Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Major League Soccer boss Dan Garber says Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, 34, would be a welcome addition to the MLS if he wanted to follow in David Beckham's footsteps by ending his career in the United States.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Tottenham are ready to battle Italians Inter Milan for £7.5m-rated Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Patrick Herrmann, 21.

Full story: the Sun

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to bolster his forward line by making a move for Galatasaray's 27-year-old striker Burak Yilmaz, reportedly also a target for West Ham and Tottenham.

Full story: talkSPORT

Barnsley right-back John Stones, 18, is being targeted by Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Full story: the Sun

The coach of China's Guangzhou Evergrande, Marcello Lippi, has denied he contacted Shanghai Shenhua and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba regarding a possible transfer.

Full story: Xinhuanet

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United are ready to reward the rapid progress of midfielder Tom Cleverley, 23, by doubling his wages just one year into his current contract.

Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley played for Great Britain at the London Olympics

Full story: Daily Mirror

Michael Owen, 32, has angrily refuted suggestions he dived to win a penalty for England against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, despite admitting he went down without needing to.

Full story: Metro

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pulled out of a speaking engagement at the Leaders In Football conference amid speculation linking the former Manchester United striker, 39, with the vacant manager's position at Bolton.

Full story: Daily Mail

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has leapt to the defence of Michael Laudrup after reports of player unrest three months after the Dane's arrival as manager at the Liberty Stadium.

Full story: Wales Online

Liverpool midfielder Suso, 20, says he is close to signing a new contract with the club following the Spaniard's breakthrough into the first team this season.

Full story: Liverpool Echo

Former Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero says he turned down the chance to join Liverpool before moving to Sydney FC this year out of respect to the Italian fans who died at the Heysel disaster in 1985.

Full story: Daily Mail

Chelsea full-back Ryan Bertrand, 23, will escape with a warning from the FA after swearing on Twitter.

Full story: Daily Mirror

The 2022 World Cup should be moved to winter to help fans and players to enjoy the tournament in Qatar, bid ambassador Ronald de Boer says.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

AND FINALLY

The Uruguay Football Association are to complain about comments made by Britain's Fifa representative Jim Boyce, who feels that Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 25, dived in last Sunday's game against Stoke.

Full story: London Evening Standard