Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea could make a shock move for Inter Milan star and former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira in January.(News of the World) 
West Ham striker Carlton Cole is Arsenal's number one January target.(Sunday Mirror) 
Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas is determined to leave the Emirates Stadium in the summer, but could move to either Real Madrid or Barcelona for £45m in January.(Sunday Mirror) 
David Moyes wants to lure former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan, currently playing for Atletico Madrid, to Everton.(Daily Star) 
But Moyes will get no joy when he tries to tempt defender Steven Taylor away from Newcastle.(News of the World) 
Chelsea are keen to sign Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano in January, but may have to wait until the summer, when the 29-year-old Brazilian will be available for £24m.(News of the World) 
Both Chelsea and Sunderland are on the trail of Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson, but the 22-year-old looks set to stay at the Riverside Stadium with a new contract worth £1.5m a year.(News of the World) 
Barcelona will come in with a £30m bid for Liverpool's Javier Mascherano in January.(News of the World) 
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is therefore understandably eager to tie Mascherano to a new long-term contract, and the club have priced Barca out of a move for the Argentine captain.(Sunday Mirror) 
Manchester United are tracking 6ft 4in Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, who may be available for £15m - but he wants to move to AC Milan.(News of the World) 
Alternatively, Dzeko is at the centre of a three-way battle between United, Arsenal and Manchester City, and is available for just £10m.(Sunday Mirror) 
But Bayern Munich believe United face a financial crisis and have no money to spend, having offered them Franck Ribery for £60m in the summer and heard nothing back.(Mail on Sunday) 
Tottenham will come in for Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand in January or, failing that, will pursue Manchester City's Micah Richards. (Sunday Express)
New Portsmouth boss Avram Grant's first moves will be for Chelsea pair Daniel Sturridge and Juliano Belletti on loan.(News of the World) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Portugal star Luis Figo says England are "not among the favourites" to win the World Cup in 2010.(Mail on Sunday) 
Should manager Mark Hughes leave Eastlands, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will block any attempt by Manchester City to bring in former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink, whose salary as Russia coach is underwritten by the billionaire.(News of the World) 
Portsmouth's cash crisis has reached the point where the club left Aruna Dindane on the bench against Aston Villa on Tuesday because they did not have the cash to meet the £4m permanent transfer deal one more appearance would have triggered with French club Lens.
However, Pompey renegotiated the deal in time for Dindane to appear against Burnley on Saturday.(Sunday Mirror) 
The Football Association's allocation of just 4,000 tickets for England's opening World Cup game against the US will create a scramble on the black market.(Sunday Mirror) 
Mike Ashley is once again preparing an attempt to sell Newcastle United, with fresh interest from America in taking over the club.(News of the World) 
Phil Brown has been told his job as Hull boss is safe - until Christmas, at least.(Sunday Mirror) 
Aston Villa could earn a £30m sponsorship windfall if they reach the final of the Carling Cup.(Sunday Mirror) 
Everton hope to raise £7m from the sale of their old training ground, having had plans for a new stadium at Kirkby turned down.(News of the World) 

AND FINALLY

Manchester United paid magicians more than £50,000 over a two-year period, and gave a similar sum to a firm which supplies clowns. (News of the World) 
Cristiano Ronaldo had an incident-packed Saturday as he missed a penalty, scored, then was sent off as Real Madrid beat Almeria 4-2.(Mail on Sunday) 
South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira believes England will be a force at the World Cup because Fabio Capello has ended the WAG culture within the squad. "When you go to war, you don't take the wife," said Parreira.(Independent on Sunday)
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