Friday's gossip column

For a list of confirmed transfers, check out our transfers page.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed his interest in Leandro Damiao. The 23-year-old Brazil striker has also been linked with Tottenham.

Full story: Daily Mail

Chelsea's reshaping of their squad under manager Jose Mourinho continued last night, with striker Demba Ba, 29, holding talks with Anzhi Makhachkala. Midfielder John Obi Mikel, 26, will follow him out of Stamford Bridge.

Full story: the Times (subscription)

Leandro Damiao is valued at about £18m by his current club Internacional

Turkish side Besiktas say they are hopeful of signing Emmanuel Adebayor, 29, after lodging an official bid for the Spurs striker.

Full story: Metro

Arsenal are finalising negotiations with Real Madrid for the £22m signing of striker Gonzalo Higuain, 25, who will become the club's record signing and highest-paid player.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Manchester City are ready to listen to offers for Brazilian right-back Maicon. The 31-year-old is behind Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards in the Etihad pecking order.

Full story: Daily Mail

Real Madrid central defender Pepe, 30, is understood to be top of new Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini's list of transfer targets.

Full story: the Independent

David Moyes is set to announce that striker Wayne Rooney, 27, is staying at Old Trafford when he faces the media for the first time as Manchester United manager on Friday.

Full story: Daily Express

West Ham and Cardiff City are both in the hunt to sign 31-year-old forward Javier Saviola, who is available on a free transfer after his contract at Malaga expired.

Full story: Daily Star

Newcastle United look set to pull out of the race to sign Wigan Athletic striker Arouna Kone, 29, because he does not fit into the Magpies' "blueprint".

Full story: Newcastle Chronicle

Carlton Cole scored 47 goals in 206 Premier League appearances for West Ham

Chelsea and Tottenham are continuing to monitor Brazil international Hulk, 29, after the Zenit St Petersburg forward confirmed he is aware of the interest from both clubs.

Full story: Daily Express

Former England striker Carlton Cole, 29, who has been released by West Ham, is understood to have held talks with newly promoted Premier League side Crystal Palace.

Full story: Croydon Advertiser

Meanwhile, the Eagles are in talks to sign defender Umaru Bangura, 25, from Norwegian club FK Haugesund.

Full story: London Evening Standard

Hull City have made a final "take it or leave it" £4m offer to Burnley for their 24-year-old striker Charlie Austin.

Full story: Hull Daily Mail

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Fiorentina have signed veteran Italian midfielder Massimo Ambrosini, 36, whose contract with AC Milan has just ended after 18 years with the club.

Full story: Sport24.com

Malaga have announced the signing of Ivorian Bobley Anderson, 21, from Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca on a five-year deal.

Full story: Malaga-based newspaper Malaga Hoy

Slovenia international Bojan Jokic, 27, has signed with Villarreal, leaving AC Chievo Verona.

Ambrosini made 344 appearances for AC Milan in 18 years at the San Siro

Full story: Marca

Spartak Moscow's Argentine defender Nicolas Pareja, 29, is to go on loan to Sevilla for one year.

Full story: ABC

Roma have agreed to extend the loan of Jose Angel, 23, to Real Sociedad by one year.

Full story: La Gazzetta dello Sport

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool have told 26-year-old striker Luis Suarez he has three weeks to sort out his future after which he will be told to knuckle down and commit himself to the club.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, 48, says he is still baffled by his sacking, but hinted his relationship with chief executive Ferran Soriano played a part in his exit.

Full story: Manchester Evening News

Chelsea believe new Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel can become Frank Lampard's eventual successor in the Blues midfield.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Sir Alex Ferguson is contemplating staying away from David Moyes's first run of matches at Manchester United out of concerns his presence may undermine his successor and potentially increase the pressure on the club's new manager.

Full story: the Guardian

AND FINALLY

Recently retired ex-England captain David Beckham has many career highlights to look back on - and now he will not forget any of them after they were immortalised in Lego.

Full story: Metro

Stoke striker Peter Crouch enjoys celebrating his goals by dancing - but almost dropped wife Abbey Clancy after the 6ft 7in star hoisted her onto his shoulders while on the dance floor on holiday in Ibiza.

Full story: Daily Mirror