Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool are expected to use some of the £30m they gained from the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid to make an £18m offer for Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani.(The Independent) 
Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour is also linked with a move to Anfield and his agent Paul Stefani says he would not turn down a move to Liverpool. (The Independent) 
Italian side AC Milan are preparing a £31m bid for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.(The Sun) 
Darren Bent's transfer to Sunderland has still not been completed, despite the Tottenham striker passing a medical on Monday. (Daily Star) 
Sunderland, meanwhile, are set to sign Lyon defender John Mensah on a season-long loan deal. (The Sun) 
The Black Cats are also keeping tabs on Tottenham centre-back Michael Dawson.(The Sun) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has failed with a £5.5m bid for Sevilla centre-back Federico Fazio. (The Sun) 
Wenger says he will wait to sign Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer next season, rather than improve his £6m offer for the striker this summer. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham hope to sign Blackburn defender Christopher Samba for £10m to help ease their defensive crisis.(The Sun) 
Manchester United will use their friendly with Valencia to run the rule over midfielder David Silva and forward David Villa. (Daily Star) 
Stoke City want to take injury-prone Everton striker James Vaughan on loan. (Daily Mail) 
Hull are set to sign Villarreal striker Jozy Altidore and have agreed a £3m deal for Stoke midfielder Seyi Olofinjana. (Daily Mail) 
Burnley are in talks with Independiente winger Fernando Guerrero. (Daily Mail)
South African midfielder Kagiso Dikgacoi claims he has secured a move to Fulham from Golden Arrows after impressing on trial at Craven Cottage.(The Independent) 
Southampton are interested in signing former Birmingham defender Radhi Jaidi. (Daily Mirror) 
Ipswich are set to sign Watford striker Tamas Priskin in a £1.2m deal. (Daily Mirror)
Bristol City have told striker Lee Trundle that he is surplus to requirements at Ashton Gate. (Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has agreed a new three-year contract at the club worth over £100,000 a week. (The Sun) 
Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong has been fined two weeks wages for refusing to travel to play in a friendly at Dundee United, adding to speculation he may be about to leave for Tottenham.(Daily Mail) 
Crystal Palace have been banned from signing players due to a dispute over unpaid bonuses and signing-on fees from last season.(Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has written off Liverpool's title chances, claiming he has more chance of achieving a hole in one in golf. (The Sun) 
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham is being considered for a goodwill ambassador's role at former club Manchester United when he hangs up his boots.(The Sun) 
Meanwhile, Beckham and his wife Victoria are in negotiations to buy a £10m luxury home in Chelsea, sparking rumours of a move to the west London club. (The Sun) 
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is being haunted by a vacuum cleaner that keeps turning itself on. (Daily Star) 
Northampton's players will turn out for free on the opening day of the season with their wages being split between the club's eight nominated charities. (Daily Star)
It has been revealed that Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez suffered his recent heel problem after slipping in the shower. Tevez is in danger of missing the start of the season. (The Guardian)
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