Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

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

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea have emerged as favourites to land £15m-rated striker Theo Walcott, 23, from Arsenal.

Full story: the Sun

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is willing to offer Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, 26, a £10m-a-year contract to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

Abramovich is ready to make Falcao his top earner

Full story: Daily Mail

Real Madrid are willing to pay up to £56m to land Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, 23, during the next two transfer windows.

Full story: Metro

Manchester United and Arsenal are battling to capture PSV Eindhoven's £17m-rated midfielder Kevin Strootman, 22.

Full story: the Sun

Liverpool's hopes of signing Barcelona winger Cristian Tello, 21, appear to be over after he signed a new contract with the Spanish club - but he does have an £8m buy-out clause.

Full story: talkSPORT

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez will not sell midfielder James McCarthy, 22, in January. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is thought to be keen on signing him.

Full story: Daily Star

Arsenal and Manchester City are preparing to test Athletic Bilbao's resolve to keep hold of striker Fernando Llorente, 27, in the January transfer window.

Full story: the Times (subscription only)

Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 29, would prefer a move to Inter Milan this January over Arsenal or Liverpool, according to the player's agent.

Full story: Metro

Swansea want to sign 22-year-old West Bromwich defender Craig Dawson.

Swansea will try to sign West Brom's Craig Dawson in January

Full story: Daily Mail

Newcastle are in competition with Juventus to sign Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko, 23.

Full story: talkSPORT

Everton are unlikely to try to bring United States international Landon Donovan, 30, to Goodison on loan for a third time in January.

Full story: Liverpool Echo

Roma are leading the race to sign Portuguese winger Nani, 26, from Manchester United when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Full story: talkSPORT

Fiorentina will make a £5.6m bid for QPR midfielder Esteban Granero, 25, next month.

Full story: London's Evening Standard

Frank Lampard, 34, accepts he will be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season.

Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City defender Micah Richards, 24, hopes to return to playing by early February after knee surgery in October.

Full story: Manchester Evening News

Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov says former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, 35, should join Arsenal's coaching staff.

Alisher Usmanov wants Thierry Henry as an Arsenal coach

Full story: Daily Mirror

Former Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli says that he and Kenny Dalglish were judged too quickly at the club.

Full story: The Times (subscription only)

Fulham boss Martin Jol is confident captain Brede Hangeland, 31, will sign a new deal.

Full story: London's Evening Standard

Wolves academy manager Kevin Thelwell has been promoted to the new role of head of football development and recruitment, where he will assist manager Stale Solbakken with first-team player recruitment.

Full story: Express and Star

AND FINALLY

Ashley Cole was made to wait on his Chelsea team-mates at dinner as punishment for losing at tenpin bowling on a team-bonding night in Yokohama ahead of their Club World Cup appearance.

Full story: Daily Star

Joey Barton's dream move to Marseille looks to have turned sour after the 30-year-old moaned on Twitter at having to play in front of "no fans" and then have a "freezing" cold shower.

Full story: Metro