Thursday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Derby rivals Manchester United and Manchester City are set to slug it out in the transfer market this summer in a £75m tug-of-war. Both sides are interested in Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, 25, Athletic Bilbao's 27-year-old forward Fernando Llorente and Lille midfielder Eden Hazard, 21.

Full story: Manchester Evening News 
Blackburn's out-of-favour defender Michel Salgado, 36, fancies joining former Real Madrid team-mate David Beckham at LA Galaxy.
Full story: Daily Mirror 
Wigan have beaten Newcastle and Sunderland to the signature of Swedish-born Gambia Under-20 winger Alieu Darbo, 19.
Full story: Daily Mail 

Michel Salgado has not played for Blackburn since 11 December

Manchester City are tracking highly rated teenage defender Lisandro Magallan, according to reports in his native Argentina. The 18-year-old is rated as one of the brightest prospects in the country after establishing himself in the Gimnasia La Plata first team.
Full story: talkSPORT 
Manchester United are set to battle it out with Real Madrid to sign Brazil's next young superstar - Sao Paulo's 19-year-old attacking midfielder Lucas - in a £12m deal.
Full story: Daily Mirror 
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt, 31 wants to return to Dutch side Feyenoord. Kuyt has a clause in his contract that allows him to join a foreign club for £1m.
Full story: Daily Mirror 
Liverpool will contemplate sending Andy Carroll, 23, out on loan next season to free up space for a striker to come in. Valencia's Roberto Soldado, Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente and FC Groningen's David Texeira are all under consideration.
Full story: Metro 
Leeds are in talks with Doncaster's El-Hadji Diouf with a view to signing the controversial forward who is out of contract in the summer.
Full story: Skysports.com 

OTHER GOSSIP

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will accept the England job when it is offered to him next week, with Spurs lining up Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers to replace him.
Full story: Goal.com 
Chelsea captain John Terry will not be allowed to lift the Champions League trophy should his side win the final on 19 May because Uefa do not like banned players participating in the presentation ceremony.
Full story: Daily Mail 
Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has given manager Alex McLeish three games to save his job.
Full story: the Sun 
Danny Welbeck is to open talks with Manchester United over a new deal at the end of the season which could see his £15,000-a-week wages trebled. Welbeck's representatives have indicated to United that the striker is keen to sign a new contract and commit himself to the club.

Danny Welbeck has scored 12 goals for Manchester United this season

Full story: Daily Mirror 
Rio Ferdinand is determined to persuade Paul Scholes to extend his Manchester United career for a further season such has been the 37-year-old's impact since returning from retirement.
Full story: Daily Telegraph 
Nicklas Bendtner has said he may not stay at Sunderland next season. The 24-year-old Denmark striker is currently on a season-long loan deal from Arsenal and has scored seven goals so far.
Full story: Guardian 
Interim boss Roberto di Matteo is still only third choice to be the next permanent Chelsea manager - despite steering the club to the Champions League final. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and Germany's Joachim Loew are believed to be above Di Matteo in the pecking order.
Full story: Daily Mirror 
Midfielder Jack Wilshere, 20, will turn down the chance to play for Team GB at this summer's Olympics in order to get fit with Arsenal.
Full story: the Sun 
David Davis might have suffered relegation with Wolves, but the young midfielder is smiling again after signing a new three-year contract.
Full story: Daily Mail 
QPR defender Anton Ferdinand will not shake hands with John Terry before Sunday's Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Full story: Daily Telegraph  
Wolves manager Terry Connor has spent a day wandering around Molineux saying thanks to all the staff who have supported him following the club's relegation from the Premier League.
Full story: Express & Star 

AND FINALLY

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is whisking his players off to a golf and spa retreat in the Vale of Glamorgan to escape the pressure around their Premier League showdown with Manchester City.
Full story: Daily Mail 
Touchline reporter Geoff Shreeves was subjected to a torrent of abuse on Twitter after his insensitive approach to interviewing Chelsea hero Branislav Ivanovic, and even drew a dig from golf star Lee Westwood.
Full story: Metro 
Blackburn fans have begun an internet campaign urging supporters to grow a "Gael Givet beard" in an effort to inspire Premier League survival.
Full story: Lancashire Telegraph