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

Manchester City are preparing to make a final £20m bid to sign Real Madrid's 30-year-old defender Pepe.

Real Madrid defender Pepe made 36 appearances last season for the La Liga side

Full story: Daily Mail

Chelsea are considering a move for Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto'o, 32. Blues boss Jose Mourinho worked with the Cameroon international while at Inter Milan.

Full story: Guardian

Manchester United's hierarchy will risk keeping an unhappy player by insisting that striker Wayne Rooney, 27, will not be sold to Chelsea no matter how much money the London club offer.

Full story: Guardian

Arsenal are considering moves for Swansea forward Michu, 27, and Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, 27, as their hopes of signing 26-year-old Liverpool forward Luis Suarez fade.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Napoli are preparing a late bid for Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo. The 26-year-old is set to announce his future plans on Wednesday, with Arsenal one of the clubs interested in his signature.

Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool are targeting Anzhi Makhachkala midfielder Willian, 25, as a potential marquee signing this summer.

Brazilian Willian joined Anzhi Makhachkala from Shakhtar Donetsk in January in a £30m deal

Full story: Daily Mirror

Serie A side Juventus could sell right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, 29, to Arsenal as they look to raise funds for Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen, 21, who has been a target for Liverpool and Tottenham.

Full story; Daily Express

Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker, 32, is set to join QPR within 48 hours after the two clubs agreed a £3.5m fee.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

But Fulham are trying to beat QPR to the signature of Scott Parker with the midfielder reportedly wanting to stay in the Premier League.

Full story: The Sun

QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar, 33, is confident of securing a move away from the Championship club before the transfer window closes.

Full story: London Evening Standard

Chelsea striker Demba Ba, 28, is a target for Sam Allardyce as the West Ham manager aims to secure his sixth deal of the summer.

Full story: Daily Star

Benfica want Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster, 25, but the Portuguese team will need to pay £6m.

Full story: Daily Record

OTHER GOSSIP

Attacker Gareth Bale, 24, has told Wales team-mates that he will not play for Spurs again.

Full story: The Sun

Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard, 33, believes fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere, 21, will be captain of the national side in the future.

Full story: The Times (subscription required)

Steven Gerrard hints he could retire from international football after next summer's World Cup in Rio.

Full story: Daily Star

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher thinks academies at English clubs should be banned from buying in foreign players.

Full story: Independent

GLOBAL GOSSIP (From BBC Monitoring)

Franco Di Santo left relegated Wigan after winning the FA Cup in May.

Inter Milan have confirmed the signing of Brazilian full-back Wallace Oliveira dos Santos, 19, on loan from Chelsea.

Full story: Tuttosport (in Italian)

Former Wigan striker Franco Di Santo, 24, is close to joining German side Werder Bremen on a four-year deal.

Full story: Bild (in German)

Deportivo La Coruna have signed Portugal defender Luisinho, 28, from Benfica.

Full story: Marca (in Spanish)

AND FINALLY

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, 26, attended an audience with Pope Francis on Tuesday in the Vatican City along with his Argentina team-mates ahead of their friendly with Italy on Wednesday. Pope Francis, who was born to Italian parents in Argentina, says his loyalties are divided ahead of the game.

Full story: The Times (subscription required)