Saturday's gossip column
Last updated on .From the section Football
FA CUP GOSSIP
Steven Gerrard played a key role in Liverpool's memorable FA Cup win in 2006 and he is hoping to help his side to more cup glory against Chelsea on Saturday.
Didier Drogba has admitted he feels "like a kid" every time he scores a winning goal at Wembley. The Chelsea striker has scored in all seven of his competitive appearances there.
Full story: London Evening Standard
TRANSFER GOSSIP
German outfit Hoffenheim plan to raid Championship side Crystal Palace for highly-rated youngster Wilfried Zaha. They hope the £4m-rated 19-year-old winger might be tempted by a move to the Bundesliga big time.
Hoffenheim have already succeeded in luring FC Basel's left-sided attacker Valentin Stocker, 23, to Germany, despite serious interest from Martin O'Neill's Sunderland.
Gareth Bale is not bound for Etihad Stadium, says Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. "Bale is a fantastic player," said the City boss. "But I don't think he will leave a big team like Tottenham."
Fulham boss Martin Jol has shrugged off Liverpool interest in his 29-year-old American striker Clint Dempsey. "I'm not bothered about it," he declared.
Full story: the Times (subscription required)
Everton are not prepared to let any of their stars leave Goodison Park at the end of the campaign, despite interest from Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines.
Newcastle and Tottenham are interested in the services of German international defender Serdar Tasci, 25, but they face stiff competition from rival suitors Roma and Juventus.
Southampton have added West Bromwich Albion striker Simon Cox, 25, to their list of potential targets after securing their return to the Premier League.
OTHER GOSSIP
John Terry has rubbished rumours he could call time on his international career, saying: "I will never turn my back on England."
Full story: London Evening Standard
Bolton's Fabrice Muamba refers to himself as a "living miracle". After recovering from a cardiac arrest at White Hart Lane, the midfielder says: "I have been given a chance to live again. It still blows my mind."
Full story: the Times (subscription required)
Chelsea directors spoke with a member of the Qatari ruling family on Friday about investing in the club's future.
Jose Mourinho is set to snub Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and sign a new Real Madrid deal — worth a staggering £10million a year after tax.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admits that he still has not been offered a new contract, despite having only one year of his deal remaining. Meanwhile, Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers and Wigan's Roberto Martinez are being linked with the role.
On-loan Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson admits it will feel odd if he has to return to Germany in the summer. "It's difficult to say if I miss [Hoffenheim]. I have friends there but I wasn't playing, was hardly ever really happy. I just want to play football, but I was training, sitting on the bench, training again. Every week."
The managing director of Club England, Adrian Bevington, says new boss Roy Hodgson has remained unaffected by the negative coverage surrounding his appointment. "We want to stand by our man," declared Bevington.
Arsenal striker and captain Robin van Persie has revealed he will open talks over a new deal with the Gunners in the summer. "We haven't set a date but I will have a meeting with the boss like we did before now. We will be having a meeting about my future, and lots of other things," he said.
AND FINALLY
In a bid to land sought-after midfielder Eden Hazard, 21, Manchester City have given the player a guided tour of the property hotspots in north-west England. Staff from City have given the young Belgian a tour of the comfy Cheshire commuter belt.
