Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Zenit St Petersburg claim they are in negotiations with Arsenal to bring Andrey Arshavin back to the club on loan. "We had [initial] talks with them. Let's see how they respond now," the Russian club's general director, Maxim Mitrofanov, was quoted as saying.

Full story: Sovetsky Sport [In Russian]

Frank Lampard could be set to join ex-Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti at Paris Saint-Germain.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Meanwhile, Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole, 31, is set to leave the club after clashing with manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Full story: the Sun

Arsenal are planning to spend £55m on German pair Mario Gotze and Lukas Podolski in the summer as manager Arsene Wenger looks to reinvigorate his attack.

Full story: Bild [In German]

Juventus are understood to have outlined a four-year contract for Manchester United's 18-year-old midfielder Paul Pogba.

Full story: Daily Mail

Arshavin has started eight league games this term

Sunderland face competition from Sevilla and Saint Etienne in the race to land Atalanta midfielder Moussa Kone. The Ivorian has impressed this season while on loan at Serie B outfit Pescara.

Full story: talkSPORT

Al Ain have urged Sunderland to make striker Asamoah Gyan's loan move permanent in the summer. The UAE-based team paid £6m to get Gyan on a temporary deal, and are prepared to pay another £6m.

Full story: Daily Mirror

AC Milan are set to rival Manchester United in the race to snap up Benfica midfielder Javi Garcia. The Spaniard is believed to be valued at £17m by the Portuguese giants.

Full story: talkSPORT

Reading striker Mathieu Manset is set to join fellow Frenchman Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai Shenhua after the Chinese side made a loan bid for his services.

Full story: Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea have turned to former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez to check whether he would consider taking over from Andre-Villas Boas at Stamford Bridge.

Full story: The Times (subscription)

England's interim manager Stuart Pearce is set to name an experimental squad on Thursday for the friendly against the Netherlands next Wednesday. Pearce spent yesterday calling senior players to tell them they would not be involved in the game.

Full story: Daily Mail

Tottenham Hotspur hope to convince Harry Redknapp to turn down the England manager's job with a lucrative new contract offer.

Full story: Daily Mirror

After failing to land Alan Curbishley and Brian McDermott, Wolverhampton Wanderers are to turn to ex-Rangers boss Walter Smith as they look to appoint a new manager.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Alex McLeish has left the door open for a Robbie Keane comeback after insisting Villa have "whetted his appetite" for a Premier League return.

Full story: Birmingham Mail

Disney are the latest firm to see their offer of commercial work for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rejected by Arsenal as the club look to protect their young winger from over-exposure.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Smith managed Everton from 1998-2002

Stewart Downing has admitted he is feeling the pressure to perform due to the "culture shock" of swapping Aston Villa for Liverpool.

Full story: Daily Mail

The Football League have scrapped the playing of the national anthems during Sunday's Carling Cup final between Welsh side Cardiff and English side Liverpool. The organisation wants to avoid booing of the anthems.

Full story: The Sun

The Arsenal Supporters' Trust has urged the club to slash ticket prices if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Full story: Daily Mail

Meanwhile, senior sources say Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could have £100m to spend on players in the summer.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

AND FINALLY

A young mascot may have been the key to Chelsea's downfall at Napoli, after he gave two-goal hero Ezequiel Lavezzi a kiss on the cheek for luck.

Full story: Metro