Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for Wayne Rooney in the summer. Sir Alex Ferguson no longer views the £35m-rated striker, left on the bench for Tuesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid, as indispensable amid ongoing concerns over the 27-year-old's fitness.

Full story: Daily Mirror

The Premier League leaders will apparently not rule out selling Rooney at the end of the season if the club can attract a bid of more than £20m.

Full story: Daily Mail

Wayne Rooney, who has two years remaining on his contract, has scored 14 goals this season

But Manchester City have no desire to revive their interest in the England striker, with the player's reputed £300,000-a-week salary pricing them out of the market.

Full story: Guardian

Tottenham are planning a "double your money" £8m-a-year deal in a bid to keep Gareth Bale, 23, at the club.

Full story: Daily Mail

Barcelona want Liverpool's Daniel Agger, 28, as they look to rejuvenate their defence.

Fully story: Daily Mirror

Manchester City assistant manager David Platt has watched Crystal Palace playmaker Jonathan Williams, 19.

Full story: Daily Star

City are also interested in Arsenal's 21-year-old defender Carl Jenkinson.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Everton have targeted Porto forward Christian Atsu and plan to make a move for the £10m-rated 21-year-old in the summer.

Full story: Liverpool Echo

Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun will leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season. The 32-year-old has attracted interest from Russian sides Rubin Kazan and Lokomotiv Moscow.

Full story: talkSPORT

OTHER GOSSIP

Ronaldo retired after playing for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Madrid, AC Milan and Corinthians

Queens Park Rangers lost £22.6m during their first season back in the Premier League, while debt is up from £56m to £89m.

Full story: The Independent

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo has called Sir Alex Ferguson "disrespectful" after the Manchester United manager referred to him as "the fat one" to distinguish him from Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

Full story: Daily Mail

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, 29, is back to his best and 100% committed to the club, according to the Argentina striker's team mate Pablo Zabaleta.

Full story: Manchester Evening News

GLOBAL GOSSIP

(Sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Former Manchester United player Paul Pogba, 19, currently of Juventus, feels no sympathy for his former club after they were knocked out of the Champions League. Speaking a after the 2-0 win over Celtic, the Frenchman said: "Was I sad to see Manchester United lose to Real? No!"

Full story: Tuttosport

Spain's Technical Committee of Arbitrators has denounced the "handcuffs" gesture made by Barcelona's Gerard Pique after last week's defeat to Real Madrid. The centre-back was apparently protesting the referee's decision not to award a penalty to the Catalans in the final moments of the game.

Full story: El Pais

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he will attend the final game of former Germany captain Michael Ballack, 36, due to be held in 5 June in Leipzig. The midfielder played under Mourinho during his time at Chelsea.

Full story: Bild

In a rare gesture of mutual respect, rival fans were seen exchanging scarves across security barriers during last night's Champions League match between Juventus and Celtic.

Full story: Marca

AND FINALLY

Wales manager Chris Coleman, 42, came to the rescue of an elderly woman who had been reported missing from her home and could not remember where she lived.

Full story: Metro