Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing to make a £20m raid for Real Madrid's Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar. (The Sun) 
Meanwhile, Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has launched an ambitious bid to sign one of Real Madrid's other Dutch strikers, 33-year-old Ruud van Nistelrooy. (The Sun) 
Real Madrid have made a cut-price £5m offer for Liverpool's Spanish full-back Alvaro Arbeloa.(Daily Mirror)
And the Spanish side are believed to want any move for Liverpool's Xabi Alonso sorted out in the next fortnight. (Press Association) 
Liverpool are close to signing 16-year-old Esbjerg midfielder Nikolaj Kohlert on a three-year deal. (Daily Telegraph)
Chelsea will make one last attempt to sign Bayern Munich's French midfielder Franck Ribery. (Daily Star) 
And Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will consider making a bid for Real Madrid's Dutch forward Wesley Sneijder if he misses out on Ribery.(Daily Telegraph) 
Manchester City will turn their attention to Everton defender Joleon Lescott after losing out in their bid to sign Chelsea captain John Terry. The Eastlands club had made an initial offer of £15m but will now up that. (Daily Mirror) 
Going in the other direction could be City's Brazilian striker Jo, with Everton boss David Moyes ready to take him to Goodison Park on a season-long loan deal. (Times) 
Aston Villa and Sunderland lead the race for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch. However, Pompey are unlikely to recoup the £12m they spent on the 28-year-old. (Various) 
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce also hopes to land Tottenham striker Darren Bent for £11m. (Daily Star)
Bruce also wants Manchester City defender Richard Dunne in a £4m deal. (Daily Mail) 
However, Bordeaux have refused to sell Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh to Sunderland because the French club's president Jean-Louis Triaud does not think the Black Cats are "a big English club". (The Sun) 
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is also ready to swoop for Fulham defender Brede Hangeland, 28, for £9m. (Various) 
And Villa are also preparing a bid for Sporting Lisbon's 23-year-old midfielder Miguel Veloso after Bolton had an £8m bid turned down. (Daily Mirror)
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is waiting to see if Manchester City's Welsh striker Craig Bellamy becomes available once the Eastlands club's spending spree is over. (Various) 
Spurs are close to agreeing a deal to sell midfielder Didier Zokora to Spanish side Sevilla. (Daily Mirror)
And Lazio have made an offer to sign Spurs' midfielder Adel Taarabt. (The Times) 
Swedish striker Marcus Berg is a target for Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham. The 25-year-old's club FC Gronigen value him at £5m. (Daily Telegraph)
Bolton boss Gary Megson will turn his attention to West Brom's Jonathan Greening if his £3.5m bid for Swansea midfielder Ferrie Bodde is turned down.(The Sun) 
Blackburn are interested in Le Mans defender Gregory Cerdan who would cost the club £2m. (The Times)
Fulham are ready to bid £500,000 for MK Dons' 25-year-old defender Dean Lewington. (Daily Mirror) 
South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi is being tracked by Portsmouth and Fulham. The 24-year-old plays for the Golden Arrows. (Daily Telegraph)
Burnley want Valencia's Spanish Under-21 international Stephen Sunday on a season-long loan deal. (Daily Mirror) 
Wolves have ended their interest in defender Matt Mills after failing to meet Doncaster's £3m asking price. (Daily Star)
Middlesbrough's Turkish striker Tuncay has sparked a scramble for his signature after the £7m-rated star insisted he wants to play in the Premier League. (Daily Mirror) 
Leicester have had a £1.5m offer for Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith refused. (Daily Star)
Sheffield United have made an improved offer of £2m for Manchester City striker Ched Evans. (Daily Mail) 


OTHER GOSSIP

Middlesbrough have been thrown into turmoil after Egypt striker Mido, striker Afonso Alves and Turkey forward Tuncay failed to turn up for the start of pre-season training. (Daily Mai) 
New Wigan boss Roberto Martinez plans to hold talks with defender Paul Scharner but will not beg the 28-year-old Austrian to stay. (The Sun) 
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants former Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia to quit his backroom role at Sunderland and join him at Ewood Park. (Daily Mirror)
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler insists his move to Australia was not for a "holiday"' as his latest injury threatens to rule him out of North Queensland Fury's A-League opener next month. (Townsville Bulletin) 

AND FINALLY

Former Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo was saved by Spanish police after his Real Madrid presentation in front of 80,000 fans at the Bernabeu almost ended in a riot as dozens of fans ran on to the pitch.(The Sun)
ww.bbc.co.uk