TRANSFER GOSSIP
The transfer ban imposed on Chelsea has scuppered their plans to sign French midfielder Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich in January. (News of the World)
The Blues' transfer embargo has also ended the London club's hopes of landing Atletico Madrid's Argentine striker Sergio Aguero. (Daily Star Sunday)
Manchester City will demand £10m from Chelsea for striker Daniel Sturridge, who quit Eastlands after rejecting a new contract to move to Stamford Bridge this summer. (News of the World)
Manchester City will tell Barcelona that the only way the Blues' Brazilian striker Robinho will move to the Nou Camp is if the Catalans agree to a swap deal that includes Argentine striker Lionel Messi. (Sunday Mirror)
Alternatively, City could well use Barcelona's interest in Robinho to engineer a swap deal for French striker Thierry Henry. (News of the World)
Notts County director of football Sven Goran Eriksson has made a sensational move to bring Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos to Meadow Lane. (News of the World)
Manchester City striker Benjani will return to former club Portsmouth in January providing he can get fit. (Sunday Mirror)
West Brom are poised to rescue former England defender Nicky Shorey from another season in the Aston Villa wilderness by signing him on loan. (Sunday Mirror)
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OTHER GOSSIP
The critical and damning evidence in the Gael Kakuta inquiry, that saw Chelsea banned from signing players until January 2011 after being found guilty by Fifa of poaching the French striker from Lens, was provided by a member of the player's family. (Sunday Mirror)
Uefa president Michel Platini is attempting to fast-track his plans to ban all international transfers of Under-18 players in the light of Chelsea's transfer ban. (Daily Star Sunday)
Former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, now with Bayern Munich, believes a host of star names will leave Stamford Bridge in the wake of the transfer ban imposed on the club. (Sunday Mirror)
England coach Fabio Capello insists Michael Owen is not a forgotten man and that his chances of an England recall will improve once the striker starts playing regularly for Manchester United. (Daily Star Sunday)
Ali al-Faraj, the Saudi property investor who recently failed in his attempts to buy Portsmouth, is believed to be considering a bid for West Ham United. (Independent on Sunday)
England and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham is offering to lead Great Britain's football team at the London 2012 Olympics. (News of the World)
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is in line for a £1m-a-year pay hike from United on the back of his impressive recent form. (News of the World)
Birmingham managing director Karren Brady will quit her job at the club when Chinese businessman Carson Yeung completes his £80m takeover at St Andrews. (News of the World)
Former Chelsea and France midfielder Marcel Desailly is eyeing up the possibility of a top manager's job in England. (Sunday Express)
AND FINALLY
Former Tottenham midfielder Glenn Hoddle has revealed that his ex-Spurs teammate, Argentine midfielder Ossie Ardiles, put a dent in the FA Cup during drunken celebrations following their victory over Manchester City in the 1981 final. (Sunday Mirror)
New Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne's £2m pay-off from former club Manchester City was negotiated by his wife Helen. (Sunday Mirror)
Stoke midfielder Liam Lawrence says communication between the team's players on the pitch has been aided by them playing online games. (Observer)
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