Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool ready to bid for Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen, 21, after watching him on international duty with Denmark.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Christian Eriksen impressed in Denmark's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in midweek

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has started planning for more attacking reinforcements adding Shakhtar Donetsk's Armenian forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 24, to his summer wishlist.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Liverpool and Manchester United are both ready to make a move for Fulham forward Patrick Roberts, 16.

Full story: Daily Express

Tottenham hope to beat Liverpool to the signing of Fenerbahce's Senegalese striker Moussa Sow, 27.

Full story: Daily Star

Feyenoord have confirmed they have received an offer for Tottenham target Jordy Clasie, 21, but will wait until the end of the season before discussing whether to sell the midfielder.

Full story: talkSPORT

Arsenal are considering an £8.4m move for Sporting Lisbon's 25-year-old goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Full story: Daily Express

The Gunners face competition from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in their bid to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Anzhi are offering the 31-year-old £160,000 a week.

Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, 26, has been told to get his priorities right and put the club first by manager Roberto Mancini after he played for Belgium in midweek.

Full story: Manchester Evening News

England face the possibility of having to play a World Cup qualifier at an empty Wembley Stadium after their fans were accused of racist chanting.

Full story: the Times (subscription only)

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard wants Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho to return for a second spell in charge of the Blues, so he can work alongside the Portuguese in a coaching role.

Full story: Daily Express

Liverpool's club psychiatrist Steve Peters says the pressure of finishing in the top four is too much and players will perform better if they set themselves realistic ambitions.

Full story: the Independent

West Brom manager Steve Clarke has accused Peter Odemwingie of damaging the Baggies impressive season and ordered the 31-year-old forward to stop sniping at the club on Twitter.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Peter Odemwingie has not started a game for West Brom since the end of January

Aston Villa are set to offer a coaching job to 33-year-old captain Stiliyan Petrov, who is battling leukaemia and has no plans to resume his playing career.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Birmingham City have jumped to the defence of acting chairman Peter Pannu - denying claims he pocketed 10% of any cash he generated for the club.

Full story: Birmingham Mail

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez believes the international break has been beneficial for 32-year-old captain John Terry, who is ready to make an impact in the Blues' busy end-of-season schedule.

Full story: Evening Standard

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Atletico Madrid are courting Real Valladolid's Patrick Ebert, 26. The German midfielder was spotted meeting the club's sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero, fuelling speculation of a move to the Spanish capital next season.

Full story: Marca (in Spanish)

Barcelona have not yet made an offer for Borussia Dortmund centre back Mats Hummels despite their reported interest, according to the player's father and agent Hermann Hummels.

Full story: Marca (in Spanish)

Turkish side Galatasaray are considering rescheduling a forthcoming home league game in order to avoid damaging the pitch ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarter final against Real Madrid on 9 April.

Full story: NTV (in Turkish)

Roma striker Francesco Totti, 36, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut in Serie A on Saturday. In an open letter his compatriot, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, 35, said: "You not only wrote football history, you are writing its present and its near future."

Full story: Tuttosport (in Italian)

Werder Bremen's Marko Arnautovic and Sokratis came to blows on Thursday during a training session and had to be separated by team-mates. The club are currently 14th in the Bundesliga and six points away from the relegation zone.

Full story: Weld (in German)

AND FINALLY

Welshman Andrew Cassidy has been compared to Diego Maradona, not just because of his physique, but also due to his outstanding 'keepy uppy' skills.

Full story: 606 Newsletter

New Reading manager Nigel Adkins, 48, said his mum has tipped him to make history at the Madejski Stadium and avoid relegation.

Full story: Sky Sports News