Sunday's Gossip column
- From the section Football
.jpg)
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Former England captain David Beckham, 37, will try to convince at least four big-name England stars, including Steven Gerrard, to join the MLS - once he has sorted out his own future. Ashley Cole and Peter Crouch are also believed to be on the wishlist.
Tottenham winger David Bentley, 28, is desperate to go out on loan after returning from a spell with FC Rostov, with Blackburn and Reading interested.
Premier League teams including Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are all believed to be interested in signing striker Christian Benteke from struggling Aston Villa. The 22-year-old has scored 11 goals this season.
Meanwhile, Villa are set to cut their losses on former England international defender Stephen Warnock and let the 31-year-old join West Ham on a free transfer.
Reading are plotting to hijack Blackpool winger Tom Ince's move to Liverpool with an £8m bid.
Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has set his heart on a summer move to Manchester United, although Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have also shown an interest in the 25-year-old, who is rated at £14m.
Manchester United are set to offer a new deal to midfielder Michael Carrick with the 31-year-old's current deal due to expire in 2014.
Newcastle are in talks to sign Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony, 24, from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for £12m.
Former Wigan and West Brom midfielder Paul Scharner, 32, is set to join Sunderland on loan from Hamburg.
OTHER GOSSIP
Sir Alex Ferguson took the advice of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes before signing Robin van Persie because he wanted assurances that the £24m striker's arrival from Arsenal would not lead to any problems in the dressing room.
Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez has admitted he would love to stay at the Stamford Bridge club and that he would have a better chance of winning the league if the club give him a full season to impose his ideas.
New Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino admits his biggest fear ahead of facing Manchester United is picking the right Argentinian wine for Sir Alex Ferguson.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has joked that Pep Guardiola has joined Bayern Munich to ensure the pair do not have to do battle. Mourinho said: "Has he deliberately chosen a league I am not involved in? I don't know. What is certain is that I will not manage in Germany."
AND FINALLY
Charlie Morgan, the ball boy involved in the incident with Chelsea's Eden Hazard last week, has been banned by football chiefs from next month's Wales international against Austria at the Liberty Stadium.