Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano says the £35m figure they have been quoted for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso means they are close to pulling out of any deal to sign him.(Independent) 
The Spanish club have spent about £170m this summer but the £69m asking price for Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery is one step too far and could open the door for Chelsea to sign the French international.(Guardian) 
But Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Ribery and he will become a galactico next summer.(Independent) 
Wayne Bridge gave Manchester City reason to believe they could sign Chelsea captain John Terry when he signed for them from the Stamford Bridge club in January 2009. City are now preparing a third bid for Terry.(Independent) 
Terry is upset Chelsea have not been in contact with him since City's recent £30m bid for him and wants talks with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.(The Sun) 
Arsenal's desire to sign combative midfielder Felipe Melo (on photo) from Fiorentina could result in them trading Emmanuel Eboue and Philippe Senderos as part of any deal. (Daily Express) 
Everton have tabled a £13m bid for Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour after having an initial £9m offer rejected by the Belgium outfit.(Independent) 
Tottenham will fight it out with Sunderland to sign Republic of Ireland central defender Richard Dunne from Manchester City.(The Sun) 
Spurs also want Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross and are prepared to offer £2m plus midfielder Didier Zokora into the deal.(The Sun) 
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler's stint in Australia could be a short one as Tranmere boss John barnes wants to make a move for his former Anfield team-mate. (The Sun) 
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has told Egyptian striker Amr Zaki to forget any thoughts about a return to the club because of his lack of discipline.(The Sun) 
Latics boss Roberto Martinez will try to sign striker Jason Scotland from former club Swansea.(Daily Star) 
West Brom have put a £4m price tag on midfielder Jonathan Greening, who is courting the interest of Fulham.(Daily Express) 
Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez is set for a move to Roma but, while the Italian club want him on loan, the Magpies want to get back the £5.2m they paid for the Argentine.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Bordeaux boss and ex-Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc says midfielder Gabriel Obertan, who the French club are set to sell to the Old Trafford outfit, has a lot to learn.(Daily Star) 
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says his behaviour after the Champions League defeat by Barcelona was not "right" and still bothers him.(Daily Mirror) 
The uncertainty surrounding Newcastle's ownership could spark a player revolt at the Tyneside club.(Daily Telegraph) 

AND FINALLY

Real Madrid's club shop sold nearly 3,000 club Cristiano Ronaldo shirts in the first two hours on Tuesday and were all-but sold out by closing time. Kaka sold just 600 on the first day after his unveiling.(Independent) 
Arsenal fans have launched their own Michael Owen-style brochure in a send up trying to sell striker Emmanuel Adebayor to any interested club.(Daily Mirror)
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