Thursday'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

Manchester City are set to make a shock move for Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Rivals Manchester United have spent several months paving the way for the 28-year-old to return to Old Trafford.

Full story: Daily Star

Stevan Jovetic scored 13 goals for Fiorentina in Serie A last season

City are also closing in on Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, 27, after new boss Manuel Pellegrini admitted he was looking to reinforce his forward line.

Full story: Daily Express

Real Madrid are ready to hijack Arsenal's bid to sign Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and are set to offer £40m for the 26-year-old Uruguayan.

Full story: the Sun

The Gunners could also miss out on goalkeeper Julio Cesar, 33, who is set to leave QPR for Napoli on a season-long loan.

Full story: Daily Star

Southampton are putting the finishing touches on a move for Celtic's Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama, 22.

Full story: the Guardian

Manchester City boss Pellegrini is pushing hard to land Fiorentina's 23-year-old Stefan Jovetic. The Montenegro striker has also been targeted by Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Juventus.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Ghana international midfielder Wakaso Mubarak impressed in his first season for Espanyol

Espanyol have told Swansea City to improve their offer for midfielder Wakaso Mubarak, 22, after the Spanish club rejected an initial bid of £3.9m.

Full story: talkSPORT

Newcastle are pondering moves for Man City winger Scott Sinclair, 22, and Reading's 23-year-old goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Crystal Palace are set to offer £1.5m to West Brom for striker Peter Odemwingie, 31, who fell from favour at The Hawthorns after a proposed move to QPR in January fell through.

Full story: the Guardian

Fulham boss Martin Jol has been told to pay £10m for Dnipro's 23-year-old Ukrainian winger Evgen Konoployanka.

Full story: the Sun

Arsenal are working on a deal to bring former captain Cesc Fabregas, 26, back to the Emirates with the Spanish midfielder said to be uncertain about his Barcelona future.

Full story: Daily Mail

Chelsea plan to sell either Fernando Torres, 29, or Demba Ba, 28, if they manage to buy striker Wayne Rooney, 27, from Manchester United.

Full story: the Independent

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes is taking charge of his club's bid to sign midfielder Scott Parker, 32, from Tottenham.

Full story: the Times (subscription required)

Southampton's highly rated full back Luke Shaw is set to sign a new five-year contract with the club after he turns 18 on Friday.

Full story: Southern Daily Echo

GLOBAL GOSSIP (from BBC Monitoring)

Dynamo Kiev have reached an agreement with Bordeaux for the transfer of left-back Benoit Tremoulinas, 27.

Full story: L'Equipe (in French)

Real Madrid have extended the contract of Spanish centre-half Nacho, 23, for another four years.

Full story: Marca (in Spanish)

OTHER GOSSIP

Adel Taarabt's career at Queens Park Rangers is in jeopardy after the 24-year-old midfielder was sent home from the club's pre-season camp in Devon for turning up late to a training session.

QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt scored five Premier League goals last season

Full story: Evening Standard

Fulham owner Mohamed al Fayed is thought to be in talks with Shahid Khan, billionaire owner of NFL side the Jacksonville Jaguars, about selling the Craven Cottage outfit.

Full story: the Independent

Forward Aiden McGeady, 27, has been put up for sale by Spartak Moscow, with the Russian club looking to cash in before his contract expires next year.

Full story: Daily Record.

QPR midfielder Esteban Granero is in talks with Swansea over a switch to the South Wales club.

Full story: Daily Express

AND FINALLY

Patrice Evra claims the secret behind Manchester United's title success is his pre-match DJing skills, saying: "I put on very good songs and that's why we win the league."

Full story: The Sun