Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
Last updated on .From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Luka Modric is expected to delay signing a new deal at White Hart Lane until the uncertainty surrounding Harry Redknapp is resolved and he knows who will be Spurs manager next season.
Chelsea have opened talks with Napoli striker Edinson Cavani. The Uruguay international is also wanted by Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid after helping himself to 26 goals this season.
Manchester City have watched Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez seven times and want to snap up the versatile Spain international for £25m.
Dimitar Berbatov has already rejected overtures from Sunderland and Fulham after he decided he would only leave Manchester United for a club which have qualified for the Champions League.
Rivals Manchester United and Manchester City are likely to do battle for the signature of 24-year-old Benfica winger Nicolas Gaitan, who is expected to cost around £25m.
Tottenham have joined Chelsea in the race to land Newcastle United striker Demba Ba for £7m this summer.
Liverpool technical director Damien Comolli has watched 23-year-old Anderlecht striker Matias Suarez in recent months and the Reds are contemplating a summer move for the Argentinian, who is also wanted by West Brom and another unnamed Premier League club.
Spurs look set to miss out again on strikers Leandro Damiao and Giuseppe Rossi, both of whom they targeted last summer and who appear to favour moves to Italy.
Newcastle are tracking PSV Eindhoven midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum as they look at options should star pair Cheikh Tiote and Yohan Cabaye be tempted to move away from the Sports Direct Arena.
OTHER GOSSIP
West Brom boss Roy Hodgson has admitted he would relish the opportunity to become England manager.
Hodgson is determined to resolve the future of on-loan goalkeeper Ben Foster as soon as possible.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists his team have not yet done enough to be sure of a top-four place in the Premier League.
Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland is determined to become a regular in the first team, while manager Alex McLeish has dismissed reports linking the 25-year-old with a move to American Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.
QPR owner Tony Fernandes launched a furious attack on his team on Twitter following their 3-1 defeat at Sunderland.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew says the club have identified a number of summer transfer targets he believes will "excite the fans".
Full story: Newcastle Chronicle
Burnley are expected to thwart interest in youth prospect Cameron Howieson, the New Zealander who is thought to have been watched by Liverpool and Newcastle, by offering the 17-year-old a professional contract.
Full story: Lancashire Telegraph
Sale Sharks owner has advanced his candidature for launching a takover of Rangers by entering into introductory talks with Scottish Football Association chief executive Stuart Regan.
Full story: Mail on Sunday
Rangers have received a fifth bid for the club, with the latest offer coming from Singapore.
Full story: Sunday Mail, Sunday Times, Scotland on Sunday, Sunday Herald, the Observer
American firm Club 9 Sports will be represented at the Old Firm derby as it steps up its bid to buy Rangers.
Full story: the Sun, Sunday Times, Sunday Herald, the Observer
Celtic manager Neil Lennon admits he would rather win the Scottish title at home than away to reigning champions and Glasgow rivals Rangers.
Full story: the Sun
Neil Lennon is prepared to ditch his post-match ritual of walking to the Celtic fans - even if his team are crowned Scottish champions at Ibrox today - to avoid any potential crowd trouble.
Full story: Mail on Sunday
AND FINALLY
The Belgian FA is considering whether to look into an unusual incident during a second division match between Royal Antwerp and FC Tubize, after the visiting manager gestured as if to kick opposition striker John Cofie in a "delicate place".
