Thursday's Gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

QPR manager Harry Redknapp has made a shock swoop for David Bentley, 28, with Tottenham midfielders Jermaine Jenas, 29, and Andros Townsend, 21, also in his radar.

Full story: the Sun

Anzhi Makhachkala defender Christopher Samba, 28, is set for a £100,000-a-week wage at QPR if a deal goes through.

Full story: Independent

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is prepared to send defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto, 28, to Inter Milan in a swap deal which would bring his former Porto defender Alvaro Pereira, 27, to White Hart Lane.

Full story: Metro

Samba is in England to discuss personal terms with QPR over a £100,000-a-week deal

However, Villas-Boas has admitted that the club is unlikely to buy a striker before the transfer window closes.

Full story: Sky Sports

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is mulling over a move for Kenwyne Jones, 28, after the Stoke striker priced himself out of a move to Swansea.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Tottenham have made an inquiry for Lyon forward Bafetimbi Gomis, 27.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Wigan Athletic, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion are ready to offer full-back Danny Simpson, 26, an escape route from Newcastle United.

Full story: Daily Mail

Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone is in talks with Fulham over a £5m switch to Craven Cottage.

Full story: Daily Express

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is ready to pull off a transfer coup by signing Republic of Ireland and Spartak Moscow winger Aiden McGeady, 26, for £5m.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Sunderland will complete the £5.5m transfer of striker Danny Graham, 27, from Swansea on Thursday.

Full story: Daily Mail

Swansea's Danny Graham is set to join Sunderland

Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson, 20, is reportedly set for a surprise loan move to Stoke.

Full story: Metro

Newcastle are lining up a bid for Standard Liege midfielder William Vanqueur, 24.

Full story: the Sun

QPR, Everton and West Ham have received a transfer blow after Toulouse ruled out selling midfielder Etienne Capoue, 24, during the current window.

Full story: talkSPORT

Coventry City are considering a loan move for Manchester City winger Alex Henshall, 18.

Full story: Sky Sports

GLOBAL GOSSIP

Sourced by BBC Monitoring

Toulouse coach Alain Casanova has denied that Etienne Capoue, 24, will leave the club, despite reports that the midfielder is keen to move on. QPR and Tottenham have shown interest.

Full story: L'Equipe

French-Moroccan midfielder Adil Hermach has been loaned to Toulouse from Saudi side Al-Hilal Riyadh until the end of the season.

Full story: Sport24

OTHER GOSSIP

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Europe's top leagues are considering changing the calendar so clubs can play in the summer.

Roy Hodgson wants Raheem Sterling to play in this summer's European Under-21 Championship

Full story: South China Morning Post

England manager Roy Hodgson has decided Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling, 18, should play in this summer's European Under-21s Championship in June but wants to keep Jack Wilshere, 21, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 19, with the senior team as he prepares for the next World Cup.

Full story: the Guardian

Bookmakers Coral suspended betting on Brighton's Gus Poyet becoming the next Chelsea manager yesterday after an avalanche of online bets cut his odds from 25-1 to 3-1.

Full story: the Sun

Midfielder Lewis Holtby, 22, believes his decision to join Tottenham six months ahead of schedule will make it easier for him to reach his peak next season.

Full story: London's Evening Standard

Former Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp is set for a sensational return to the Gunners as Liam Brady's replacement as head of the club's youth academy.

Full story: the Guardian

AND FINALLY

BBC Radio 5 live's 606 newsletter reports that the Greek amateur leagues have come up with a way of rewarding players and coaches for good sportsmanship, particularly if they own up to handling the ball, by showing the blue card.