Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool are facing competition from Napoli for the signature of Barcelona's 24-year-old Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez.

Full story: talkSPORT

The Anfield side are set to invite non-League forward Daniel Carr for a week-long trial. The 18-year-old, who plays for south London side Dulwich Hamlet, has scored 23 goals in 23 games this season.

Full story: Daily Mail

Arsene Wenger wants to sign Ashley Williams, 28, from Swansea City at the end of the season, having lost faith in his central-defensive partnership of Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker.

Alexis Sanchez has struggled to establish himself at Barca since moving from Udinese in 2011.

Full story: the Guardian

Inter Milan are planning a summer move for Tottenham's 25-year-old winger Aaron Lennon.

Full story: Metro

West Ham will turn down the chance to secure the £17m permanent signing of striker Andy Carroll, 24, when his loan deal from Liverpool expires at the end of the season. The Hammers will turn their attention to £6m-rated Southampton forward Rickie Lambert, 31.

Full story: the Sun

Everton are keen to bring in Porto's Ghanaian striker Christian Atsu, 21, this summer.

Full story: talkSPORT

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara says Rangers face competition in their bid to sign 30-year-old striker Jon Daly.

Full story: Daily Record

OTHER GOSSIP

Juventus could send striker Nicklas Bendtner back to Arsenal following the on-loan striker's conviction for drink-driving in his native Denmark.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to drop Wayne Rooney, 27, to the bench for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg could suggest his time at Old Trafford is up.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Swansea winger Wayne Routledge, 28, is being considered for a surprise England call-up by manager Roy Hodgson.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay has refused to be drawn on whether Frank Lampard, 34, will be offered a new contract by the club when the midfielder's current deal expires at the end of this season.

Full story: the Sun

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes the Reds can compete for Champions League qualification next season providing they retain their key talents and invest further in the squad.

Full story: the Guardian

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has asked Potters fans to get behind the team following a run of one win in nine games that has led to some criticism of manager Tony Pulis.

Full story: Stoke Sentinel

GLOBAL GOSSIP

(Sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Sergio Busquets has admitted that the Barcelona dressing room is missing the guidance of manager Tito Vilanova, who is having treatment following surgery for throat cancer.

Full story: Marca

Diego Maradona is willing to negotiate with French club Montpellier over succeeding manager Rene Girard next season.

Full story: Le Figaro

Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari has named Kaka, Diego Costa, Lucas and Thiago Silva in his squad for upcoming friendlies against Italy and Russia - but Ronaldinho has been dropped.

Full story: L'Equipe

AND FINALLY

Coleen Rooney took to Twitter to express her disbelief that husband Wayne had been omitted from Manchester United's starting line-up for Tuesday night's Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Full story: Manchester Evening News

Arsenal are to become the first Premier League club to play in Vietnam after the north London club announced they will play a pre-season friendly against the Vietnamese national side in Hanoi in July.

Full story: Daily Mail