Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes his side can offer John Terry a new lease of life and said the Chelsea and England captain needs a fresh challenge. (Various) 
Hughes is also on the verge of signing Emmanuel Adebayor for £25m after the player underwent a medical in Manchester. (Various) 
Real Madrid could sign Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso by the end of the week as they are prepared to meet the club's asking price of more than £30m for the 27-year-old. 
(Daily Telegraph) 
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will do everything he can to keep Alonso at the club, along with Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona. (Daily Star) 
Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira could join Tottenham after indicating to manager Harry Redknapp that he would be willing to leave Inter Milan.(Various) 
The Italian club are prepared to pay the 33-year-old Vieira £1m to make up a shortfall in wages if he was to join Spurs, while Birmingham, Sunderland, Fulham, Lyon and Paris St Germain have all made enquiries about the Frenchman. (Daily Express) 
Or, Vieira wants a pay-off from Inter Milan after Spurs offered him £60,000-a-week - £25,000 less than he currently earns at the San Siro.(The Times) 
Tottenham have held talks with Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but could miss out on signing the Dutch international after Stuttgart had an offer accepted for the 25-year-old. (The Times) 
Spurs full-back Gareth Bale, 19, is wanted on loan by Italian side Roma to provide competition for John Arne Riise. (The Sun) 
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will give veteran striker Christian Vieri, 36, all the time he needs to prove his fitness after spending some time with the Rovers squad at a training camp. (The Sun) 
Fulham will launch an £11m bid for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch - but only if Bobby Zamora leaves to join Hull City. (The Sun) 
Sunderland have had a £14m bid for Darren Bent rejected by Tottenham as the north London club want to recoup the £16.7m they paid Charlton for the 25-year-old striker two years ago. (The Sun) 
Tottenham have made a late bid to sign Sheffield United full-back Kyle Naughton after Everton had a £6m offer for the 20-year-old accepted. (Daily Star) 
Wigan have entered the race to sign Rangers centre-back Madjid Bougherra. (The Times) 
Hull are confident of signing Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy after the clubs agreed an initial fee of £1.5m, rising to £2.5m.(Various) 
West Brom midfielder Jonathan Greening has stunned the club by handing in a transfer request after they rejected a £2.5m bid from Fulham. (Various) 
Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson, 31, could join former manager Alex McLeish at Birmingham after the Blues agreed a £1.3m fee with the Scottish club. (Daily Mirror)
Bolton manager Gary Megson will attempt to finalise a £3.5m deal for Swansea midfielder Ferrie Bodde in an attempt to fight off interest from Wigan. (Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Joe Kinnear is set to return as Newcastle manager on Wednesday, with Mike Ashley overlooking fans' favourite Alan Shearer for the role as the owner struggles to find a buyer for the club. (Daily Mail) 
However, sources at the club have denied reports linking Kinnear with a return to St James' Park and any new manager will be appointed when a takeover of the club is completed. (The Press Association) 
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is considering quitting the club after securing a new five-year shirt sponsorship deal.(The Times) 
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has accused striker Emmanuel Adebayor of being "lazy" and lacking fight during his Gunners career and believes manager Arsene Wenger has done brilliantly by getting £25m from Manchester City for the Togo striker.(Daily Star) 
Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson believes Michael Owen can reignite his England career at Old Trafford following the striker's summer switch after his Newcastle contract ended. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says if he had not become a footballer he may have become a priest. Asked what he would have done if he could not play football, the 23-year-old said: "I haven't a clue what else I could have done, I wasn't really the best in school. I always enjoyed religious studies - so maybe a priest."(The Sun)
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