Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
Last updated on .From the section Football
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For a list of confirmed transfers, check out the transfers page.
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester City have stepped up their interest in taking 26-year-old Germany midfielder Sami Khedira from Real Madrid next summer in a £30m deal.
Manchester United and rivals City are poised to make a £65m bid to Porto for their centre-backs Eliaquim Mangala, 22, and Nicolas Otamendi, 25.
Champions League winners Bayern Munich want £40m-rated Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, 25, as a big-money signing for next season.
Manchester United's Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa, 24, wants to leave Old Trafford in January because he does not want to risk a lack of fitness and form ahead of the World Cup.
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, 31, has been told he can leave the club in January with QPR and MLS side Toronto said to be interested in the forward.
Full story: Sun on Sunday (subscription required)
Ajax hope to beat Inter Milan to the signing of 21-year-old Blackpool star Tom Ince, who is out of contract next summer.
Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has refused to rule out a loan move for Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha, 20, who has only made one start for the club this season.
Or, Manchester United are willing to offer Everton £7m and Zaha in exchange for 28-year-old left back Leighton Baines.
Full story: Sun on Sunday (subscription required)
OTHER GOSSIP
Chris Hughton's position as Norwich City manager is in doubt after the Canaries conceded 11 goals to the Manchester clubs in two games this week.
Cardiff City striker Craig Bellamy, 34, has emerged as a leading contender to be the next Wales manager with doubts over the future of current boss Chris Coleman.
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay looks increasingly likely to leave the club, as his relationship with owner Vincent Tan worsens.
But Mackay has turned down the chance to replace Ian Holloway as manager of Crystal Palace.
Former Eagles boss Steve Coppell and Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy are in contention to land the vacant managerial job at Palace.
Sir Alex Ferguson tried to stop Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney playing for England at the 2006 World Cup, according to claims in a new autobiography by former national team manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Roy Hodgson will tell dropped Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, 26, he remains England's number one even if he goes ahead with a plan to leave the goalkeeper out of the next friendly game against Chile.
England midfielder Jack Wilshere, 21, and 24-year-old defender Kieran Gibbs are major doubts for Arsenal's crucial trip to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Tottenham are hopeful of signing Corinthians striker Alexandre Pato, 24, after the Brazilian club confirmed they could sell the striker in January.
Liverpool and Newcastle are in the hunt for Marseille's £10m-rated 23-year-old striker Andre Ayew.
AND FINALLY
Sierra Leone are considering approaching FC United's Rhodri Giggs, the 35-year-old brother of Manchester United legend Ryan, to represent them at international level.
Newcastle director of football Joe Kinnear tried to sign midfielder Shane Ferguson after a scouting trip to Birmingham - only to be told the 22-year-old was already a Newcastle player and had been loaned to the Blues.
