Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has laughed off reports linking him with a move to Manchester United, saying he would never swap Anfield for Old Trafford. (Daily Star) 
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has launched a dramatic late bid to sign Carlos Tevez from under the noses of Manchester United and Manchester City in a £25m deal. (The Sun).
Ancelotti made the last-gasp approach personally after getting Tevez's phone number from fellow Argentina striker Hernan Crespo, who worked with Ancelotti at AC Milan four years ago. (Daily Mail) 
However, Manchester City remain favourites to sign Tevez as they are offering wages of £140,000 a week. (Daily Express)  
Liverpool are also interested in the 25-year-old but their desire to spread the fee over the duration of Tevez's contract makes the deal less appealing to the striker's adviser Kia Joorabchian. (The Telegraph) 
The Reds have, however, won the race to sign defender Glen Johnson from Portsmouth for a massive £19.5m. (The Sun) 
Liverpool will have to finance the deal by selling defender Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid for about £8m, while the fact that Portsmouth still owe the Reds £7m as part of the deal that took Peter Crouch to Fratton Park last summer will also reduce the overall fee. (Daily Express) 
Chelsea are closer to signing Manchester City striker Daniel Sturridge, whose fee will be decided by a tribunal, and CSKA Moscow winger Yuri Zhirkov for £15m. (Daily Express) 
However, Zhirkov has denied he is about to move to Stamford Bridge, claiming he wants to join Barcelona instead. (The Sun)
Defender Ricardo Carvalho, meanwhile, has launched a parting shot at Chelsea as he nears a move to Inter Milan, claiming they "should have given me more support" during his time injured last season. (Daily Star) 

OTHER GOSSIP

West Brom have asked permission from Peterborough to talk to manager Darren Ferguson about succeeding Celtic-bound Tony Mowbray at the Hawthorns. (Daily Star)
The Baggies also have Preston manager Alan Irvine and St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes on their shortlist. (The Times) 

.

AND FINALLY

Manchester City forward Robinho has adopted a new weight-training programme in a bid to bulk up for the new season. "He looks like a toothpick with a pair of headphones on when he lifts a barbell," said a City source. (The Sun) 
www.bbc.co.uk