Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid have still not given up in their pursuit of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, with the coach of the Spanish club Manuel Pellegrini insisting: "We are interested."(The Sun) 
And in a cheeky move for the Spanish international, Real have decreased their offer for the player by £3m to £22m.(Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea will hold intensive talks with captain John Terry as they fear the centre-back is ready to quit to join Manchester City.(Daily Mirror) 
However, the Blues will not increase England skipper Terry's wages in an attempt to keep him at Stamford Bridge.(Daily Mail) 
Carlos Tevez will complete a £25m move to Manchester City on Monday. The Argentine striker's move will leave Chelsea disappointed. (Daily Mail) 
Manchester United are moving closer to signing 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa from Gremio. (The Times) 
Aston Villa look set to sign Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing for £12m this week, raising questions over the future of Ashley Young at Villa Park. Striker Young is wanted by Tottenham, but they could lose out to Manchester United or Chelsea. (Daily Mail)
Villa may also be set to lose defender Zat Knight, with Wolves ready to join Bolton in a battle to sign him. (Daily Mail) 
Hull have inquired about Cardiff striker Ross McCormack after missing out on Fraizer Campbell, Michael Owen and Marc-Antoine Fortune. (The Times)
Portsmouth are interested in signing Tottenham right-back Pascal Chimbonda and are ready to pay £2.5m for him. (Daily Mail) 
Hull are hoping to hijack Ipswich's £3m move for Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy. (Daily Mail) 
Sunderland have made an increased bid of just under £6m for Wigan midfielder Lee Catermole, having had an initial bid of £4m turned down. (Daily Star) 
Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson has been told there is no way he will be allowed to leave to join Chelsea. (Daily Mirror)
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is set to switch his sights from Manchester City defender Richard Dunne to Tottenham centre-back Michael Dawson. (The Sun) 
Liverpool's young French midfielder Damien Plessis is wanted on loan by Cardiff - as a potential replacement for Joe Ledley, who has been linked to Everton, Hull and Stoke. (Daily Mirrror)
Hearts winger Andrew Driver is wanted by FC Twente manager Steve McClaren but the ex-England boss faces competition for the player's signature from Burnley. (The Sun) 
Tottenham want to sign Sheffield United full-back Kyle Walker - but they would allow him to stay with the Blades for the next year to continue his development. (Daily Mirror)
Celtic have told English Premier League clubs that goalkeeper Artur Boruc is not for sale. (The Sun) 
Nottingham Forest have tabled a £1.6m bid for Coventry defender Danny Fox. (Various)
Sunderland have been linked with Saint Etienne defender Efstathios Tavlaridis, who failed to break into Arsenal's first team back in 2001. (The Times) 


OTHJER GOSSIP

Portsmouth are ready to make Paul Hart their new manager - handing him the job permanently after his stint as caretaker boss last season. (Daily Mirror)
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola insists captain Lucas Neil will be welcomed with open arms at Upton Park if he agrees a new deal with the Hammers, despite an unsavoury pay dispute. (The Sun) 
Hull midfielder Jimmy Bullard has told the club he will not be fit until October at the earliest. The 30-year-old injured his knee on his debut for the club last January.(The Sun) 
Arsenal legend and ex-Portsmouth boss Tony Adams has emerged as a surprise contender to be the next Southampton manager. (Daily Star) 
Veteran Teddy Sheringham, 43, is heading for a shock comeback to play for non-League side Beckenham Town in their FA Vase matches. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Two brothers aged 18 and 21 have become England's youngest owners of a football club. Tom and Josh Mitchell will run non-League Dorchester Town after their father gave them the club. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United have had to change their long-planned exhibition dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo to a 'farewell' presentation. The 'Best Player In The World' display at Old Trafford went up as it was announced the winger was moving to Real Madrid. (Various)
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