Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan will launch a £15m bid to sign Barcelona striker Thierry Henry. (The Sun)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez's summer shopping list includes Wigan winger Antonio Valencia. (Daily Mirror)

Benitez also wants Gareth Barry, Borussia Dortmund's Philipp Degen, Athletico Bilbao's Fernando Amorebieta and Espanyol's Albert Riera. (Various)

Degen has verbally agreed with Benitez to move to Anfield on a free transfer this summer. (Various)

Atletico Madrid midfielder Maxi Rodriguez is another target for Benitez. (The Sun)

Arsenal are considering selling their Swiss defender Philippe Senderos at the end of the season. (The Independent)

606: DEBATE Who should your club buy and/or sell this summer?

Chelsea have told Real Madrid that they must pay £18m to sign striker Didier Drogba. (Daily Star)

Manchester City hope to sign Liverpool's Peter Crouch, Tottenham's Aaron Lennon and CSKA Moscow duo Jo and Daniel Carvalho this summer. (Various)

City must pay £21m if they want Brazil striker Jo. (Daily Mirror)

Crystal Palace are keen on Norwich striker Darren Huckerby. (Daily Mirror)

Croatia boss Slaven Bilic has told Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric to join Newcastle. (Various)

Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell is set to reject a move to Newcastle to stay at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa are the latest side to target Sidwell and they are also keen to bring in Liverpool's Peter Crouch and Benfica defender Nelson. (Star)

Inter Milan have confirmed they want to sign Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb. (Daily Star)

Arsenal have improved their latest contract offer to midfielder Mathieu Flamini in a bid to stop him from joining Juventus. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green is ready to pledge his long-term future to the club. (Daily Star)

Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is back in training after being told he does not need back surgery. (The Sun)

Tottenham have agreed to pay Espanyol £5m for Carlos Kameni but face late competition for the goalkeeper from Aston Villa. (The Independent)

But Spurs hope to hijack Portsmouth's £8.3m bid for Real Mallorca winger Jonas Gutierrez. (The Independent)

Liverpool have signed 16-year-old Tamworth goalkeeper Dean Chamberlain. (Daily Star)

Middlesbrough's weekly wage bill will be slashed by £130,000 if Mark Schwarzer, Fabio Rochemback and Gaizka Mendieta leave the club. (Daily Star)

Schwarzer looks likely to join Bayern Munich and Boro are considering a £4m move for Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson to replace him. (Various)

Newcastle and Liverpool are both eyeing a summer swoop for Colchester winger Medy Elito. (Daily Mirror)

Barcelona star Ronaldinho has told team-mates at the Spanish club that he may be leaving the Nou Camp to move to Manchester City. (The Independent)

Fenerbahce's London-born striker Colin Kazim-Richards wants to return to the Premier League from Turkey. (Express)

Dundee United have confirmed defender Christian Kalvenes is set to leave the club. (Daily Record)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle chairman George Fraser says the club do not have to sell striker Marius Niculae to avert a cash crisis. (Daily Record)

St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson fears he could lose David van Zanten to a bigger club in the summer. (Daily Record)

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OTHER GOSSIP

Nani says his Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo was devastated after missing his penalty against Barcelona. (The Sun)

But Ronaldo says he is not afraid to take another spot-kick against Barcelona in the second leg of United's Champions League semi-final. (The Sun)

Kolo Toure wants to replace William Gallas as Arsenal captain. (The Sun) 

Wembley Stadium lost £22m during its first year of operation, according to accounts set to be published next month. (Various)

Chelsea's German international midfielder Michael Ballack, 31, wants to end his career at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Star)

Meanwhile, Blues defender Ricardo Carvalho says his side can blow the title race wide open by beating Manchester United on Saturday. (Mirror)

Manchester City are to appoint Brazilian coach Roberto Carlos de Carvalho as their international youth development chief. (Daily Mirror)

An unnamed football club have approached a leading sports scientist to apply genetic research to their players. (The Guardian)

Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura will shake off an ankle injury in time for Sunday's clash with Rangers. (Record)

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood says his players must prove they have a future at Pittodrie between now and the end of the season. (Daily Record)

East Stirling could be thrown out of the Scottish League in two years if they finish bottom of the League again this season. (Daily Record)

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AND FINALLY

Cardiff City have teamed up with Fame Academy star James Fox to record their FA Cup final song Bluebirds Flying High.

Teetotal West Brom boss Tony Mowbray will celebrate by cracking open his leftover Easter eggs instead of champagne if the Baggies win promotion to the Premier League.

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