Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 27, is keen to reach an agreement to stay at Tottenham but the club would have to break their current wage limit in order to sign him permanently from Manchester City.

Full story: London Evening Standard

Blackburn defender Chris Samba, 27, has not given up hope of securing a move to big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala before the Russian transfer window closes on Friday.

Full story: Daily Mail

Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, 20, is set to join Birmingham on loan after walking out on a loan spell at Leeds.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Midfielder Luka Modric, 26, will not sign a new contract with Tottenham until the future of manager Harry Redknapp is resolved.

Full story: Goal.com

Chelsea target Igor Akinfeev has ruled out a switch to Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old CSKA Moscow goalkeeper has been linked with a move to the Blues, with question marks over Petr Cech's future at the club.

Full story: talkSPORT

Akinfeev has made over 200 appearances for CSKA

Arsenal look set to make an offer for £5m-rated Malaga attacking midfielder Isco. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger wants the 19-year-old as part of his summer rebuilding plans.

Full story: Daily Star

Newcastle United are believed to be keeping tabs on 24-year-old Ajax defender and captain Jan Vertonghen.

Full story: Newcastle Chronicle

The Magpies are also interested in 22-year-old attacking midfielder Romain Amalfitano of French side Reims.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Barcelona have joined Arsenal and Everton in the race for Anderlecht's 23-year-old striker Matias Suarez.

Full story: Metro

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is ready to offer Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou, 26, an £80,000-a-week contract extension.

Full story: Daily Mail

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho looks set to scupper Fulham's hopes of a loan move for 18-year-old midfielder Jese Rodriguez - by promoting him to the Real Madrid first team.

Full story: talkSPORT

Liverpool's quest to sign Bologna midfielder Gaston Ramirez has taken a significant step forward after the Italian club's president admitted the 21-year-old can leave at the end of the season.

Full story: Inside Futbol

West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson will again try to sign 28-year-old Zenit St Petersburg winger Szabolcs Huszti in the summer.

Full story: the Sun

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has demanded to know why manager Andre Villas-Boas dropped experienced trio Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien from the starting line-up for the game against Napoli, which they lost 3-1.

Full story: the Sun

Leeds United manager Neil Warnock claims he will retire at the end of next season.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Aston Villa's Carlos Cuellar, 30, is believed to have opened contract talks with the club after manager Alex McLeish indicated he wants the defender to stay.

Full story: Birmingham Mail

Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner, 25, says he holds no grudges against Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill for selling him while he was manager of Aston Villa.

Full story: Sunderland Echo

Caretaker manager Terry Connor is set to get the Wolves job for the rest of the season after former Rangers boss Walter Smith turned down an approach from the Molineux club.

Full story: Daily Mirror

However, the club are considering whether to target former manager Dave Jones.

Full story: the Guardian

AND FINALLY

QPR midfielder Joey Barton has reportedly given his approval to the design of the new England home kit - despite being out of favour at international level.

Full story: Metro

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