Saturday’s gossip column
For a list of confirmed transfers, check out our transfers page.
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Wayne Rooney will meet David Moyes to discuss his Manchester United future. Chelsea and Arsenal are preparing bids for the 27-year-old England striker should he still want to leave the Premier League champions.
Rooney will leave United unless new manager David Moyes backtracks on predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson’s claim that the striker handed in a transfer request. If the England international does leave Old Trafford he will choose Chelsea ahead of Arsenal.
Chelsea are set to beat Manchester United to the signing of Vitesse Arnhem’s 20-year-old midfielder Marco van Ginkel.
Manchester United have contacted Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, 24, to ask to be kept aware of his availability, as doubts grow about him moving to Bayern Munich this summer. The Poland international is an alternative target if Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 28, cannot be convinced to return to Old Trafford.
Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, 27, is furious that new director of football Joe Kinnear mispronounced his name in a radio interview. Paris St-Germain and Monaco are ready to take advantage.
Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign Brazil and Corinthians midfielder Paulinho, 24. The fee agreed is believed to total more than £15m.
Midfielder Paulinho played in Lithuania and Poland in the early stages of his career
Sunderland have told captain Lee Cattermole, 25, he is free to leave the club. The defensive midfielder is not part of head coach Paolo Di Canio’s plans.
Manchester United boss David Moyes is close to bringing in highly-rated midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona for £15m and making the 22-year-old his first signing.
But Moyes could miss out on Alcantara if he is guaranteed more first-team action at the Nou Camp.
Cardiff have dropped out of the running to sign Celtic defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama, 21, after he was valued at £10m.
Southampton have agreed a £10m fee with Celtic for Wanyama but they could face competition to sign the Kenya international from Arsenal, Liverpool and Inter Milan.
Midfielder Gareth Barry, 32, intends to see out the final year of his contract at Manchester City – despite being told he can leave.
League One side Wolves have said they have received no enquiries for midfielder Jamie O’Hara, 26.
Arsenal are considering whether to activate the £23m release clause in 25-year-old Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini’s contract.
Full story: London Evening StandardÂ
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert is hoping to return to his former club and buy 24-year-old winger Elliott Bennett from Norwich.
West Ham have put 26-year-old Ricardo Vaz Te, 25-year-old Modibo Maiga, Matt Taylor, 31, and Alou Diarra, 31, up for sale to help cover the cost of new signing striker Andy Carroll from Liverpool.
OTHER GOSSIP
Chelsea’s new 10-year kit sponsorship deal is worth £300m, making it the most lucrative in the Premier League.
Chalobah excelled last season while on loan with beaten Championship play-off finalists Watford
Newcastle chief scout Graham Carr, 68, has been talked out of leaving the club following Kinnear’s arrival.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho wants to give the club’s youngsters a chance next season. This could see youth players such as midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah, defender Nathan Ake, both 18, and 17-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek handed more first-team opportunities.
Paris St-Germain are to name 47-year-old Laurent Blanc as their new manager, which will allow current boss Carlo Ancelotti, 54, to take over at Real Madrid.
AND FINALLY
Retired former England captain David Beckham had to jokingly foul a Chinese youngster after the 10-year-old tackled him in a match.
