Tuesday's gossip column

Liverpool and Chelsea are interested in Manchester United and Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, 29, who is poised to return to Monaco in the summer at the end of his loan deal.(Sun)

Manchester City players firmly believe the club will make an offer for Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo, 30.(Skysports.com)

Manchester United and Manchester City lead the queue to sign midfielder Gareth Bale, 25, from Real Madrid but the Welshman says he will stay at the Bernabeu.(Mirror)

Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria, 27, has instructed his agent to find him a new club - with Paris St-Germain and Barcelona possibly interested.(Daily Star)

Bayern Munich are set to beatManchester United to sign Italy and Torino full-back Matteo Darmian, 25.(Daily Express)


Manchester United have watched Lazio's Brazilian midfielder Felipe Anderson, 21, and Netherlands centre-back Stefan de Vrij, 23.(Daily Mail)

Raheem Sterling, 20, should sign the contract that Liverpool have offered him or risk incurring the anger of their supporters, according to former Reds defender Jamie Carragher.(Mirror)

Tottenham Hotspur have told Everton it will cost them £6 million to make 27-year-old winger Aaron Lennon's loan move permanent at the end ofthe season.(Telegraph)

Bournemouth will make a bid for QPR striker Charlie Austin, 25, this summer if they are promoted to the Premier League.(Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP
Manchester United's Phil Jones, 23, says he and
Chris Smalling, 25, have silenced their critics
following the pair's impressive defensive displays
in recent wins. (Guardian)

Daily Express back page
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will remind
Mesut Ozil, 26, of his responsibilities to the club
next week after he was spotted partying in
Germany just hours after a match he missed
supposedly because of illness. (Daily Express)

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera, 25,
says he initially struggled to earn Louis van
Gaal's trust this season because he used to defy
the manager's wishes by chasing the ball too
much. (Times - subscription only)

Chelsea captain John Terry, 34, says the "big
characters" in the Stamford Bridge dressing room
will prove crucial in the Premier League title race.
(Telegraph)

Manchester City midfielder Fernando, 27, says
Blues manager Manuel Pellegrini "still has a lot
to give" despite speculation that he could be
sacked this summer if the club finish the season
without a trophy. (Daily Star)

Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has said
he will only sell the club to a potential owner who
is prepared to keep manager Alan Pardew.
(Evening Standard)

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar
believes captain Steven Gerrard, 34, is already
thinking about playing for MLS side LA Galaxy
following his red card against Manchester United.
(Talksport)

A Liverpool fan who grabbed Mario Balotelli, 24,
during Sunday's loss to Manchester United says
he did it because he was worried the Italian
striker would be sent off. (Liverpool Echo)

Former Barcelona player and manager Johan
Cruyff says it was "fantastic" that his old club
beat Real Madrid on Sunday despite playing
poorly.(Marca - in English)

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Ecuador's Jefferson Montero and Antonio
Valencia
Swansea City winger Jefferson Montero tweeted a
selfie(external) with fellow Premier League player
Antonio Valencia, of Manchester United, on the
plane to Los Angeles for Ecuador's friendly with
Mexico.


Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, who spent a
season on loan at Notts County, tweeted:
(external) "Sad to see [manager and assistant]
Shaun Derry and Greg Abbott leave Notts. [He]
was great towards me last year and I would like
to wish him all the best."


After Manchester United's victory over Liverpool
at Anfield, midfielder Juan Mata, who scored
twice, wrote on his blogexternal)

"When you start playing football as a kid on muddy pitches, for something so simple and wonderful as having fun, you dream about becoming a footballer one day to be in a game like the one in Anfield."


