Chismes de BBC 28/12

BREAKING GOSSIP

1116 GMT: Wolves are considering bids for Aston Villa's Curtis Davies, who is currently on loan at Leicester, and Middlesbrough's David Wheater as manager Mick McCarthy wants to strengthen the centre of his defence.
Full story: Express and Star

1104 GMT: Panathinaikos striker Djibril Cisse has been spotted having lunch with Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, fuelling speculation that the Frenchman could return to Anfield in January.
Full story: Daily Mail

1058 GMT: Striker Michael Owen has decided to end an unsuccessful spell at Manchester United with Aston Villa a possible January destination.
Full story: Manchester Evening News

0927 GMT: Manchester City have been linked with Real Madrid centre-back Pepe after the Portuguese international demanded a threefold pay rise in contract talks with Bernanbeu officials.
Full story: Daily Mail

0922 GMT: Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has told striker Marcus Bent that he is free to leave the club in January. (Press Association)

0902 GMT: Liverpool have submitted an offer of £10.7m for Lille's Ivory Coast striker Gervinho.
Full story: IMScouting.com
TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City have been in talks with striker Edin Dzeko's agent over the finer details of a £30m transfer from German club Wolfsburg.
Full story: Daily Mail

Striker Roque Santa Cruz is expected to leave Manchester City for a six-month loan spell at Italian side Lazio as soon as the January transfer window opens, with a view to making the switch permanent.
Full story: Daily Mail

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll has told manager Alan Pardew that he is not tempted by a move from St James' Park. Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham all harbour an interest in the 21-year-old.
Full story: the Guardian

Manchester City are ready to let Wayne Bridge join West Ham - if the price is right. The clubs are trying to thrash out figures on a loan deal, or even a permanent low-fee transfer, for the full-back.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Mario Balotelli's increasing struggles at Manchester City are being underpinned by chronic homesickness and a dislike of life in England - so much so that the striker wants to return to Italy.
Full story: Daily Mail

Balotelli, who has also struggled to make friends among his City team-mates, is believed to prefer a move to AC Milan, the club he supported as a boy.
Full story: the Guardian

606: DEBATE
What do you make of today's rumours?

BBC Sport

Manchester City are ready to make a £7m bid for Bordeaux's former Liverpool midfielder Alou Diarra, once the transfer window opens on 1 January.
Full story: talkSPORT

Aston Villa are ready to step up their interest in Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.
Full story: Daily Mail

Stoke defender Robert Huth plans to reject the chance of a £5m move to Liverpool to stay at the Britannia Stadium.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is ready to battle with old club Fulham for Crystal Palace's 18-year-old striker Wilfried Zaha, who is valued at about £2m.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool may also attempt to persuade winger Hatem Ben Arfa, currently on loan at Newcastle from Marseille, to opt for a permanent switch to Anfield at the end of the season. The 23-year-old is recovering from a broken leg sustained in October's 2-1 defeat by Manchester City.
Full story: caughtoffiside.com

Frederic Piquionne has refused to rule out a move from West Ham in the January transfer window, with Aston Villa rumoured to be interested in the French striker.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Blackburn and Fulham are leading the chase to sign £5m-rated Espanyol striker Pablo Osvaldo, according to the player's agent.
Full story: talkSPORT

Hull City want to follow up moves for Matty Fryatt and Aaron McLean with a £2m bid for Everton striker James Vaughan.
Full story: Daily Mail

Cardiff boss Dave Jones has made an audacious bid to sign Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate on loan.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Woodgate is also a loan target of Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray, who is keen on Toulouse striker Soren Larsen.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Stoke will compete with Chelsea for the signature of teenage Southampton winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Potters hope the fact his father, Mark Chamberlain, played for the club may sway the 17-year-old.
Full story: Daily Mail

Celtic want to take Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Niko Kranjcar on loan after the 26-year-old Croatian fell out of favour with manager Harry Redknapp. (the Times)

Former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson says the club cannot afford to miss out on the chance to sign his fellow Swede, Freddie Ljungberg, who is on trial in Glasgow. (Various)

Freddie Ljungberg would not be good for Celtic as he is now more suited to being an underwear model than playing football in the twilight of his career, according to the club's former striker, John Hartson. (the Sun)

Dwayne De Rosario's bitter contract dispute with Toronto could pave the way for a transfer of the Canada midfielder to Celtic during January. (Daily Express)

Swindon striker Charlie Austin says he could leave the club next week, with Celtic, Hull, QPR and Reading all interested in signing the 21-year-old. (the Sun)

Celtic target Sergei Pareiko is now available for nothing after the 33-year-old goalkeeper left Tom Tomsk at the end of his contract. (the Sun)

Kilmarnock are weighing up a January move for Finland goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola, with the 23-year-old having failed to become a regular starter with Slavia Prague. (the Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is "on the brink" because Monday's 3-1 defeat by Arsenal means the Blues have only picked up one win in their last eight league games.
Full story: the Sun

Mark Hughes will be sacked from his post as Fulham manager after only five months if he fails to win any of their next three games.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Blackburn defender Pascal Chimbonda will have his contract at Ewood Park terminated six months early in a bid to reduce the club's wage bill.
Full story: talkSPORT

Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster has no regrets about leaving the "cut-throat" atmosphere of former club Manchester United for St Andrew's.
Full story: the Guardian

Former Blackburn assistant Neil McDonald has rejected the chance to become Motherwell manager and a mystery foreign coach was interviewed by the club on Sunday. (Daily Express, the Herald)

Former Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce had advised Motherwell to approach his former assistant, Neil McDonald, about their managerial vacancy. (Daily Mail)

Neil McDonald's move to Motherwell hangs in the balance after he had second thoughts about moving to the Scottish Premier League. (Daily Record)

AND FINALLY

Newcastle defender Steven Taylor has praised his agent Paul Stretford after signing a new five-year deal with Newcastle. Stretford, who was criticised for his role in forward Wayne Rooney's short-lived request to leave Manchester United, "has taken a lot of flak", admits Taylor.
Full story: the Times (requires subscription)

Two chickens were locked in a police cell at Ewood Park after being released by Blackburn fans at the Boxing Day defeat by Stoke in protest at the club's owners, poultry firm the Venky's Group.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

AC Milan forward Robinho claims that he talked fellow Brazilian playmaker Kaka out of a move to Manchester City. Robinho was playing for City when Kaka came close to signing at Eastlands in January 2009. Full story: the Independent