Tuesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Aston Villa deny manager Martin O'Neill is interested in signing forward Tuncay from Middlesbrough.(Birmingham Post) 
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will fly to Germany to try and tie up a £40m move for Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.(The Sun) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Barcelona have warned their fans that they will not spend over the odds to bring Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas back to the Nou Camp. (The Sun)
Joleon Lescott is finally bound for Manchester City after the Eastlands club made a final offer of £20m to Everton for the defender's services. (Daily Mail) 
West Ham's £15m-rated Matthew Upson has given Manchester City further hope in their hunt for a central defender by rejecting contract extension talks at Upton Park. (The Telegraph) 
But City manager Mark Hughes may prefer to turn his attentions to securing an Eastlands return for Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin. (The Independent) 
Everton are lining up a £14m bid for Paris St Germain midfielder Stephane Sessegnon. (The Sun) 
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has told Arsenal they will have to stump up £15m if they are to take centre-back Brede Hangeland across London. (Daily Mail) 
Everton are still hopeful of landing Arsenal's Switzerland international defender Philippe Senderos. (The Independent) 
Aston Villa are preparing a raid on Championship outfit Middlesbrough with defender Robert Huth and Turkey international striker Tuncay in their sights. (The Guardian) 
Defender David Weather could also be leaving the Riverside for Villa Park if boss Martin O'Neill decides to pursue his interest in the England Under-21 international. (Daily Star)
Hull are closing in on the signature of Reading's Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt. (Various) 
The Tigers are also poised to offer free agent Henri Camara a contract after the striker's departure from Wigan. (The Times) 
Fulham have agreed a £2.5m deal for striker Kalu Uche from Spanish side Almeria.(The Times) 
Hull are also in the market for former Liverpool midfielder Boudewijn Zenden.(The Sun) 
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish wants to sign Rangers defender Gregory Vignal who he managed during his time at Ibrox.(The Sun) 
Wolves are considering a bid for former Marseille midfielder Modeste M'Bami. (Daily Mail)
Midfielder Radoslav Kovac is close to signing a permanent deal to join West Ham from Spartak Moscow after a successful loan spell last season. (Various) 
Defender Sol Campbell, whose contract with Portsmouth ran out earlier this summer, is considering an offer to join Notts County. (Daily Express)
Arsenal are to step up their interest in Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul after the Dutchman's impressive opening-day performance against West Brom. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn are poised to pounce for out-of-contract defender Michel Salgado after the Spanish international departed Real Madrid.(Daily Mirror) 
West Brom have signed free agent Jerome Thomas after the midfielder's deal at Portsmouth expired. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is also close to landing Nantes midfielder Aurelien Capoue on a season-long loan. (Daily Star)

OTHER GOSSIP

Midfielder Javier Mascherano is ready to commit his future to Liverpool after manager Rafael Benitez blocked a possible move to Barcelona. (Daily Telegraph)
Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant has been offered a return to management by friend and Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov. (Daily Express) 
Ipswich manager Roy Keane wants to make former Manchester United coach Brian Kidd his right-hand man at Portman Road. (Daily Mirror)

AND FINALLY

Manchester City have admitted that they forgot to tell the Football Association of Wales that striker Craig Bellamy would not be joining up with his international team-mates for Wednesday's friendly against Montenegro. Officials were left bemused by his non-appearance. (Various)
Football Association chairman Lord Triesman was soaked by the sprinkler system while inspecting the Wembley pitch ahead of the Sunday's Community Shield match between Chelsea and Manchester United.(Daily Mail) 
Middlesbrough defender Andrew Taylor is to launch Platinum Players, a website designed to protect professional footballers from being ripped off. (The Guardian)
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