Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool are favourites to sign Swansea defender Ashley Williams, 28, this summer despite interest from Arsenal.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Andy Carroll has scored five goals in 17 appearances for West Ham this season

The Anfield club must decide whether to pay a minimum of £12m if they are to beat Arsenal to the Wales centre-back's signature.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

West Ham are set to offer Liverpool £10m for striker Andy Carroll. The 24-year-old, on loan at Upton Park, is valued at £17m by the Reds but injuries and his goal return have prompted the Hammers to re-evaluate their bid.

Full story: Daily Mail

Tottenham are ready to approach Everton midfielder Leon Osman, 31, following the breakdown of contract talks between the England international and the Toffees.

Full story: Metro

Stoke are considering a bid for Denmark and FC Copenhagen striker Andreas Cornelius, 20, to replace Michael Owen. Everton are also thought to be keen on Cornelius, who scored his first goal for Denmark against the Czech Republic in March.

Full story: Daily Mail

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has rejected talk that the club is already in contract negotiations with striker Christian Benteke, 22, whose 19 goals this season have seen him linked with a move away from Villa Park.

Full story: Sky Sports

OTHER GOSSIP

City's win in the derby has prompted worries at Old Trafford, according to Antonio Valencia

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has shrugged off an argument between Frank Lampard and David Luiz. The pair clashed as they left the pitch at the end of the first half of Chelsea's Europa League tie against Rubin Kazan.

Full story: the Guardian

Antonio Valencia has admitted that Manchester United are "worried" about throwing away their big lead at the top of the Premier League following their defeat by second-placed Manchester City on Monday.

Full story: the Independent

Stoke City owner Peter Coates has called for the club's fans to get behind their team against Manchester United on Sunday following criticism from the stands during the Potters' recent slide down the Premier League table.

Full story: Stoke Sentinel

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder David Beckham is ready to take an ambassadorial role with the Football Association, working abroad and promoting grassroots football at home, when he has finished playing - although retirement may be put back another year, beyond his 38th birthday.

Full story: the Times (subscription required)

Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has thanked the likes for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere for helping fund his treatment for alcohol addiction in the United States.

Full story: Daily Star

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

The president of Paris St-Germain, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has denied any interest in bringing in Jose Mourinho to replace manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Full story: Marca (in Spanish)

Juventus director-general Beppe Marotta says he does not have the financial resources available to "concentrate investments" on star individual players, unlike clubs such as Bayern Munich who knocked the Italians out of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Full story: Tuttosport (in Italian)

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness says he would prefer to face German rivals Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final of the Champions League.

Full story: Die Welt (in German)

Borussia Dortmund have offered Sevilla £15m for forward Alvaro Negredo, 27, as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who is expected to leave the German side in the summer.

Full story: Marca

AND FINALLY

The Manchester City and Belgium captain Vincent Kompany has made it his mission to make the smallest team in his homeland, BX Brussels, the biggest club on Twitter.

Full story: 606 newsletter

Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has become a dad. The 25-year-old's girlfriend Daniella Semaan, 37, gave birth to their first child, daughter Lia, on Wednesday as he helped Barcelona knock Paris St Germain out of the Champions League.

Full story: Daily Star

Manchester United and Manchester City bring the area £330m a year and support 8,500 ­local jobs.

Full story: Daily Star