Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United and Chelsea are fighting it out to sign Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell (on photo) who is valued at £20m.(News of the World) 
United are also lining up a £15m January bid for Bayern Munich right-back Philipp Lahm.(Sunday Mirror) 
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez hopes to raise £15m from the sale of defender Andrea Dossena and forward Ryan Babel - and wants to splash some of the cash on Hamburg striker Eljero Elia.(Sunday Mirror) 
Liverpool are also keen on Arsenal striker Eduardo and are poised to make a £10m bid for Croatian.(News of the World) 
Reds midfielder Javier Mascherano looks set for a £30m move to Barcelona after his advisors agreed the player's personal terms with the Spanish club. (Sunday Express)
Arsenal are preparing a £5m bid for Hoffenheim's Brazilian midfielder Maicosuel. (News of the World) 
The Gunners are also keen on Cardiff City full-back Adam Matthews and are planning a £5m swoop for the 17-year-old. (Sunday Express)
Manchester City have agreed a £36m deal to sign Benfica midfielder Angel di Maria in January. (News of the World) 
City meanwhile will make a £20m January bid for Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.(Sunday Mirror) 
Manchester United and City are both keen on Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko who is rated at £20m. (Mail on Sunday) 
Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are all battling it out to sign 16-year-old striker Connor Wickham from Ipswich in January.(Mail on Sunday) 
Tottenham are set to renew their interest in Sevilla winger Diego Capel. (News of the World) 
Chelsea will have to match Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero's huge £6.5m a year wages to land the striker.(News of the World) 
The Blues are also leading the chase to sign Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku who has already attracted interest from AC Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United. (News of the World) 
Birmingham are lining up a £7m bid for Celtic winger Aiden McGeady. (News of the World) 
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is set to raid his old club Swansea City for £2m-rated defender Ashley Williams. (News of the World) 
Portsmouth have set their sights on a January double swoop for Nice striker Loic Remy and Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa. (News of the World) 
Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson has been told he cannot leave the club in January despite interest from Sunderland, Spurs, Chelsea and Everton. (News of the World) 
Former England striker Darius Vassell who currently plays for Turkish side Ankaragucu is hoping to secure a January switch to Bolton.(News of the World) 
Sunderland will go after Newcastle left-back Jose Enrique if they fail to sign Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa in January. (Sunday Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Manchester United defender and current Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc is being lined up to replace current Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.(Sunday Mirror) 
But former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who is currently in charge at Inter Milan, is confident that Ferguson will recommend him for the job as he is keen for a return to English football.(Sunday Times) 
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie could be out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious ankle injury in Holland's friendly match against Italy. (Mail on Sunday) 
West Ham are set to formally announce the retirement of striker Dean Ashton. (Sunday Mirror) 
The Hammers could demand up to £5m in compensation after losing the services of 26-year-old Ashton. (Sunday Express)
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will put the Championship club back up for sale if they get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season.(News of the World) 

AND FINALLY

The infamous beach ball that diverted Sunderland striker Darren Bent's shot past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina and into the goal earlier in the season has been sold at auction for £411.77.(News of the World)