AND FINALLY....
Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera says
captain Wayne Rooney, 29, tells off the club's
Spanish players in their own language in training.
(El Pais - in Spanish)(external)


Former Smiths frontman Morrissey has paid
tribute to ex-Liverpool and Everton star Johnny
Morrissey by performing in front of a giant image
of the player, now aged 74, on the singer's new
UK tour. (Liverpool Echo)(external)


Iran national coach Carlos Queiroz has been
allowed to fly out of the country with his squad
to prepare for two forthcoming friendlies in
Europe, having previously been prevented from
doing so in a dispute over unpaid income tax.
(Independent)(external)

25-03-2015





Angel Di Maria's Manchester United future is in doubt after manager Van Gaal criticised the way the 27-year-old midfielder played in Sunday's 2-1 Premier League win at Liverpool.(Manchester Evening News)





Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to make a £12m move for Manchester United and England defender Chris Smalling, 25, whom he first tried to buy in 2010.(Daily Mirror)





Southampton defender Toby Alderweireld, 26, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid, hashinted at a move to Tottenham this summer by admitting he would like to play with former Ajax team-mate Jan Vertonghen again.(Daily Telegraph)





Scouts from Chelsea watchedLazio forward Felipe Anderson, 21, who is under contract until 2020, score both goals in the recent 2-0 win at Torino.(London Evening Standard)





Chelsea want £10m for goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32, whois thought to be looking for a move this summer after losing his first-team place to Thibaut Courtois, 22.(Daily Mirror)





Everton's Scotland international forward Steven Naismith, 28, has refused to rule out a return to Rangers.(Liverpool Echo)




Manchester United's hopes ofsigning Porto full-back Danilo, 23, have been boostedafter he denied any knowledge of an impending move to Real Madrid.(Metro)




OTHER GOSSIP

England manager Roy Hodgson has criticised photographers after pictures emerged of a suspected team line-up which suggests he plans to start Harry Kane in Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania.(Talksport)






Lithuania's former Hearts defender Saulius Mikoliunas, 30, is not scared of facing England in Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier, having been caught up in an international crisis when Russia invaded Crimea.(Sun - subscription required)







England are capable of winning the 2022 World Cup ifmore homegrown players are given a chance in the Premier League, Football Association chairman Greg Dyke says.(Guardian)




Arsenal will ask record signing Mesut Ozil, 26, to explain his actions after he was pictured in a Berlin nightclub hours after being declared unfit to play, but insist the midfielder was free to go out on a night off.(London Evening Standard)





Raheem Sterling has made more than 100 appearances for LiverpoolFormer QPR manager Harry Redknapp says attacker Raheem Sterling, 20, is lucky to play for Liverpool and should sign a new contract.(Talksport)Sterling will be allowed to miss England's friendly in Italy on Tuesday because he is suffering a toe injury.(Times - subscription required)




Former Tottenham midfielder Micky Hazard says the club deserve credit for showing patience with 23-year-old midfielder Ryan Mason, who has won his first England call-up.(Daily Star)




Former Newcastle striker Mick Quinn has criticised manager John Carver's attackon unnamed ex-Magpies players in the press.(Newcastle Chronicle)





Aston Villa defender Leandro Bacuna, 23, reckons a jovial training ground since the arrival of new boss Tim Sherwood has helped lift the club away from the bottom three.(Birmingham Mail)Great Britain will not send a women's team to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, because of opposition from the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish FAs.(Daily Mail)




Chelsea Ladies coach Emma Hayes says the disappointment of losing the Women's Super League title to Liverpool on the final day oflast season is pushing her to win it this year.(Independent)BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIALiverpool's Jose Enrique swam with dolphins in DubaiLiverpool defender Jose Enrique, 29, found an unusual alternative to gym work, swimming with dolphins in Dubai, and hetweeted:"Amazing experience. One of the best things ever."


QPR striker Charlie Austintweetedcryptically: "Ouija time" beforeclarifyingsoonafterwards: "It's just the film people, I'm not mad."



Midfielder Nabil Bentaleb acknowledged Tottenham team-mate Ryan Mason's England call andsaid:"Congrats to Ryan Mason on the call-up, you truly deserved it.#HardWorkAlwaysPaysOff."



England captain Wayne Rooney onInstagram:"Good to be back with the England squad and nice to pick up the Player of the Year award this morning, thanks again to everybody that voted."


