Thursday's gossip column


BREAKING GOSSIP

Bayern Munich tell BBC Sport there has been no approach for Franck Ribery and he wants to stay at the club. "He is contracted until 2011 and we want to extend his deal," said a spokesperson. 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea are in talks to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery for £43m. Manchester United also want the 26-year-old French international as a potential replacement for winger Cristiano Ronaldo. (The Sun) 
Chelsea may be forced to pay a British transfer record of £45m if they are to land Ribery. (Daily Star) 
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is planning an £8m move for Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Elano. (The Sun) 
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has lined up Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez as a long-term replacement for Xabi Alonso. Bilbao want £10m for the 20-year-old. (Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa have inquired about midfielder David Bentley's future at Tottenham. (Daily Mirror) 
Wolves are lining up a £3m move for Red Star Belgrade's Serbia midfielder Nenad Milijas(on photo). The 26-year-old is also wanted by CSKA Moscow and Roma. (Daily Mail) 
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is considering a swoop for two Wigan players - midfielder Michael Brown and defender Emmerson Boyce.(Daily Mirror) 
Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune is weighing up an offer from Portsmouth after spending the end of last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion.(The Sun) 
Stoke will offer midfielder Liam Lawrence a bumper new contract to ward off interest from Portsmouth. (Daily Mirror) 
Bolton and Blackburn are fighting it out for Villarreal's Chile international Matias Fernandez. The 23-year-old midfielder will make a decision once the Spanish season ends at the weekend.(The Sun) 
Blackburn striker Matt Derbyshire has conceded he is ready to make his loan move to Olympiakos a permanent one. The Greek side are lining up a £3m bid for the 23-year-old.(Daily Star) 
And Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is ready to raid Marseille for Argentine defender Renato Civelli. (Daily Mirror) 
Hull are weighing up a move for former Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller, 28, after he was released by QPR.(Daily Star) 
Arsenal are set to sign Cheltenham's 15-year-old prodigy Jamie Edge for a basic fee of £100,000. Midfielder Edge chose Arsenal over Manchester United. (Daily Star) 
Middlesbrough have put winger Stewart Downing up for sale but only to a top-four club.(Daily Mirror) 
Derby have had a £400,000 bid rejected for Blackpool defender Shaun Barker.(The Sun) 
Rangers manager Walter Smith is planning a £3m move for West Bromwich Albion striker Chris Brunt. The 24-year-old is a boyhood fan of the Glasgow club. (Daily Record)  

OTHER GOSSIP

Wigan will look to Swansea boss Roberto Martinez if Sunderland agree to pay the £5m in compensation to take Latics manager Steve Bruce to the Stadium of Light. (The Times) 
Alan Shearer, who is set to become the permanent manager of Newcastle, is playing hardball with Magpies owner Mike Ashley over a £15m to £20m transfer pot for next season. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal forward Robin Van Persie is stalling on a contract extension at the Emirates.(Daily Star) 
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez plans to shake up his backroom staff by replacing four coaches. Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish is tipped for an advisory role, while former Reds midfielder Gary McAllister could come in as a coach.(Daily Mail) 
AFC Wimbledon are planning a multi-million pound move back to Plough Lane. The club, who have been promoted to the Blue Square Premier, want to develop Wimbledon greyhound stadium.(Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY 

Bristol City's ground is set to become a Tesco store. The club will raise £20m from the sale of Ashton Gate to put towards the cost of a new 30,000 all-seater stadium at Ashton Vale. (The Sun)
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