Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid will step up attempts to sign Wales winger Gareth Bale, 23, from Tottenham if Cristiano Ronaldo fails to sign a new contract at the Bernabeu this summer.

Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers expects Luis Suarez, 26, still to be at Anfield next season even if they fail to qualify for Europe, after receiving assurances from the forward's agent that his client is happy at the club.

Full Story: the Times (subscription required)

Leandro Damiao was top scorer at London 2012, scoring six times in five appearances for Brazil

Liverpool and West Ham will have the chance to bid for Wilfried Bony, 24, at the end of the season after the Vitesse Arnhem striker failed to secure a move to Russia.

Full story: talkSPORT

Tottenham will listen to offers for striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 29, in the summer after Andre Villas-Boas placed Brazilian Leandro Damiao, 23, and Portugal forward Eder, 25, at the top of his list of striker targets.

Full story: London Evening Standard

Arsenal are eyeing a move for Feyenoord full-back Daryl Janmaat, 23, as the club consider possible replacements for Bacary Sagna, 30, who is stalling on signing a new contract.

Full story: Metro

Real Madrid midfielder Kaka, 30, has set his sights on a move to the United States, according to his brother Digao.

Full story: Daily Mail

Global Gossip

(Sourced by BBC Monitoring)

The agent of Roma winger Erik Lamela insists he has had no contact with Manchester United regarding a £30m move for his client. The 20-year-old has scored 11 goals in Serie A this season.

Full story: Gazzetta Giallorossa (in Italian)

Spanish police revealed on Thursday that Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, 25, has been charged with speeding at more than 200kph. The Frenchman could face a fine or even a jail term of six-10 months if convicted.

Full story: El Mundo (in Spanish)

AC Milan have extended the contract of Stephan El-Shaarawy, 20, by one year until 2018. The Italian striker, nicknamed The Pharaoh on account of his Egyptian heritage, has scored 18 goals for the Rossoneri in all competitions so far this season.

Full story: Tuttosport (in Italian)

Zidane starred for Juventus, Real Madrid and the France national team during his playing career

Pep Guardiola met Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and sporting director Matthias Sammer in Zurich, Switzerland yesterday ahead of his appointment as club manager in the summer. The 42-year-old will reportedly employ three assistant coaches, including former water polo player Estiarte Manel, who worked closely with him at Barcelona.

Full story: Bild (in German)

Zinedine Zidane, 40, has reiterated his desire to begin coaching, saying that he may take charge of a Real Madrid youth side. The French legend is currently working towards his coaching badges.

Full story: Sport24 (in French)

The mayor of Madrid Ana Botella has called for the Copa del Rey final to be played in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid both secured their places in the final earlier this week. The match is usually played at a neutral venue.

Full story: El Mundo (in Spanish)

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will ask the Spanish football association for Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium to host the final.

Full story: AS (in Spanish)

OTHER GOSSIP

Rafael Benitez will still be Chelsea manager for the home game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, but the Blues are considering replacing the 52-year-old with Avram Grant until the end of the season before bringing Jose Mourinho back in the summer.

Full story: London Evening Standard

Former Chelsea player Gus Poyet, 45, has revealed he is happy to hear links to the manager's job at his former club as he continues to excel with Championship club Brighton.

Full story: skysports.com

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, 26, has turned to a trusted Belgian physio in a bid to save his season. The defender has put his faith in Lieven Maesschalck as he looks to recover from an ongoing calf problem.

Full story: Daily Mirror

West Ham are facing the prospect of "major work" to repair corrosion at Upton Park if they fail to move to the Olympic Stadium.

Full story: the Guardian

Hatem Ben Arfa has made 13 Premier League starts for Newcastle this season, scoring three times

Fulham believe centre-back Philippe Senderos, 28, is close to agreeing a new contract with the club.

Full story: Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are to join forces before Sunday's north London derby to publicly warn all fans that they will adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards abusive chanting.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has expressed his "disappointment" at the physical condition of 25-year-old winger Hatem Ben Arfa following his spell out injured.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Fans frustrated at the sharp decline of Wolverhampton Wanderers have organised a demonstration outside the Billy Wright Stand prior to Friday's game with Watford.

Full story: Express & Star

The scout who brought Ryan Giggs, 39, to Manchester City as a teenager before cross-town rivals Manchester United stole his signature says history has repeated itself with another promising un-named youth player.

Full story: Daily Mail

Newcastle expect to be without captain Fabricio Coloccini, 31, for most of March with a back injury he picked up doing an acrobatic clearance in last weekend's 4-2 win against Southampton.

Full story: the Independent

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman has begun contract talks with midfielder Stuart Holden, 27, after the United States international returned to fitness following a two-year absence with a serious knee injury.

Full story: Bolton News

AND FINALLY

Attendances in the Singapore league are so low the players have started going round knocking on doors to try to entice new fans to matches. They average 932 spectators a match.

Full story: BBC Radio 5 live's 606 newsletter

Real Madrid's former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, 50, is to have a street named after him in his native Portugal.

Full story: the Independent