Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is preparing a summer move for Manchester City defender Micah Richards, and the Reds are among a number of clubs monitoring the 24-year-old.

Micah Richards has made just four appearances for Manchester City this season because of injury

Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool are also interested in another defender, Lazio's Modibo Diakite, 26, but face competition from Serie A side Roma.

Full story: talkSPORT

Arsenal's Germany striker Lukas Podolski fears for his future at the club after not starting a game for two months. The 27-year-old is concerned that he may be sold by manager Arsene Wenger in the summer.

Full story: the Sun

Bayern Munich are keen on Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, 27, as Pep Guardiola prepares to take charge of the Bundesliga champions in the summer.

Full story: Daily Mail

Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who has just returned from a hamstring injury, has given the club a boost by saying he wants to stay at St James's Park. The 26-year-old had been linked with a summer move to Liverpool in a potential swap deal with Andy Carroll.

Full story: the Sun

Meanwhile, Newcastle may make a bid for Toulouse left-back Cheikh M'Bengue, 24, as the Magpies have been scouting the Senegal international for two years.

Full story: Daily Mail

Manchester City could sign Adam Maher, 19, in the summer after Dutch side AZ Alkmaar confessed the midfielder is set to be sold.

Full story: Metro

OTHER GOSSIP

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho reportedly believes he has negotiated himself out of the Spanish club which could set up a return to Chelsea.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio believes he can make the Black Cats the biggest club in the North East if he is given similar financial backing as previous managers.

Fill story: Daily Telegraph

Manchester City defender Gael Clichy, 27, says it would be a mistake for the Blues to sack manager Roberto Mancini in the summer.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez is expected to become the first manager at the club to drop both Frank Lampard and John Terry from the Blues' team for a major cup semi-final or final at Wembley.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Blackburn Rovers caretaker manager Gary Bowyer is keen to get down to serious business on the field after travelling to India to meet with club owners.

Full story: the Times (subscription required)

AND FINALLY

Maris Eltermanis, goalkeeper for FC Kruoja in the Lithuanian league, used some bizarre moves to put off an opponent preparing to take a penalty and it worked as the spot-kick was fired wide. Eltermanis' side beat Suduva 1-0 to make it even more worthwhile.

Full story: 606 Newsletter

QPR boss Harry Redknapp, who admits to being superstitious, has got rid of his club suit, shirt and tie in the hope that his side can win at Everton on Saturday and take a step towards avoiding relegation.

Full story; the Sun