Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
Last updated on .From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Carlo Ancelotti wants to be reunited with Ashley Cole and is looking to take the Chelsea defender to Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal are considering Celtic's Victor Wanyama, 21, as a replacement for Alex Song, if Barcelona make a substantial bid for the 24-year-old.
Juventus have set Robin van Persie a deadline of 7 August to make his mind up over a move to Italy, with the striker, 29, still looking to leave Arsenal.
Real Madrid are preparing a £19.7m bid for Manchester United winger Nani, 25.
Santi Cazorla, 27, has undergone his medical at Arsenal and the club are poised to announce his £16m signing from Malaga.
Manchester City are showing interest in 22-year-old Marseille defender Nicolas N'Koulou.
Tottenham Hotspur are ready to pay £7m for Liverpool midfielder Raheem Sterling, 17.
Spurs also want to bring in Malaga's 22-year-old Venezuelan midfielder Salomon Rondon for £10m.
Blackburn Rovers will offer £6m for Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes, 22. The forward is also a target for West Ham and Fulham.
West Ham United have made a £1.5m bid for Moussa Konate, 19, whose four goals helped Senegal reach the quarter-finals of the Olympics.
Full story: the Times (subscription required)
Chelsea have had a £5m bid for Marseille defender Cesar Azpilicueta, 22, turned down.
Wolves have turned down a £10m bid from Fulham for 26-year-old winger Matt Jarvis.
Juventus have joined the growing pack of teams interested in Chelsea and Everton target 29-year-old Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo.
Fulham are set to gazump Queens Park Rangers in the £7m battle to sign Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng.
OTHER GOSSIP
Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, 24, will fly to Belgium next week to visit his specialist and hopes to get the go-ahead to return to training.
Former Fulham and Tottenham midfielder Steed Malbranque, 32, is set to return to professional football less than a year after announcing his retirement from the game.
Daniel Sturridge, 22, has told Chelsea he wants showdown talks with the club to find out what part he plays in Roberto Di Matteo's new-look side, with Tottenham interested in signing the Team GB Olympic striker.
Michael Laudrup wants to cut his Swansea City squad down to a core of 22 or 23 senior players.
Full story: South Wales Evening Post
Paul Lambert believes Stephen Ireland and Charles N'Zogbia will transform Aston Villa next season.
AND FINALLY
Portsmouth are due to play a friendly against AFC Wimbledon next week and such are their financial problems their squad list in the programme is empty.
