Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
Last updated on .From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 34, is close to agreeing a £6.7m-a-year deal to join Chinese side Shanghai Shenua.
Drogba and midfielder Frank Lampard, 33 will be allowed to leave in the summer as Chelsea attempt to reduce the average age of their squad.
Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa, 29, is being targeted by Inter Milan on a free transfer but his considerable wage demands are a potential stumbling block.
Aston Villa will demand £12m for 25-year-old England striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who is a target for Sunderland.
Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil, 23, is Manchester United's number one summer transfer target.
Arsenal are tracking versatile Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who is the 22-year-old captain of Montpellier.
Manchester United and Arsenal target Luis Muriel, a 21-year-old Colombian forward, will not leave Udinese for another year at least according to his agent.
Wigan winger Victor Moses, 21, is set to spark a summer scramble between Liverpool and Tottenham after deciding not to renew his deal at the DW Stadium.
OTHER GOSSIP
Ryan Giggs can play for Manchester United until he is 42 and further cement his place as the Premier League's greatest-ever player, according to former team-mate Gary Neville.
Full story: Manchester Evening News
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is "desperate" for Robert Huth, 27, to sign a new deal as the German defender approaches the last year of his contract.
Wigan are in a fight to keep Mohamed Diame, 24, as he is stalling on talks while he waits to see if the club stays in the Premier League.
England are planning a 'home' friendly against Italy in Switzerland on 15 August - three days before the start of the Premier League season. The game cannot be held at Wembley because the date set by Fifa comes so soon after the the Olympic Games, which end on 12 August.
AND FINALLY
Newcastle United striker Pappis Demba Cisse made himself at home on the city's streets when he sparked a 200-strong crowd outside a barber's.
Celebrity Liverpool fan and United States basketball star LeBron James has launched a Liverpool-inspired range of trainers - only for them to be panned by fellow supporters.
