Wednesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

For updated transfer news and gossip throughout the day, read our breaking news service.

Sportsday Live - breaking news

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Sunderland have taken 19-year-old Enoch Balotelli, brother of Manchester City striker Mario, on trial.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Chelsea are set to sign Racing Genk winger Kevin de Bruyne, 20, for £8.5m after talks in London between the two clubs.
Full story: Daily Express

Blackburn are asking for at least £3.5m for Argentine playmaker Mauro Formica - with Olympiakos's attempts to get the 23-year-old on the cheap set for failure.
Full story: Lancashire Telegraph

United States international defender Tim Ream, 24, should be a Bolton player by the end of the week.
Full story: Bolton News

Aston Villa may release 34-year-old striker Emile Heskey on a free in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott's 19-year-old cousin Jacob, currently with Reading, could be set for a move to Holland if he impresses in a trial game for Utrecht.
Full story: talkSPORT

Liverpool have reportedly made an offer for £15m-rated Udinese and Chile international midfielder Mauricio Isla, 23. Full story: Daily Star

The Reds are also believed to have opened talks with FC Groningen over 20-year-old striker David Texeira, as manager Kenny Dalglish steps up his transfer activity in the closing stages of the window.
Full story: Metro

Esteban Granero is "100%" committed to Real Madrid and will not be joining Liverpool this month, according to the 24-year-old's management team.
Full story: International Business Times

Wolves' 23-year-old winger Adam Hammill has emerged as a shock transfer target for Wigan.
Full story: Wigan Evening Post

Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega, 26, has confirmed he wants to leave the Premier League strugglers and is considering his options.
Full story: Sky Sports

Watford boss Sean Dyche has blasted Newcastle for offering "pocket money" for skipper Adrian Mariappa, 25. The Hornets boss reckons his son has "got as much in his money box to buy him".
Full story: Daily Star

Galatasaray have failed in their bid to land Manchester United target Xherdan Shaqiri - the 20-year-old winger plays for FC Basel.
Full story: talkSPORT

Norwich are telling clubs their 30-year-old striker Grant Holt is not for sale at any price.
Full story: the Sun

David Beckham's LA Galaxy are talking to Championship side Leeds United over a move for defender Alex Bruce - son of Beckham's former Manchester United team-mate Steve. Full story: Daily Mail

Defender Danny Collins's exit from Stoke may not be signed and sealed after all, with manager Tony Pulis stating that the 31-year-old could remain in his plans.
Full story: Stoke Sentinel

Manchester City are believed to be locked in a transfer tussle with Serie A giants Juventus for 16-year-old Willem II striker Jeroen Lumu, who became the club's youngest-ever scorer earlier this season.
Full story: Inside Futbol

OTHER GOSSIP

Anton Ferdinand has told friends he will not shake hands with John Terry ahead of QPR's FA Cup tie against Chelsea on Saturday.
Full story: Daily Mirror

West Ham are reconsidering their plans to move to the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 - and will not submit a formal bid until they get greater clarity from the Olympic Park Legacy Company about what is being asked of potential bidders.
Full story: The Times [subscription required]

Spanish giants Real Madrid have targeted under-fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to replace Jose Mourinho, who may leave the Bernabeu in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mail

England manager Fabio Capello is set to play his Euro 2012 wild-card - by taking Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 18, to Poland and Ukraine in the summer.
Full story: The Guardian

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has confirmed that "something like 10" of the club's players have been contacted about their possible participation at this summer's Olympic Games.
Full story: ESPN

New Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson, 23, admits leaving Leeds, the club he loves, was the hardest decision of his life.
Full story: Eastern Daily Press

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy says he will continue to get the support he needs from the club's chief executive Steve Morgan to bring in new signings - if the right men become available.
Full story: Birmingham Mail

Despite going out of the Carling Cup at the hands of Cardiff on Tuesday night, Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman looks set to be offered a new deal at Selhurst Park.
Full story: London Evening Standard

Outgoing German Football Association president Theo Zwanziger has reportedly said it is time for gay footballers to come out. The 66-year-old has called on gay players "to have the courage to declare themselves," although he conceded it was certainly difficult to acknowledge one's homosexuality within a team.
Full story: Washington Post

AND FINALLY

Aleksandr Geynrikh was dealt a double dose of embarrassment during Uzbekistan Under-23's friendly loss against Zenit St Petersburg - firstly by bungling a penalty routine, then firing his second attempt over the bar.
Full story: Metro

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler admits he still owns the infamous white suit worn by Reds players before the 1996 FA Cup final. The Anfield club are aiming to seal their first trip to Wembley since that day when they face Manchester City in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday night. Full story: The Sun