Sunday's gossip column: Football transfers & rumours

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

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers wants to make a hat-trick of signings, with the Reds targeting midfielder Christian Eriksen, 21, and 24-year-old centre-back Toby Alderweireld of Ajax as well as Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand, 23.

Full story: Sunday Mirror

Manchester City are close to completing the £27m signing of forward Stevan Jovetic, 23 from Fiorentina, with only personal terms needing to be agreed.

Full story: the Sun

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini's buy-out clause of £23.5m expires on 14 August and, if Arsenal and Manchester United want to sign the 25-year-old Belgium international for that amount, they have one month left to do so.

Full story: Sunday Mirror

Tottenham are struggling to offload striker Emmanuel Adebayor as they seek to find the funds to make a bid for Aston Villa's 22-year-old striker Christian Benteke.

Full story: Sunday People

Didier Drogba, who worked with Jose Mourinho during the Portuguese's first spell at Chelsea, could return to Stamford Bridge

Jose Mourinho wants former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 35, to return to Stamford Bridge from Galatasaray.

Full story: Sunday Mirror

Arsenal have told Gonzalo Higuain, 25, to hurry up and decide if he wants to join them after growing frustrated with the Real Madrid striker delaying his proposed move to north London.

Full story: Metro

Chelsea are now ­favourites to sign Wayne Rooney from ­Manchester United this summer but the battle for the 27-year-old striker's signature could run until the end of the transfer ­window, with the England forward costing £25m.

Full story: Sunday Mirror

However, Manchester United themselves have no plans to sit down with Rooney over a new contract and want to assess the England international's form and fitness before discussing his future.

Full story: Mail on Sunday

Striker Edin Dzeko, 27, will stay at Manchester City and be a "very important player", according to manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Full story: Sunday Telegraph

Everton and Newcastle have been told they will have to pay £5m for Porto defender Rolando, 27, if they want to sign the Portugal international.

Full story: Sunday Express

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, 25, is being lined up for a move to Premier League newcomers Hull and a reunion with Tigers boss Steve Bruce, who signed the Denmark international when in charge at Birmingham and Sunderland.

Full story: Daily Star

Harry Redknapp is set to beat Premier League opposition in the race to sign £5m-rated Celtic striker Gary Hooper, 25, for Queens Park Rangers.

Full story: Mail on Sunday

OTHER GOSSIP

Papiss Cisse is being forced to train on his own after Newcastle got tough with the 28-year-old striker, who is reported to have refused to wear a shirt bearing the logo of their new sponsor, a pay-day loans company, on religious grounds.

Full story: Sunday Mirror

Former Liverpool forward Robbie Keane, now with Los Angeles Galaxy, says Luis Suarez's position at the Anfield club is untenable after comments the 26-year-old striker made earlier in the summer.

Full story: talkSPORT

Defender Rio Ferdinand says David Moyes has injected intensity into training at Manchester United as the new manager's approach begins to take hold on the club's Far East tour.

Full story: Sunday Telegraph

Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker says the Gunners need to show the consistency of Manchester United and Manchester City to challenge for the title and have a chance of ending the club's eight-year trophy drought.

Full story: the Observer

Manchester United winger Ashley Young, 28, has suffered an injury setback after picking up an ankle knock during training.

Full story: the Sun

AND FINALLY

Mohamed Al Fayed says the Michael Jackson statue must stay at Fulham, or he will shave off Shahid Khan's moustache

Mohamed Al Fayed has told new Fulham owner Shahid Khan that the controversial statue of Michael Jackson must stay at Craven Cottage - or the Pakistan-born businessman's moustache will get the chop. "You can't change. Otherwise I will come and take your moustache in public," said Al Fayed.

Full story: Mail on Sunday

Gary White is one of the world's 16 highest qualified football coaches - but he cannot get a job in England.

Full story: Sunday People