Friday's gossip column: Football transfers & rumours

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal will continue to monitor Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 26, as they prepare to give manager Arsene Wenger permission to sign a big name in January.

Thibaut Courtois is yet to play for Chelsea and is on loan at Atletico Madrid

Full story: Daily Mirror

Barcelona want Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 21, to replace Victor Valdes, 31, as their number one next season.

Full story: Daily Mail

Chelsea defender David Luiz, 26, turned down a move to Barcelona during the summer despite attempts by Brazil team-mates Neymar and Daniel Alves to persuade him to move to Spain.

Full story: the Sun

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas says forward Gareth Bale, 24, put Spurs under "intense pressure" to force his £85.3m move to Real Madrid.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

West Ham United have abandoned plans to re-sign 29-year-old striker Carlton Cole due to concerns over his fitness. The Hammers released Cole after the end of last season but issued a statement this week saying the player was undergoing a medical.

Full story: Daily Star

OTHER GOSSIP

The Football Association allowed wives, girlfriends and families to visit England's players at their five-star hotel on the eve of Friday's World Cup qualifier against Moldova at Wembley.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Moldova manager Ion Caras, 62, says there is no chance of an upset at Wembley despite England's injury problems.

Full story: the Sun

Manchester United executive director Ed Woodward has privately admitted the Premier League champions had a disappointing summer transfer window.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Arsenal defenders Bacary Sagna, 30, and Per Mertesacker, 28, are set to be offered new contracts by the club.

Full story: Independent

Martin Demichelis helped Bayern Munich win four Bundesliga titles

Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis, 32, is out for at least six weeks after sustaining knee ligament damage in a training session on Wednesday. The Argentine joined City on Sunday from Atletico Madrid.

Full story: Manchester Evening News

Liverpool's 33-year-old captain Steven Gerrard dreams of managing the Anfield club and plans to gain his coaching qualifications in the near future.

Full story: Daily Express

Stiliyan Petrov, who won the Scottish title four times with Celtic, says he has not shed a tear since being diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Petrov steps out in front of 60,000 fans at Celtic Park on Sunday for a Celtic XI v Stiliyan XI.

Full story: Daily Record

AND FINALLY

Liverpool defender Kolo Toure has jokingly offered to change the spelling of his surname after a fan apparently had the 32-year-old's name wrongly tattooed on his foot.

Full story: Metro