Thursday's gossip column - Moyes, Rooney and Ronaldo

DAVID MOYES TO BE NAMED NEW MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER

David Moyes will be named Manchester United manager after being handpicked by Sir Alex Ferguson himself.

The Everton boss has been given a five-year contract to succeed Sir Alex and will include former United player Phil Neville on his staff.

Full story: Daily Mirror

An astonishing day at United took an incredible twist late as it emerged Wayne Rooney has asked to leave Old Trafford at a time when the club are close to securing the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rooney told Ferguson two weeks ago that he wants a fresh start.

Full story: Daily Mail

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup tops Everton's hit-list of potential replacements for Moyes.

Full story: Daily Mirror

United's outgoing chief executive David Gill insisted that succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson was "not an impossible job" as Manchester United prepare to announce the appointment of David Moyes as their new manager.

Although Gill refused to be drawn on the identity of Ferguson's successor, The Times understands United will confirm that Moyes has been given the daunting task of succeeding the most successful British manager of all time.

Full story: The Times (subscription)

Time for change. Moyes will be the new United manager after Ferguson told the club in February that he would quit, prior to the Red Devils' exit from the Champions League in March.

Roberto Martinez, Mark Hughes and Martin O'Neill are in the frame for the top job at Goodison Park.

Full story: The Independent

Moyes will become United's new manager in the next 48 hours after Ferguson told the club he should be his successor.

United's hierarchy asked for Ferguson's recommendation and looked no further when he championed the credentials of Everton boss Moyes.

Full story: Daily Express

Man Utd squad members looked on in stunned silence as 71-year-old Ferguson explained he would be leaving his post after the West Brom game.

Full story: Daily Star

Chelsea want to hijack Bayern Munich's move for wantaway Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Javier Hernandez could play a key role in any potential deal to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United.

Full story: Manchester Evening News

David Moyes' first challenge as Manchester United boss will be to persuade Wayne Rooney to stay at the club, after the striker asked to leave two weeks ago. United have turned down an approach.

Full story: The Independent

Phill Neville will be in the frame to replace Manchester United-bound David Moyes at Everton, if he does not follow him to Old Trafford.

Full story: The Sun

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool insist they have received no approach from Barcelona for 30-year-old goalkeeper Pepe Reina. The La Liga giants are reportedly still confident of securing an £8.4m swoop for the Spanish shot-stopper on a two-year deal.

Full story: Liverpool Echo

Arsene Wenger and his board are believed to be at odds over whether Arsenal should launch a summer move for QPR striker Loic Remy, 26, or Vitesse forward Wilfried Bony, 24.

Full story: Daily Star

The FA Cup final is likely to be goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon's last game for Manchester City, after the 26-year-old revealed that he wants to find a club where he is number one.

Full story: The Independent

Wilfried Bony has made 16 appearances for the Ivory Coast since 2010, scoring six goals

Arsenal are believed to be keeping tabs on 24-year-old Stuttgart goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.

Full story: talkSPORT

England midfielder Frank Lampard, 34, looks set to be offered a one-year deal to stay at Chelsea.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld, 24, has reportedly snubbed Liverpool and Tottenham to seal a transfer to Roma.

Full story: Metro

Norwich City striker Chris Martin, 24, is poised to leave the club to join Championship side Derby County.

Full story: Eastern Daily Press

Arsenal, Tottenham, West Brom, Fulham, Aston Villa and Swansea are believed to be keeping an eye on the contract situation of Manchester City's 22-year-old midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim.

Full story: Daily Star

OTHER TRANSFER GOSSIP

Paolo Di Canio says Sunderland turned down his resignation during the controversy over his political views.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Former Hearts and Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 30, has not called time on his career despite his ongoing battle against a knee problem.

Full story: Sunderland Echo

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has emerged as one of the names in the frame for the managerial vacancy at his old club, Millwall.

Full story: Lancashire Telegraph

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Barcelona defender Carles Puyol, 35, has denied rumours of a possible move to Inter Milan.

Full story: El Mundo (in Spanish)

Schalke manager Horst Heldt says that Borussia Dortmund have expressed an interest in midfielder Julian Draxler, 19.

Full story: Bild (in German)

AND FINALLY

The life of Lionel Messi is to be made into a "Rocky-style" film by Italian sport journalist Luca Caiolo. The film's release is due to coincide with the start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Full story: Variety