Monday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
Last updated on .From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Chelsea are planning an £80m bid to snap up Real Madrid pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain. Owner Roman Abramovich is also considering an £58.5m move for Napoli duo Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
The Blues are ready to take on Tottenham in the race to lure the highly sought-after Eden Hazard away from French club Lille this summer, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City also keen on the 21-year-old Belgium international.
Martin Jol has revealed he may have to sell Fulham's best players in the summer - but insists he can find the right young replacements to fill their places.
Norwich manager Paul Lambert is ready to make a bid for Nottingham Forest pair Chris Gunter and Garath McCleary as he looks to build on the Canaries' impressive Premier League form next season.
PSV Eindhoven winger Dries Mertens is set to snub interest from Liverpool and head to Bayern Munich instead.
OTHER GOSSIP
Former Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is not ruling out a dramatic return to Molineux this season to help his former charges beat the drop.
England could have one of their lowest followings at a major tournament at Euro 2012 as high costs deter fans from a trip to Ukraine and Poland.
Rio Ferdinand may be set for a new contract at Manchester United as he overcomes injury problems to return to form for Sir Alex Ferguson's title-chasers.
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The deal could see 33-year-old Ferdinand take a £50,000-a-week wage cut.
Watching from his hospital bed, Fabrice Muamba saw his Bolton team-mates beat Blackburn Rovers from a recording of Match of the Day on Sunday.
Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia hopes Carlos Tevez does not mark his return for Manchester City with a goal in the derby against his former club.
Winger Scott Sinclair has pledged his future to Swansea despite being linked to Liverpool.
Everton captain Phil Neville believes his time with the Toffees will be a failure if they do not win a trophy as David Moyes's side prepare for their FA Cup quarter-final replay against Sunderland on Tuesday.
AND FINALLY
In Brazil they have found a different way to deal with players abusing match officials after a police dog bit Caxias forward Vanderlei on the leg. The striker and his team-mates harassed the assistant referee for overturning a decision to disallow a goal against them.
