Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

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

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has agreed a £10m deal for 25-year-old Marseille striker Loic Remy - paving the way for Magpies forward Demba Ba, 27, to leave in January.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Remy has been linked with Tottenham in the past

Arsenal and Liverpool target Fernando Llorente is set to meet Juventus officials on Monday in a bid to thrash out a deal that will see the 27-year-old old Spain striker leave Athletic Bilbao.

Full story: talkSPORT

Chelsea have been told to cough up £30m if they want to sign 28-year-old Corinthians striker Paolo Guerrero, who scored the winner against them in the Club World Cup final.

Full story: Daily Star

Manchester United want Benfica centre-back Ezequiel Garay to beef up their shaky defence. The club are ready to bid £15m for the 26-year-old Argentina defender at the end of the season.

Full story: the Sun

Arsenal have turned down a bid of £2.5m from Turkish side Galatasaray for their Brazilian left-back Andre Santos. The Gunners want to recoup £5m of the £6.8m they paid Fenerbahce for the 29-year-old last term.

Full story: the Sun

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson will be put up for sale by Blackburn Rovers. Southampton, West Brom, West Ham and Fulham are all reported to be interested in the 33-year-old.

Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool are set to add 19-year-old Birmingham and England keeper Jack Butland to deals for Daniel Sturridge and Thomas Ince, as Reds manager Brendan Rodgers targets a triple swoop of English talents. Chelsea striker Sturridge, 23 and Blackpool winger Ince, 20, are also expected to complete their moves in January.

Full story: Metro

However, Liverpool's initial offer for Ince is significantly short of Blackpool's valuation.

Full story: the Independent

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC monitoring)

Zambian international Felix Stoppila Sunzu, 23, has reportedly chosen to sign for Reading, despite interest from Arsenal. The striker will travel to England to sign his new contract after a forthcoming international against Tanzania.

Full story: L'Equipe (in French)

Argentina legend Diego Maradona is "one step away" from being named coach of the Iraq national team. A spokesman for World Cup winner said the deal would be done before the end of 2012.

Full story: AS (in Spanish)

Hours after Paris St Germain winger Nene, 31, wrote on his website of his desire for "freedom" from the club, coach Carlo Ancelotti said that the Brazilian has not made an official transfer request. "He has not asked for a departure officially," the Italian said. "You know, I do not have time to go online. He has not talked to me or the club."

Full story: L'Equipe

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes plans to retire again at the end of this season, with fellow veteran Ryan Giggs also set to leave and defender Rio Ferdinand yet to indicate if he will extend his contract.

Full story: Daily Mail

Former QPR striker Les Ferdinand is set to return to the club in a coaching role under manager Harry Redknapp.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Everton manager David Moyes has revealed his ambition to coach in a European league one day - and named Germany as the most appealing option.

Full story: Daily Mail

AND FINALLY

Journalists, fans and Uefa officials were left stunned after the Champions League last-16 draw produced exactly the same ties in both the rehearsal and the real thing - the odds for which are 5,000-1.

Full story: Metro