are poised to sign Lithuanian defender Marius Zaliukas. (Daily Record)

 

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has told Stephen Pearson he will not be allowed to leave the club. (Daily Record)

 

OTHER GOSSIP

 

Steve McClaren's decision to drop David Beckham from the England team could cost the FA £50m. (The Sun)

 

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will receive a further £3.4m from the FA because of his contract agreement. (Daily Mirror)

 

Chelsea have released a history of the club which snubs both former vice-chairman Matthew Harding and ex-owner Ken Bates. (Daily Mirror)

 

Sheffield United defender David Unsworth has been rushed to hospital for tests after complaining of severe headaches. (Daily Mirror)

 

FUNNIES

 

Nigel Quashie is in for a surprise when he returns to Southampton with West Brom on Saturday - only two of the team he left are still at St Mary's following George Burley's mass clear-out. (The Sun)

[Lazarus 0]

Beckhams england career is over too.

[Brock Manson 0]

Can't see him choosing Portsmouth over us.

 

Money or no money.

[adios 717]

Can't see him choosing Portsmouth over us.

 

Money or no money.

175898[/snapback]

 

He might not be so keen when he finds out Shearer's retired.

[Jusoda Kid 1]

Can't see him choosing Portsmouth over us.

 

Money or no money.

175898[/snapback]

 

He might not be so keen when he finds out Shearer's retired.

175900[/snapback]

 

has he retired? source tbh