Wednesday's gossip column
Last updated on .From the section Football
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TRANSFER GOSSIP
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has agreed to go back to Chelsea this summer and has put Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk, 26, at the top of his transfer shopping list.
Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen, who has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, has stated that a reported £17m price tag is a matter for clubs interested in him. The Denmark international, 21, has a year left on his contract in Amsterdam.
Arsenal and Liverpool could move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, 31, in the summer.
Swansea hope that the prospect of Europa League football might tempt Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku to join them on loan next season. The Belgium international, 19, has scored 13 Premier League goals during his loan spell at West Brom this season.
Newcastle and Aston Villa are both interested in meeting Loic Remy's release clause if QPR are relegated to the Championship. The French striker, 26, who has also been linked with Tottenham, has scored five goals in seven starts since arriving at Loftus Road from Marseille in January.
Lille defender Aurelien Chedjou is set to reject interest from Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool to join Valencia. The Cameroon centre-back, 27, has indicated he wants to leave the reigning French champions.
Stoke, Aston Villa, QPR and Hull are all interested in Phil Neville, 36, who has announced he will leave Everton this summer.
Arsenal have been quoted £15m for Asmir Begovic, 25, after opening preliminary talks over their interest in the Stoke goalkeeper.
OTHER GOSSIP
Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner, 26, has dismissed suggestions from new manager Paolo Di Canio that the Black Cats lack fitness.
Aston Villa have told striker Christian Benteke he will have to wait until they have guaranteed their Premier League status before they will open contract talks with the Belgian, 22, who has scored 19 goals since joining from Genk in August.
Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez says he wants a return to Liverpool, where he spent six years, in the future.
Former Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo is set to snub interest from Leeds and wait for a bigger job offer.
Russian forward Andrey Arshavin, 31, could retire from football when his Arsenal contract expires at the end of the season.
Arshavin can be revealed as the Premier League's richest sub. He has pocketed £7,800 per minute played this season.
West Brom boss Steve Clarke says the club must splash the cash if they are to continue climbing up the table.
Reading captain Jobi McAnuff says the biggest lesson the club have learned this season in the Premier League is the way in which games are decided by the smallest of margins.
Former Newcastle forward David Ginola wants his old club to give their fans something to cheer about by winning the Europa League this season.
Full story: London's Evening Standard
GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)
The German Football League is considering moving off-season from the summer to the winter in order to make best use of the weather.
AND FINALLY
Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, 21, made light of being likened to a Harry Potter character by West Ham fans in Sunday's goalless draw at Anfield.
