Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal and Manchester City are likely to compete for Montenegro international striker Stevan Jovetic, 23, who has scored 12 goals in 24 Serie A games for Fiorentina this season and is valued at £28m by the Italians.

Full story: talkSPORT

However, Fiorentina striker Luca Toni, 35, has advised team-mate Jovetic to join a "real top club", rather than Arsenal.

Full story: Sky Sports

Fiorentina are thought to be resigned to losing Jovetic in the summer

Liverpool will again attempt to sign Blackpool midfielder Tom Ince, 21, the England Under-21 international they tried to buy in January before refusing to match the £6m asking price.

Full story: Daily Mirror

The agent for Aston Villa's 22-year-old striker Christian Benteke says it would be a "dream move" for the Belgian to join Inter Milan - but adds no contact has been made with the Italians and that Benteke could stay at Villa.

Full story: Sky Sports

Mexican forward Carlos Vela, 24, says he would like to stay at Real Sociedad next season, and has not thought about a possible return to Arsenal.

Full story: talkSPORT

Manchester United captain and centre-back Nemanja Vidic, 31, is expected to be a summer target for AC Milan.

Full story: Metro

Liverpool are keen to sign Barcelona's 16-year-old winger Sergi Canos.

Full story: Daily Mirror

West Brom captain Chris Brunt has urged the club to finalise a new deal for in-form defender Gareth McAuley, 33.

Full story: Sky Sports

Reading owner Anton Zingarevich has vowed to back new manager Nigel Adkins in the summer transfer window.

Full story: talkSPORT

OTHER GOSSIP

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has moved a step closer to a second stint as Chelsea manager having reportedly reached a provisional agreement with Blues owner Roman Abramovich.

Full story: Metro

Mourinho has reiterated his desire to return to Stamford Bridge by saying: "One day, I have to be back."

Full story: Daily Express

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is ready to hand his side a boost by declaring himself fit for the first time in a month after a knee injury.

Karim Benzema has not scored for France since the victory over Estonia on 5 June 2012

Full story: Daily Mail

New Reading boss Nigel Adkins has consulted a World Cup-winner on how to save the Royals from relegation - England rugby union hero Jonny Wilkinson.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Mark Halsey will not be given a Premier League match to referee over the Easter weekend as the fall-out from Callum McManaman's unpunished tackle in the Wigan-Newcastle game continues.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Newcastle defender James Perch, 27, says the team's large collection of French players will be given a course in Tyne-Wear derby history to prepare them for the "unique" atmosphere they will face in the meeting with Sunderland on 14 April.

Full story: Newcastle Journal

England fans paid touts £300 each to see Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Montenegro - for tickets with a face value of just £20.

Full story: Daily Star

Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, 27, has revealed how reading books by rugby player Jonny Wilkinson and tennis star Rafael Nadal helped him through a battle with depression after Euro 2012.

Full story: the Sun

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

France fans booed Karim Benzema off the pitch when he was replaced by Moussa Sissoko in Tuesday's 1-0 defeat by Spain. The 25-year-old striker has now gone 1,001 minutes without a goal for the national team.

Full story: El Pais (Spain)

A judge has recommended that Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria, 25, be fined 1,500 euros for suggesting that Spanish referees were making "deliberate" errors in favour of opposing teams.

Full story: Marca (Spain)

AND FINALLY

Scotland fans helped ensure their match in Serbia took place after arriving at the ground with shovels to help clear snow. Sadly for them, it could not prevent a 2-0 defeat.

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A banner from a bookmaking firm poking fun at Fernando Torres that Chelsea won a legal battle to remove, has returned on the side of a van parked outside the club's Stamford Bridge stadium.

Full story: Metro