Saturday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
- From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manager Jose Mourinho wants his Real Madrid bosses to make a £50m-plus move for Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, 23.
Chelsea are to offer Atletico Madrid £48m for Radamel Falcao in January. Manchester City are also thought to be interested in the 26-year-old Colombian.
Sir Alex Ferguson wants to bring Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole, 31, to Old Trafford on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer.
Porto have inserted a new £38m release clause into the contract of 21-year-old Colombian winger James Rodriguez, who is said to be a target for Manchester United.
Fulham manager Martin Jol admits Brede Hangeland's future at the club remains uncertain as talks over a new contract for the 31-year-old defender continue.
OTHER GOSSIP
Ahead of Sunday's Merseyside derby, Everton manager David Moyes says "people are going to turn away from football" if players like Liverpool's Luis Suarez dive in matches.
Roberto Di Matteo has played down the significance of mind games with rival managers ahead of Chelsea's meeting with Manchester United on Sunday.
Full story: London Evening Standard
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Di Matteo has warned striker Fernando Torres, 28, that he might be left out of the starting line-up against Manchester United.
Tottenham defender Kyle Walker, 22, says he decided to stop using Twitter after criticism and abuse from fans began to affect his performances.
Paul Lambert is unsure what kind of reception he will receive from Norwich City fans on Saturday when he faces his former club for the first time since leaving Carrow Road to become manager at Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Lambert is set to drop striker Darren Bent, 28, to the Aston Villa bench for the match.
Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, 20, claims football is becoming less of a contact sport with little margin for error when tackling.
Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola wants his next job to be in the Premier League and would prefer to manage a London club.
AND FINALLY
Aston Villa have become the first Premier League club to advocate the return of standing areas to top-flight football grounds.