Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool want 22-year-old Barcelona full-back Martin Montoya, but they will face competition from Inter Milan for the Spain Under-21 international, who will command a considerable transfer fee.

Full story: talkSPORT

Tottenham are favourites to sign 23-year-old Brazil and Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, according to the South American club's president Giovanni Luigi.

Full story: Inside Futbol

Alex Pearce has not played for Reading since their 4-1 defeat at Arsenal in March

Manchester United are interested in signing 27-year-old Italy international midfielder Claudio Marchisio from Juventus.

Full story: talkSPORT

United have spent the last four months planning their summer signings, with midfielders Anderson, 25, and Nani, 26, set to be sold and 38-year-old Paul Scholes likely to retire.

Full story: the Daily Telegraph

Liverpool are set to sign Republic of Ireland international centre-back Alex Pearce, 24, on a free transfer from relegated Reading at the end of the season.

Full story: Metro

Real Madrid director of football Zinedine Zidane believes Tottenham could command a fee of £60m for forward Gareth Bale, 23, this summer.

Full story: Daily Mail

QPR striker Djibril Cisse, goalkeeper Julio Cesar and striker Loic Remy are all plotting their moves away from the club following their relegation to the Championship.

Full story: Daily Mirror

While Rangers have valued forward Adel Taarabt, 23, at £15m in a bid to keep him at Loftus Road.

Full story: the Sun

Aston Villa will resist any bids for Belgium international striker Christian Benteke and will instead offer the 22-year-old a new contract.

Full story: the Daily Telegraph

West Ham United have agreed a deal to sign Romania defender Razvan Rat, 31, from Ukranian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

Full story: Daily Star

OTHER GOSSIP

Paris St-Germain have abandoned hopes of tempting Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger home to France this summer.

Full story: the Sun

Manchester City will use an Abu Dhabi-owned Major League Soccer franchise to develop talent. Representatives of City's owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, are still working to tie up a deal to establish the MLS team, to be called New York City FC.

Full story: the Independent

Wayne Rooney, 27, wants assurances from Manchester United over his role with fellow strikers Robert Lewandowski, of Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao linked to the club.

Full story: Daily Mail

Malaga could approach Wigan manager Roberto Martinez if Manuel Pellegrini moves to Manchester City or Chelsea this summer.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Sunderland's scouting staff, headed by the club's former forward Bryan "Pop" Robson, have been given notification of potential redundancy.

Full story: the Independent

GLOBAL GOSSIP

(sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Roberto Martinez, who could be approached by Malaga, has never managed in his homeland, starting at Swansea before joining Wigan

Tottenham have opened negotiations with Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa, 26, to bring him to north London next season.

Full story: Sport24

Paris St-Germain are prepared to pay up to £6m for Sampdoria striker Simone Zaza, 21, outbidding Juventus, Milan and Napoli.

Full story: Sportmediaset (in Italian)

Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti's surgery to treat a ruptured tendon has been "perfectly successful" according to the doctor operating on him. The Argentine is expected to be ready to return to action in six months.

Full story: Tuttosport (in Italian)

Barcelona coach Tito Villanova has confirmed that Javier Mascherano, 28, will not play in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

Full story: Marca (in Spanish)

AND FINALLY

Snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan says sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters can save the career of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Full story: Daily Star

Newcastle forward Hatem Ben Arfa has angered Magpies fans after he was seen wearing the kit of Paris St-Germain in a local gym two days after the 6-0 hammering by Liverpool.

Full story: the Sun

Rapid Vienna fans built a brick wall in front of their club's head office in protest at their team's terrible form. They sit third in the league, 23 points off city rivals Austria Vienna.

Full story: Metro