Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Real Madrid will offer either French striker Karim Benzema, 25, or Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain, 25, in part-exchange for Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, 24.

Full story: Daily Star

Wilfried Bony had a trial at Liverpool in 2007 but was not offered a contract

West Ham are facing competition from Fulham for £15m-rated Wilfried Bony. The Ivory Coast and Vitesse Arnhem forward, 24, is the top scorer in Holland with 26 goals.

Full story: London Evening Standard

Chelsea captain John Terry could be on his way to Istanbul after he emerged as a summer target for Fenerbahce. Terry, 32, has a year left on his contract and will wait until the summer before making any decision on his future.

Full story: Daily Mail

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are chasing Birmingham's 17-year-old striker Koby Arthur, who could be fast-tracked into Lee Clark's senior squad for Friday's game with Crystal Palace.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Bayern Munich are favourites ahead of Juventus and Barcelona in the race to sign Liverpool's £40m-rated Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, 26.

Full story: Daily Mail

Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, 25, by sending a scout to watch him play in Bosnia's 3-1 win over Greece last Friday.

Full story: Daily Mail

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Montenegro's Juventus forward Mirko Vucinic, 29, has urged his compatriot, Stevan Jovetic, 23, to resist a move to the Premier League and instead join him at the Serie A leaders. Jovetic, who is enjoying a good season at Fiorentina, has been linked with Manchester City and Arsenal.

Full story: Tuttosport (Italy)

Former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo, 42, is among the leading candidates to replace Schalke 04's interim coach Jens Keller after favourite Armin Veh signed a new contract with Frankfurt.

Full story: Suddeutsche.de (Germany)

Some members of the Spanish national team have voiced concern at the state of the Stade de France pitch before Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against France.

Full story: Marca (Spain)

OTHER GOSSIP

West Ham United hope to sit down with manager Sam Allardyce, 58, within seven days to discuss a new contract - ending doubts over his future.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants Jose Mourinho, 50, back in charge at Stamford Bridge - five and a half years after the Portuguese left the club.

Full story: Daily Star

Lewis Holtby has three caps for Germany

Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby, 22, believes the international break has allowed Spurs to re-group for a late charge for a Champions League spot.

Full story: Daily Mail

Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic says England's central defensive pairing of Joleon Lescott, 30, and Chris Smalling, 23, should not even be in the team when the sides meet in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Full story: Daily Express

Meanwhile, England captain Steven Gerrard, 32, believes forward Wayne Rooney, 27, will be inspired by returning to the scene of his sending-off two years ago.

Full story: The Times (subscription required)

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to play two entirely different sides in the space of 48 hours to preserve Manchester United's double push. United are away to Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday, before travelling to Chelsea for an FA Cup quarter-final replay two days later.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Mark Halsey, the official who did not send off Callum McManaman for his high tackle on Massadio Haidara, has not been given a Premier League game to referee this weekend.

Full story: Daily Mail

AND FINALLY

Former Manchester United players Edwin van der Sar, Teddy Sheringham and Jaap Stam will get a chance to avenge their old club's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid when the two clubs send out a team of legends to play in a charity match at Old Trafford on 2 June.

Full story: Daily Mail

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni wants James McCarthy, 22, to have more belief in himself and says he will "punch" the Wigan Athletic midfielder if he does not stop being so shy.

Full story: Daily Mail