Wednesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has reportedly agreed a deal to stay on as Gunners boss until 2013. The earlier-than-anticipated verbal agreement is a huge boost to the club's hopes of hanging on to marquee players such as striker Robin van Persie and particularly midfielder Cesc Fabregas.(goal.com) 
Ben Foster has accepted he will have to leave Manchester United to revive his flagging career. "I want to be playing football. I am not interested in just hanging around and I would go if the club wanted to sell me," admitted Foster, who has played 13 times for United this season. (Press Association Sport) 
Paris Saint Germain defender Mamadou Sakho has hinted that he is interested in leaving the Ligue 1 side, alerting Arsenal who have long been linked with the 20-year-old. "The Europa League is good but my absolute dream is the Champions League. I have personal goals and I'm thinking," Sakho told French newspaper L'Equipe. (imscouting.com)

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea hope to catch fellow-suitors Manchester City cold with a dramatic move for Fernando Torres and are willing to table a British record transfer fee, that could reach £70m, for the Liverpool striker.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester United are hopeful of tying up a £16m deal for CSKA Moscow midfielder Milos Krasic this summer.(caughtoffside.com) 
Alternatively, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants to bring just one player to Old Trafford this summer and this is Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric.(footylatest.com) 
Argentine newspaper Ole reports that highly sought after Benfica winger Angel Di Maria has agreed a move to Real Madrid , rejecting overtures from both Manchester United and Chelsea.(imscouting.com) 
Parma are keen to sign striker Valeri Bojinov on a permanent deal from Manchester City after a successful loan spell at the mid-table Serie A side. (Daily Mail) 
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is hoping to secure a deal to snap up Serbian international striker Marko Pantelic from Ajax this summer.(caughtoffside.com) 
Striker Ivan Klasnic's hopes of a long-term stay at Bolton, following his loan spell at the Reebok this season, are in doubt with his French club Nantes trying to find him a new home.(Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal are reportedly considering making a bid to sign Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini this summer. (caughtoffside.com) 
The Gunners have also been alerted to the availability of Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon who has expressed an interest in moving to the Emirates following the failure of his club Juventus to qualify for next season's Champions League. (The Sun) 
Alternatively, Arsenal are readying a move for Manchester City keeper Joe Hart, who has spent the season on loan at Birmingham.(The Guardian)
West Ham have emerged as shock contenders to re-sign midfielder Joe Cole from Chelsea. The player, who swapped Upton Park for Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2003, is out of contract this summer.(caughtoffside.com) 
West Ham are preparing to make an improved bid of £5m for West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans - despite Albion valuing him at £10m. (Daily Mail) 
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is planning a £9m double raid on former club Wigan for defender Maynor Figueroa and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.(Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham are prepared to offer striker Robbie Keane to Everton in exchange for midfielder Steven Pienaar.(Daily Mirror) 
Stoke have made a £4m bid for Ipswich midfielder and captain Jon Walters.(The Sun) 
Newcastle are eyeing up a move for Reading midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson. The 20-year-old has bagged 20 goals in 38 starts in his first season and collected Reading's Player of the Year title.(Daily Mirror) 
Wolves have joined the race to sign striker Frederic Piquionne, who has impressed on loan at Portsmouth from French club Lyon this season. The player is also wanted by Blackburn and Birmingham.(The Sun) 
Liverpool are set to increased their offer for Rangers defender Danny Wilson over the next 48 hours to a minimum £2m. (Daily Mail) 
Lee Naylor wants to do a U-turn on his decision to leave Celtic for English football and hopes caretaker Neil Lennon will offer him a new contract if he is given the manager's job permanently. (the Sun)
Defender Mark Reynolds hopes Motherwell will sell him in the summer rather than lose him for nothing when his contract runs out at the end of next season. (Various) 
Walsall have released Rhys Weston from his contract by mutual consent, paving the defender's way to a possible switch to Motherwell after last week's trial at Fir Park. (Daily Express)


OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool could be forced to choose between keeping manager Rafa Benitez or striker Fernando Torres. Benitez will deliver a series of ultimatums designed to increase his power at the club this week, but the manager's relationship with Torres has cooled to such an extent that if he stays the striker could leave.(The Sun) 
Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish could return to Liverpool as temporary boss, with Ian Rush as his assistant, if current Reds manager Rafael Benitez quits the club to join Italian side Juventus.(Daily Mirror) 
Sir Alex Ferguson has vowed to rebuild his Manchester United side over the summer, even if they snatch the title from Chelsea this season. United are one point behind the Blues heading into this weekend's final game. (Daily Mirror) 
French striker Karim Benzema has played down his chances of a move to Manchester United, claiming he wants to stay at Real Madrid "forever". (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal defender Sol Campbell believes he may have played his way back into Fabio Capello's England plans for South Africa this summer. Campbell, whose last appearances for his country came during Steve McClaren's ill-fated Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, has performed well for the Gunners since rejoining them in January after a spell with League Two side Notts County.(Daily Mirror) 
Former Tottenham boss Martin Jol, now in charge at Dutch side Ajax, says he would love to manage in England again. "It's not that I have unfinished business in England, but I'd love another crack at it," he said.(The Sun) 
Former Burnley boss Steve Cotterill is favourite to take over as Coventry manager after Chris Coleman was axed on Tuesday.(The Sun) 
Alternatively, former Leeds boss Gary McAllister could retake the reigns at Coventry. The ex-Scotland player left the Sky Blues in January 2004 for personal reasons.(Daily Telegraph) 
Manchester United are close to agreeing a four-year contract extension with defender Jonny Evans.(Daily Express) 
Stoke winger Matthew Etherington is ready to sign a new four-year deal with the club.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Wolves striker Michael Kightly has apologised to the club's fans for his poor season which has seen him out of action since November with an ankle injury. (Daily Mirror)

www.bbc.co.uk

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Laval 2 - 1 Caen