Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has made a £35m move for Zenit St Petersburg's Brazil forward Hulk, having missed out on top target Radamel Falcao. Hulk, 26, almost joined the Blues last summer but a deal could not be agreed with his then-club Porto, who were demanding £40m, and he joined Zenit instead.

Hulk is finally set to move to the Premier League

Full story: Daily Mirror

Wayne Rooney, 27, is set to stay at Manchester United after the club dropped a big hint by making the striker the centrepiece of their new kit advertising campaign.

Full story: Daily Star

New Stoke City manager Mark Hughes will give winger Jermaine Pennant a chance to revive his career and is considering offering the 30-year-old a new contract.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

West Ham are poised to offer striker Andy Carroll a six-year contract worth £100,000 a week. Manager Sam Allardyce expects an answer from Carroll this week before the 24-year-old returns from holiday.

Full story: Daily Mail

Aston Villa have placed a £40m price tag on in-demand Christian Benteke in an effort to put off Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Tottenham, who are all keen on the 22-year-old striker.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Juventus are set to step up their efforts to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, 29, if they fail to prise Arsenal and Chelsea target Stevan Jovetic away from Fiorentina.

Full story: Daily Mail

Arsenal have further boosted their financial firepower in the transfer window by freeing up around £10m from their annual wage bill after Andrey Arshavin, 32, Denilson, 25, and Sebastien Squillaci, 32, finally ran down their contracts and were allowed to leave for nothing.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Johnny Russell, 23, could become a Derby County player next week after the Championship side had a bid for the striker, believed to be in the region of £700,000, accepted by Dundee United.

Full story: Derby Telegraph

Birmingham City are considering a surprise new contract offer for 32-year-old striker Nikola Zigic. The 6ft 8in Serbia forward has 12 months to run on a deal that nets him £65,000-a-week but Birmingham are struggling financially and mulling over an idea to award the striker an extra 12 months.

Full story: Daily Mail

The agent of 23-year-old Brazilian forward Leandro Damiao has refused to rule out a move to Tottenham this summer.

Full story: Daily Express

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

AC Milan may make a move to bring Real Madrid playmaker Kaka, 31, back to the club next season. The Brazilian is said to be a favourite of Milan president Silvio Berlusconi.

Full story: Tuttosport (Italian)

Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski, 24, says he is seeking a "new challenge" in his career. The Polish striker has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich.

Full story: Bild (German)

Bayer Leverkusen striker Andre Schurrle, 22, is set to become Jose Mourinho's first signing in his second spell as Chelsea manager.

Full story: Cologne Express (German)

OTHER GOSSIP

Harry Redknapp may quit Queens Park Rangers following a row over signing Wayne Bridge.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Harry Redknapp could quit Queens Park Rangers after a disagreement over transfers.

Michael Laudrup's future as Swansea City boss is in doubt after it emerged that relations have soured dramatically with the club's owners and there has been minimal contact between Laudrup and club chairman Huw Jenkins since the end of the season.

Full story: South Wales Evening Post

Managerless Wigan want Steve McClaren as they launch their search for Roberto Martinez's successor.

Full story: Daily Mirror

AND FINALLY

The Jordanian Football Association is to ask Fifa to explain why no-one from Football Federation Australia was available to help them sort out arrival issues at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday ahead of their World Cup qualifier with the Socceroos next Tuesday.

Full story: Jordan FA/Reuters