Sunday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

1522 BST: Luiz Felipe Scolari claims a number of Chelsea players - including Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Petr Cech - did not respect him or his training methods during his ill-fated spell at Stamford Bridge. (Brazilian newspaper O Globo)

1240 BST: Real Madrid have offered in the region of £27m for Arsenal and Manchester United target Karim Benzema after switching their attention to the 21-year-old Lyon striker from Valencia forward David Villa. (Spanish sports newspaper Marca)

1130 BST: Manchester City have made a "stratospheric" offer to Samuel Eto'o according to Barcelona president Joan Laporta. (Catalan radio station iCat FM)

0936 BST: Bayern Munich sporting director Christian Nerlinger believes the club can convince Chelsea target Franck Ribery to stay by matching his lofty ambition. (Press Association)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal are poised to hijack Manchester United's £25m bid to sign 21-year-old striker Karim Benzema from Lyon.
Full story: News of the World

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will intensify negotiations to for £45m Atletico Madrid playmaker Sergio Aguero and complete the £14m signing of Wigan striker Luis Antonio Valencia. (Sunday Mail)

Manchester City have completed a £25m swoop for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, 28, and they are expected to announce that they have also signed Carlos Tevez.
Full story: News of the World

Chelsea will make a new £50m offer for AC Milan's Brazilian striker Pato after their initial £45m bid for the 19-year-old was rejected.

Meanwhile, Blues striker Didier Drogba, midfielder Michael Essien and defender Ashley Cole are to be offered new £125,000-a-week deals, but Joe Cole and Jose Bosingwa could be on their way out of Stamford Bridge.
Full story: News of the World

Chelsea are also set to test Bayern Munich's resolve with a £50m bid for French winger Franck Ribery.
Full story: Sunday Express

Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is agonising over a switch across Stanley Park to join Everton.
Full story: News of the World

Xabi Alonso's future at Anfield depends on Real Madrid's bid to sign David Villa from Valencia. If Real fail to purchase the striker, they will meet Liverpool's £25m asking price for Alonso.
Full story: News of the World

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has urged manager Rafael Benitez to try to sign one of his Spanish international team-mates David Villa, David Silva or Juan Mata, who all play for Valencia.
Full story: News of the World

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley expects to receive two bids for the club this week which could determine Alan Shearer's long-term future at St James' Park.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

Aston Villa are ready to make a £5m swoop for German international Tim Borowski, 29, who plays in midfield for Bayern Munich.
Full story: News of the World

Stoke are ready to smash their transfer record and spend £6m on Newcastle's Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins. But they are likely to face competition from Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham.
Full story: News of the World

West Ham want to bring Anton Ferdinand back to Upton Park from Sunderland in a cut-price deal. New Black Cats boss Steve Bruce does not want the 24-year-old, who moved to Wearside last summer, and Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola will make a £2m bid.
Full story: News of the World

Meanwhile, Bruce is ready to make a £5m bid for Rangers 24-year-old midfielder Steven Davis.
Full story: News of the World

Southampton could this week be forced to sell former England Under-21 midfielder Andrew Surman just to meet the club's wage bill.

QPR are expected to head a queue of clubs willing to pay a cut-price £400,000 for the 22-year-old who has made 133 appearances for the Saints.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

Sunderland will pitch in a £5m bid for Rangers midfielder Steven Davis.
Full story: News of the World

OTHER GOSSIP

Newcastle face a £750,000 wage bill for strikers Michael Owen and Mark Viduka, even though the pair may not play for the club again.

Both players' deals expire on Tuesday, but they have a clause in their contracts that means they will be paid for another month if they do not sign for clubs in July.
Full story: News of the World

AND FINALLY

Brazil and Real Madrid playmaker Kaka has delivered a stinging blow to Manchester City by revealing that they were not a big enough club to tempt him to the Premier League.
Full story: News of the World

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