Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham could join Tottenham when the 2009 Major League Soccer season ends in October to maintain his match fitness for the 2010 World Cup finals. The England star, currently on loan at AC Milan, grew up down the road from White Hart Lane in Chingford. (The Sun) 
Manchester City defender Richard Dunne will join Sunderland this summer for £4m and the Black Cats also want West Brom midfield duo Jonathan Greening and James Morrison. (The Sun) 
Tottenham striker Darren Bent is also on Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia's list of targets. (Daily Star) 
But Sunderland are set to miss out on £6m-rated Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh, who says he is not interested in a move to the Stadium of Light. (The Sun) 
Chamakh, 25, says a move to Premier League is his "priority", adding: "I target a club that is just under the big four. Tottenham could interest me but not Sunderland. (Daily Express) 
are set to sign highly rated Rapid Vienna striker Philipp Prosenik, 16, during the summer. (The Guardian) 
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill will make a new defender his top priority if Martin Laursen is forced into retirement. The Danish centre-back needs another knee operation and could be out for nine months. (The Sun) 
Everton defender Joleon Lescott has emerged as a shock target for O'Neill, who has £10m to spend and is also considering a move for Manchester City defender Micah Richards. (Daily Mirror)
Villa are being linked with a swoop for Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Maor Buzaglo. (The Sun) 
Arsenal have been watching 17-year-old Paris St Germain full-back Chris Mavinga. (Daily Mail) 
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is giving a trial to Racing Santander teenager Lotam Zino. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic are battling it out to sign Bristol City midfielder Marvin Elliott for £2m. (Daily Star) 
Wigan are close to agreeing a deal for Rosenborg's Ghana midfielder Anthony Annan. (Daily Mail) 
Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws wants to sign Wolves midfielder Darren Potter, who has been on loan with the Owls since January, on a permanent deal. (Daily Star) 
Swansea City are set to offer a contract to Queen of the South striker Stephen Dobbie. (Daily Mirror) 
League One champions Leicester City will spend £400,000 on Liverpool's Jack Hobbs and £200,000 to land Hull City's Wayne Brown. The defenders are both currently on loan with the Foxes. (Daily Star) 
West Brom have taken Livingston striker Leigh Griffiths, 18, on trial. (Daily Record) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Alan Shearer is set to stay on as Newcastle manager beyond the end of the season rather than stepping down to allow Joe Kinnear, who is recovering from heart surgery, to return as boss. (The Guardian) 
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell says the club would give "serious consideration" to joining a revamped English Premier League. (Daily Record) 
Injury-prone Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton is set to return from a broken foot to help the Magpies in their fight against relegation. (The Sun) 
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he has never received one enquiry for midfielder Paul Scholes, who is set to make his 600th appearance for the club on Wednesday against Portsmouth. "They all know he would never leave," said Ferguson. (Various) 
Injured Hull City star Jimmy Bullard says he will not walk out on the club if they are relegated from the Premier League. The midfielder has played for only 37 minutes in a Tigers shirt since joining them for £5m from Fulham in January. (Daily Star) 
Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson made his first appearance after seven months out with a groin problem when he played for an hour for the reserves against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City will tour South Africa this summer as they look to start establishing themselves as a global brand by challenging neighbours Manchester United's popularity in the country. (Daily Telegraph) 
Plymouth Argyle are set to be taken over by Japanese real estate tycoon Yasuaki Kagami. (Daily Star) 
Bundesliga side Schalke 04 want Chelsea's director of youth development Frank Arnesen as their new boss. (The Guardian) 
Bradford City boss Stuart McCall is set to do a U-turn and stay in his post after his admission he may quit the Bantams prompted a deluge of letters from fans asking him not to go. (Daily Mirror) 
Former Hibernian and Dunfermline winger Freddie Daquin has returned to his native France after being released by Dundee. (Daily Record) 

AND FINALLY 

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has not watched an episode of Coronation Street since he joined the club in 2003 but says he will watch the Manchester-based soap "next time it is on and I am home". (The Sun) 
Murdo MacLeod's wife confronted Craig Brown after the 1990 World Cup because the then Scotland boss had put the Celtic midfielder on the "ugly team" in training while in Italy. (Daily Record)
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