AND FINALLY....Ashley Young joined Manchester United from Aston Villa in 2011Manchester United winger Ashley Young was informed on Twitter he had accidentallybroken a Manchester City fan's phone when taking a selfie with them, and responded by offering to pay for a repair.(Metro)


Google is investigating how an abusive message was pinned to its map of Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium.(Manchester Evening News)Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is to be handed an award from the Dutch Judo Association.(Inside Futbol)

FRIDAY TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is interested in £36m-rated Valencia and Portugal attacking midfielder Andre Gomes, 21.(Daily Mirror)

Manchester United will offer Real Madrid £80m and Cristiano Ronaldo an annual wage of £14m in order to bring the 30-year-old back to Old Trafford.(Daily Express)

Louis van Gaal will be allowedto spend £100m this summer as long as Manchester Unitedqualify for the Champions League. Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, 26, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, 22, and Barcelona defender Dani Alves, 31, are all of interest to United's manager.(Daily Mail)

Barcelona midfielder Xavi, 35, is poised to sign a three-year contract with Qatari side Al-Sadd when his current deal runs out in the summer.(Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)

The Daily Telegraph leads on Wayne Rooney chasing the three goals he needs to equal Bobby Charlton's England scoring record of 49As reports of stumbling blocks surround the contract negotiations of Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, it has emerged manager Arsene Wenger has one eye on landing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus, 25.(Daily Telegraph)

Manchester United are prepared to reject a £12m offer from Arsenal for 25-year-old defender Chris Smalling.(Manchester Evening News)

Hull City striker Abel Hernandez, 24, is being monitored by West Ham United and Newcastle despiteonly scoring four goals so far in his debut season in England.(Daily Star)

Manchester United target Marquinhos has signed a newcontract with Ligue 1 side Paris St-Germain. The 20-year-old Brazilian full-back's deal will keep him in the French capital until 2019.(Daily Mail)

Liverpool's hopes of signing Miralem Pjanic have been handed a boost, by reports that the 24-year-old Bosnian playmaker wants to leave Italian club Roma.(Daily Mirror)

The agent of Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson claims Manchester City are monitoring the 21-year-old Brazilian.(Talksport)

Tottenham will seek to bolster their attacking optionsthis summer by landing Juventus and Spain forward Fernando Llorente, 30.(Daily Express)

OTHER GOSSIPGuardian back pageEngland manager Roy Hodgson says Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, 25, withdrew from the squad to face Lithuania in Friday's Euro2016 qualifier because of a"slight tear" in his hip muscle.(Liverpool Echo)

Meanwhile, Hodgson has warned Arsenal forward Theo Walcott that his international career could stall. Walcott, 26,has suffered with injuries this season and has not turned out for his country since September.(Daily Star)

England Under-21 coach Gareth Southgate is set to leave Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, 21, out of the squad for this summer's European Championships to give him a rest after he was included in last summer's World Cup squad.(Sun - subscription required)

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, 25, would be a "perfect fit" at Manchester United and could make as much impact as Eric Cantona and Wayne Rooney, says former Reds midfielder Paul Scholes.(Independent)

Rangers are to seek an explanation from Newcastle about why they were loaned midfielder Gael Bigirimana, 21, knowing the player was suffering with a mystery illness.(Newcastle Chronicle)

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, 30, says he feels no guilt over the tackle on Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, which saw him banned for three matches.(Guardian)

Arsenal can build on last season's FA Cup success by winning another trophy this season, according to forward Mesut Ozil. The 26-year-old is thrilled with his club's recent form, after six straight wins.(London Evening Standard)

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere posted a picture of himself meeting Argentina legend Diego Maradona andtweeted:"A young Wilsh trying to get close to an absolute genius."

Meanwhile, Hull City goalkeeper Steve Harpermade a suggestion to the BBCas he took in a televised debate where presenter Jeremy Paxman questioned Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband. AND FINALLY....

