Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

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

Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland admits he could be sold, whether he likes it or not, if the club's ownership is not sorted out by January. The 19-year-old is reportedly interesting Premier League Everton.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Jack Butland (right) has represented England at every level from under 16 to senior team

Manchester United have joined the list of clubs scouting Crystal Palace's 19-year-old winger Wilfried Zaha.

Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool are finally set to sign HJK Helsinki striker Joel Pohjanpalo after returning with a renewed contract offer for the 18-year-old, who scored 19 goals in 34 games for HJK's first team.

Full story: Metro

Chelsea and Manchester City are both pursuing Obolon Kiev goalkeeper Igor Berezovsky after the 22-year-old caught their attention with a series of match-winning performances in the Ukrainian second tier.

Full story: talkSPORT

Arsenal are interested in adding Bayer Leverkusen striker Andre Schurrle to their squad in January. The 21-year-old forward is one of three Bundesliga targets with Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby, 22, and Hamburg striker Heung-Min Son, 20, also possible purchases.

Full story: CaughtOffside

Rio Ferdinand could be offered a dramatic return to West Ham this summer - according to boss Sam Allardyce.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Roberto Di Matteo has rubbished rumours linking Daniel Sturridge, 23, with a January move away from Stamford Bridge.

Full story: Fulham Chronicle

Stephen McPhail wants to land a new contract at Cardiff City. The 32-year-old midfielder's current deal runs out at the end of the season and he has slipped off the radar as Malky Mackay's men have stormed to the top of the Championship.

Full story: Wales Online

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea players who reported Mark Clattenburg's alleged racial rant may have misheard his heavy Geordie accent.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Chelsea will face a backlash from referees and officials should their race abuse allegations against Mark Clattenburg prove baseless, with the game's top officials likely to press for a sanction against the club should the case collapse.

Full story: Independent

Lawyer claims Michael Ballack cannot afford to pay a speeding fine

Alan Shearer could be in contention at Southampton as manager Nigel Adkins's future at St Mary's has been plunged into fresh doubt following their Capital One Cup defeat at Leeds on Tuesday.

Full story: Daily Mail

Henning Berg is due to be unveiled as the new manager of Blackburn Rovers this morning only five months after claiming that there were "no real managers with credibility who would accept a job like that".

Full story: the Times (subscription required)

A lawyer for Michael Ballack claims that the former Chelsea midfielder, 36, could not afford to pay a speeding fine because he is unemployed.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

AND FINALLY

Arsenal winger Walcott has handed back the match ball following the club's 7-5 win over Reading in the Capital One Cup, after crediting his hat-trick goal to defender Carl Jenkinson.

Full story: Metro