Wednesday's gossip column: Football transfers & rumours

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

For breaking transfer news, follow Sportsday Live every weekday.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Benteke has not gone on Aston Villa's pre-season visit to Germany after submitting a transfer request

Napoli's 26-year-old striker Edinson Cavani, targeted by Chelsea, has almost completed a move to French champions Paris St-Germain.

Full story: Daily Express

The Stamford Bridge club are also set to battle with Tottenham for the signature of striker Christian Benteke, 22, who has handed in a transfer request at Aston Villa.

Full story: London Evening Standard

Benteke is said to favour a move to Spurs, but Villa feel they would get better value for the player if he was sold to Chelsea.

Full story: Daily Mail

Sam Allardyce is set to renew West Ham's interest in Graham Dorrans of West Bromwich Albion, three years after previous Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola tried to buy the 26-year-old midfielder.

Full story: the Sun

Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala want to sign Manchester United winger Nani, 26, who reportedly fell out of favour with Sir Alex Ferguson and has not received assurances over his future from new United boss David Moyes.

Lescott joined Man City in August 2009 and has one year left on his current contract

Full story: Daily Mirror

Tom Ince is mulling over an £8m move to Cardiff City after meeting manager Malky Mackay, several days after personal terms and the fee were agreed for the 21-year-old Blackpool winger.

Full story: Daily Mail

New Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has told 30-year-old England defender Joleon Lescott that he is very much part of his plans at Etihad Stadium.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini, 29, could return to the Premier League despite being offered a new two-year deal at AC Milan.

Full story: the Sun

Sunderland are doubling their efforts to sign Juventus winger Emanuele Giaccherini, 28, in a £8.6m deal.

Full story: Daily Mail

Hull want to sign free agent forward Carlton Cole, 29, and Derby striker Connor Sammon, 26, after a move for Charlie Austin, 24, broke down.

Full story: Daily Star

GLOBAL GOSSIP (from BBC Monitoring)

Inter Milan have completed the signing of Argentine midfielder Mauro Icardi, 20, from Sampdoria for an undisclosed fee.

Full story: Ansa news agency (in Italian)

Mexican international midfielder Giovani dos Santos, 24, who used to play for Spurs, is to leave Mallorca for Villarreal on a four-year deal.

Full story: ABC.es (in Spanish)

OTHER GOSSIP

Wayne Rooney needs to feel loved at Manchester United if the 27-year-old England international remains at Old Trafford, according to former team-mate Michael Owen.

Rooney asked for a transfer towards the end of last season

Full story: talkSPORT

Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup says he was approached about several other managerial positions during the summer but opted to remain at the Welsh club.

Full story: Wales Online

Fulham owner Mohamed al Fayed wants to sell the club and is looking for a fee of between £150m and £200m, 16 years after buying the Craven Cottage outfit.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Everton manager Roberto Martinez wants to sign Barcelona striker Gerard Deulofeu, 19, on loan.

Full story: Daily Express

An American firm called Club 9 Sports are bidding to buy SPL outfit Hearts, who are currently in administration.

Full story: Daily Record

AND FINALLY

David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and Gary Neville, who all progressed through Manchester United's youth system to great success in the first team, were reunited for a night out in Manchester.

Full story: Manchester Evening News