Monday's gossip column
- From the section Football
.jpg)
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Arsenal are considering a £10m move for Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 31.
Arsene Wenger will be given £70m to spend in the summer. Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue, 24, Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, 30 , and Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic, 23, are his main targets.
Southampton are risking losing in-form winger Jason Puncheon by dithering over handing the 26-year-old a new contract, while Newcastle and West Ham wait in the wings.
Newcastle United winger Jonas Gutierrez, 26, is confident that the influx of five new French players in the transfer window will help to steer the club to a strong finish this season.
.jpg)
Celtic are mulling over offering forward Anthony Stokes an extension to his contract after the 24-year-old played his way back into Neil Lennon's good books. Celtic were ready to offload the former Arsenal trainee earlier in the season over off-the-field issues.
OTHER GOSSIP
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has refused to rule out the possibility of a switch to moneybags French club PSG, saying: "Why not?"
Striker Marek Hamsik, 25, is the latest Napoli player to be targeted by criminals after he was robbed at gunpoint while leaving the Stadio San Paolo following Sunday's 0-0 Serie A draw against Sampdoria.
Roy Hodgson is ready to hand an England chance to Celtic defender Kelvin Wilson following the 27-year-old's Champions League heroics for the Hoops.
Reading boss Brian McDermott believes Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, 39, will one day become a great manager after the two met on a training course.
Oldham's FA Cup hero Matt Smith, who scored a late equaliser against Everton to earn his side a replay, will be fined a week's wages for throwing his shirt into the crowd at the final whistle.
Arsenal are preparing to offer Arsene Wenger a two-year contract extension.
Chelsea defender David Luiz, 25, apologised to Brentford's Jake Reeves after leaving the 19-year-old concussed with a tough challenge during Sunday's FA Cup tie.
Chelsea defender John Terry, 32, has denied rumours of a rift with manager Rafa Benitez.
Barnsley boss David Flitcroft is relishing the chance to play Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals - his brother Gary was once a fans' favourite during a five-year spell there.
AND FINALLY
Cash-strapped Portsmouth insisted on charging Carlisle £20 to park their team bus outside Fratton Park before last weekend's Championship clash.
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 26, is set to wear a four-fingered glove on his right hand against Arsenal in Tuesday's Champions League clash after trying out his unusual apparel while keeping a clean sheet against Wolfsburg over the weekend.