Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 31, has urged Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, 27, to join him at Paris St-Germain.

Full story: the Sun

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are weighing up a summer move for Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, 26, who fell out with manager Robert Mancini after refusing to pull out of Belgium's World Cup qualifier against Macedonia even though he had only just recovered from a calf injury.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

But Yaya Toure is set to end speculation over his Manchester City future by signing a new contract. The 29-year-old midfielder has been in talks with City officials for the last week.

Full story: the Sun

Andy Carroll has scored two goals in nine games for England - against Ghana and Sweden

Brendan Rodgers is ready to offer striker Andy Carroll, 24, an unlikely Anfield lifeline - but only if the England international accepts a role as an impact substitute. Carroll has spent the season on loan at West Ham, who could yet make a permanent move for the player.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Tottenham are plotting a major summer reshuffle of their striking department and have put Aston Villa's £15m goalscorer Christian Benteke, 22, at the top of their wanted list.

Full story: Daily Star

Manchester United are tracking the progress of Benfica's 24-year-old former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic.

Full story: talkSPORT

Norwich manager Chris Hughton is plotting another raid on his old club Birmingham - this time for 19-year-old winger Nathan Redmond.

Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP

Carlos Tevez could be forced to stay at Manchester City beyond this summer - because the 29-year-old will need special permission from the courts if he wants to quit the UK before completing the 250 hours of community service imposed for driving offences.

Full story: the Sun

Blackpool are facing their fifth managerial change of the season after it emerged that boss Paul Ince, 45, is a shock candidate to replace under-pressure Nigel Pearson at Leicester.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Former Leeds United boss Neil Warnock says he wants Mark Hughes to succeed him at Elland Road so he can "destroy another team of mine". Hughes, 49, took over at QPR after Warnock, 64, was sacked in January 2012.

Full story: talkSPORT

Nemanja Vidic is closing in on his fifth Premier League title since joining Manchester United in 2006

Real Madrid could be punished after defender Sergio Ramos, 27, and midfielder Xabi Alonso, 31, appeared to seek bookings deliberately during last night's 3-0 Champions League quarter-final win over Galatasaray in order to miss the second leg and be clear of cards for the semi-final.

Full story: the Guardian

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic, 31, will sever all lines of communication with fellow Serbian players and friends Aleksander Kolarov, 27, and Matija Nastasic, 20, of Manchester City ahead of Monday's derby at Old Trafford.

Full story: Independent

Meanwhile, Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, 26, says the off-the-pace defending champions must try to salvage some pride by beating United in their own backyard.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested striker Robin van Persie, 29, is suffering the effects of "the intensity of his first season" with the Premier League leaders.

Full story: Daily Mirror

The pressure on the Premier League to oversee a reduction in ticket prices has intensified after a supporters' collective representing a dozen influential fan groups urged chief executive Richard Scudamore to consider a range of cost-cutting initiatives.

Full story: the Times (subscription required)

Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez, 52, says he thought it was an April Fool joke when he learnt Ray Wilkins had blamed him for the injury suffered by Ashley Cole against Manchester United.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Real Madrid are facing an investigation by the European Commission over allegations it received illegal state funds in a property deal it struck with Madrid City Council for land around the Bernabeu stadium.

Full story: El Pais

Kevin de Bruyne has yet to make his senior competitive debut for Chelsea since joining from Genk in January 2012

Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, 21, who is on loan at Werder Bremen, is expected to leave the German side in the summer. According to De Bruyne, the West London side have told his agent that he must move to a "bigger club".

Full story: Suddeutsche.de

Barcelona and Paris St-Germain have complained about the officiating during Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg, which ended 2-2. Barca's Sergio Busquets, 24, said the referee "was not happy" until the French side had equalised, while PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti said the Catalans' second goal was "a gift from the ref".

Full story: Marca

German legend Franz Beckenbauer, 67, says Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon, 35, was made to look like a "pensioner" in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Full story: Corriere.it

AND FINALLY

Former Derby County, Plymouth and Inter Milan defender Taribo West has been accused of lying about his age by ex-Partizan Belgrade president Zarko Zecevic, who claims the player was 40 - not 28 - when he joined in 2002.

Full story: Daily Mail