Wednesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

AC Milan have intensified their efforts to beat Chelsea and Manchester City to sign Pep Guardiola as their next manager.

Full story: Daily Mail

Pep Guardiola could be heading to AC Milan

Liverpool have approached Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala over a deal to sign 6ft 8in striker Lacina Traore, 22, who scored against the Reds in the Europa League last week.

Full story: Metro

Manchester City, Liverpool and Southampton are battling it out to sign Domenico Berardi, an 18-year-old striker with Italian club Sassuolo.

Full story: Skysports.com

QPR want to sign former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, 33, from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua to help them out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Full story: the Sun

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, 24, insists he has no intention of leaving after being linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Full story: Marca

Juventus are ready to make a January move for Udinese's Morocco defender Mehdi Benatia, 25, - a recent target for Manchester United and Tottenham.

Full story: talkSPORT

OTHER GOSSIP

Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 31, has urged Liverpool's Steven Gerrard to move to a club capable of winning major trophies before it's too late.

Steven Gerrard has been told to move club by Zlatan Ibrahamovic

Full story: Daily Mirror

And Gerrard, 32, admits he has plenty of career regrets as he prepares to win his 100th England cap against Sweden.

Full story: the Guardian

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, 20, got a rude awakening before his possible England debut when Sweden coach Erik Hamren admitted: "I've never heard of you."

Full story: the Sun

Former Stoke manager Lou Macari has urged England boss Roy Hodgson to play Ryan Shawcross, 25, for the full 90 minutes against Sweden.

Full story: Stoke Sentinel

Liverpool are in talks to extend their shirt sponsorship deal with banking firm Standard Chartered.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering ditching his favoured back-four formation to tighten up the team's defence.

Full story: Daily Mail

Mario Balotelli has been urged to focus on his on-field career by his national coach

The Premier League TV rights deal is set to top £5bn for the first time.

Full story: the Guardian

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has told Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, 22, to focus on his career rather than glossy magazine interviews.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Manchester City defender Aleksandar Kolarov, 27, insists his side are still the best team in England.

Full story: Manchester Evening News

The four Peterborough players fined and transfer-listed after a weekend night out in the city have asked the Professional Footballers' Association to help them fight the case.

Full story: Peterborough Telegraph

Former France defender Willy Sagnol believes Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will battle it out for the Ballon d'Or.

Full story: Goal.com

Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole who has had a knee injury could be fit to face Fulham on Saturday.

Full story: The Journal

Tottenham could be without Kyle Walker, Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon for Saturday's derby clash with Arsenal.

Full story: Independent

But Spurs assistant boss Steffen Freund insists the balance of power in north London has shifted away from the Gunners since he was a player at White Hart Lane.

Full story: Daily Star

AND FINALLY

Argentina star Lionel Messi got a shock when a soldier's gun was inadvertently pointed at him as he was escorted through a Saudi Arabia airport.

Full story: Metro

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard says some Everton players were keener than others to strip off and pose for their charity calendar.

Full story: Liverpool Echo