Thursday's gossip column
Last updated on .From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is planning to offer striker Dimitar Berbatov, 31, a contract extension at Old Trafford until June 2013.
Manchester United target Javi Martinez, 23, believes that the £33.5m buy-out-clause in his contract with Atletico Bilbao could put off clubs wanting to sign him.
Chelsea have been told they will have to spend £85m if they want to complete the signing of Porto star Hulk, 25, this summer.
Liverpool target Seydou Keita, 32, has fuelled speculation that he could join the Reds from Barcelona in the summer after admitting "Liverpool are a great team".
Liverpool are also believed to be watching Montpellier youngster Remy Cabella as they look to improve their creativity. The 21-year-old has scored four goals in his last seven games for the French side.
Defender Jan Vertonghen would flourish at Tottenham according to Ajax team-mate Toby Alderweireld. The 24-year-old is believed to be a summer target for Harry Redknapp's side.
Barcelona are ready to call a halt to their pursuit of Tottenham and Wales star Gareth Bale, who is rumoured to be valued at £50m.
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, who is on loan at Sunderland, could be set to turn his back on the Premier League and join the Russian revolution this summer. Christophe Samba joined Anzhi Makachkala last week.
Lukas Podolski's future at Cologne looks in doubt, according to coach Stale Solbakken, fuelling speculation of a summer move to Arsenal.
Norwich City must pay £4m if they are to pursue their interest in signing 22-year-old Nottingham Forest full-back Chris Gunter.
Atletico Madrid are keen on keeping on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtios for another season, following some impressive performances in La Liga.
OTHER GOSSIP
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has told fans in London that he has no plans to return to Stamford Bridge for a second spell as manager.
Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane is convinced his former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will be the next England manager.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is scared of the sack and to blame for Fernando Torres' poor form, according to the Spaniard's former agent Antonio Sanz.
Chelsea captain John Terry has insisted that he will be back for the club's end-of-season run-in after having surgery on his knee.
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has ruled out returning to the club this season, as he battles ulcerative colitis. The Scotland captain is targeting a return next season.
Full story: Manchester Evening News
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson fears that Tottenham striker Louis Saha could come back to haunt him when United play Tottenham on Sunday.
Celtic defender Kelvin Wilson has admitted he is baffled that team-mate Gary Hooper did not win a call up to the England squad after scoring 20 goals for the SPL leaders.
Full story: London Evening Standard
Roberto Mancini is still lamenting the loss of England striker Daniel Sturridge, 22, who was allowed to leave Manchester City to join Chelsea in 2009. The City boss has admitted he would have "liked to have kept him".
Full story: Manchester Evening News
Fulham's on-loan striker Pavel Pogrebnyak has admitted that he wants to stay at Craven Cottage long-term after getting off to a flying start since signing on loan from Stuttgart.
AND FINALLY
In a week which has seen him lift the Carling Cup and represent his country, Steven Gerrard has received another honour after having a hotel named after him in Indonesia. The Stevie G Hotel, in the town of Bandung, boasts 24 individually-designed rooms.
Former England manager Peter Taylor guided Bahrain to a 10-0 trashing of Indonesia in a Asian World Cup qualifier match. Bahrain went into the game needing to reverse a goal difference deficit of nine in order to progress to the next stage of the competition.
