Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Newcastle want French winger Hatem Ben Arfa to sign a new contract and stay at St James' Park, after Liverpool enquired about the 25-year-old's availability.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Newcastle want to extend Hatem Ben Arfa's contract amid interest from Liverpool

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers watched Holland international central defender Stefan De Vrij, 21, captain Feyenoord to a 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven on Sunday. Rodgers is seeking a replacement for the retiring Jamie Carragher.

Full story: Daily Mail

Southampton midfielder Gaston Ramirez, 22, is a target for Italian sides Inter Milan, Juventus and Fiorentina.

Full story: the Sun

League Cup winners Swansea fear they may face a fight to keep 28-year-old captain Ashley Williams. Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham have all been linked with summer moves for the Wales centre-back.

Full story: Metro

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce could move for ex-Bolton defender Ricardo Gardner. The Jamaica international, 34, is a free agent after leaving the Reebok Stadium last summer.

Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie will be fit to face Real Madrid in next week's Champions League clash, despite picking up a bizarre hip injury against Queens Park Rangers.

Full story: Daily Mail

But Van Persie will not face Norwich City at Old Trafford on Saturday after suffering severe bruising when he fell into a pitchside camera pit.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Manchester United's Robin van Persie shows his discomfort after injuring his hip against QPR

Celtic boss Neil Lennon wants the club to hand a new contract to 26-year-old midfielder Joe Ledley.

Full story: Daily Record

Manchester City are ready to open talks with Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure about a new five-year deal worth £55m.

Full story: Daily Star

Fulham boss Martin Jol is considering offering an extended contract to veteran Greece midfielder Giorgios Karagounis. The 35-year-old joined the Craven Cottage club on a free transfer last summer.

Full story: Daily Mail

Dagenham & Redbridge boss John Still, 62, is set to become the new manager of Conference side Luton Town in an astonishing £1m deal.

Full story: the Sun

AC Milan's former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli had to "challenge not only the Inter Milan defence but also the crowd, which booed him with insults, and inflatable bananas" during Sunday's 1-1 Milan derby.

Full story: Tuttosport

LEAGUE CUP FINAL

As a player, Michael Laudrup's stock was always high. Now his managerial reputation continues to glisten after Swansea City elegantly won the League Cup.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup won five La Liga titles as a player - four with Barcelona and one with Real Madrid

As enthralling and uplifting as Bradford's progression to the Capital One Cup final has been, there can be no greater inspiration for any lower-division club than Swansea.

Full story: The Times (subscription required)

Nathan Dyer, 25, has defended the astonishing tantrum which threatened to take the gloss off Swansea City's victory.

Full story: the Sun

Bradford went to Wembley with a plan but faced with Swansea's precise possession football, however, they simply could not get hold of the ball.

Full story: Daily Mail

Spanish newspaper El Pais was thrilled by the performance of Spanish star Michu in Swansea's League Cup victory at Wembley, saying that "a buzz ran through the legendary London venue" every time he received the ball.

Full story: El Pais

However, German newspaper Bild insists it was Swansea's German goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel who "stole the show" at Wembley.

Full story: Bild

AND FINALLY

Italian side Palermo have fired manager Alberto Malesani after just three weeks in the job and rehired Gian Piero Gasperini - the man Malesani replaced.

Full story: La Gazzetta dello Sport