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is a man of many talents. When the Chile international, 26, is not scoring goals, he is probably honing some already impressive piano skills. He has taken to Instagram to show off his cover of John Legend's recent hit 'All of Me'.(Alexis Sanchez Instagram)[b][/b]

LONDON EVENING STANDARD: Wojciech Szczesny is set for showdown talks over his Arsenal career at the end of the season with the club lining up Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech to replace him.
Eden Hazard believes Jose Mourinho made a mistake selling Kevin De Bruyne. The world record sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid has seen Tottenham's profits hit £65m. Danny Rose is optimistic he will be fit for Tottenham’s match at Burnley on Easter Sunday despite withdrawing from the England squad this week. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has shed some light on a potential takeover at Selhurst Park by revealing he is looking for investment rather than a sale.

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS: Manchester United have been given fresh hope in their bid to keep hold of David de Gea, with sources close to the player indicating that he is in no rush to return to Spain. If Arsene Wenger is to succeed in his pursuit of Chris Smalling, he will have to rely on a significant change of heart from Louis van Gaal.Manchester City are set to go head-to-head in a transfer battle with rivals United this summer, according to the latest reports.

LIVERPOOL ECHO: Luis Suarez has said it is more difficult playing for Barcelona than Liverpool, as he prepares to step back out at Anfield for the All-Star charity game on Sunday. Liverpool are reportedly ready to battle with Manchester United in the chase for Arsenal contract rebel Theo Walcott.Everton are refusing to rule Romelu Lukaku out of the game with Southampton.

NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE: Newcastle United defender Massadio Haidara's season seems to be over.Rangers will demand an explanation from Newcastle United about why they loaned them Gael Bigirimana knowing the player was suffering with an illness. John Carver believes he can manage Newcastle United permanently if the club provide him with more good players.

SUNDERLAND ECHO: Jack Rodwell says a fifth successive victory over Newcastle United next weekend would be like a "double win" for Sunderland.

BIRMINGHAM MAIL: Gabby Agbonlahor has hailed Tim Sherwood’sdecision to bring back two Aston Villa stalwarts to his coaching team. Gary Rowett has challenged Birmingham City’s faltering players to display the form of their first eight games under him, for the final eight of the season.

EXPRESS & STAR: Wolves winger Rajiv van La Parra knows he was wrong to storm down the tunnel after being substituted against Sheffield Wednesday.

THE SENTINEL: Tony Scholes has dropped a big hint that Stoke will continue to offer supporters free travel to away league games next season – and introduce more initiatives.

HULL DAILY MAIL: West Ham have reportedly joined the race to sign Hull City striker Abel Hernandez, just days after Newcastle United were linked with the Tigers frontman.

LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH: New loan signing Paul Taylor is determined toconvince Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyerhe is worth a permanent deal. Liverpool are set to be without striker Daniel Sturridge, as well as suspended captain Steven Gerrard and defender Martin Skrtel, for their FA Cup quarter-final replay with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Wednesday, April 8.

YORKSHIRE EVENING POST: Former Leeds United chief operating officer Matt Child insists he has left the club with his head held high following his shock decision to quit his post.

THE PINK UN: Norwich City boss Alex Neil claims will not wilt in the intense heat of a Championship promotion battle.
Norwich City’s talisman Wes Hoolahan suffered an injury scare in the build up to the Republic of Ireland’s vital Euro 2016 qualifier against Poland on Sunday.

WALES ONLINE: Wales playmaker Joe Allen is motivated by theheartbreak of watching his idols fall short in 2003.

THE BOLTON NEWS: Neil Lennon has pledged a far-reaching review at Wanderers once he knows what budget he will be working with this summer.

WIGAN EVENING POST: Wigan Athletic Chairman David Sharpe has confirmed the club has created a new department responsible for player recruitment.

BLACKPOOL GAZETTE: Miles Addison says he’s more than willing to extend his stay at Bloomfield Road until the end of the season.

THE ARGUS- Pace ace Mustapha Carayol has been tipped to win over Brighton's fans in a hurry – by a former team-mate.

THE STAR - Jason Holt has set his sights on securing a promotion double this season after joining Sheffield United on loan.