Gossip column: Bale, Taarabt, Ibrahimovic, Sterling, Roy Race

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are planning on bidding for Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, 25, after their prospects of re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, became increasingly unlikely. (Daily Star)

QPR manager Harry Redknapp has warned forward Adel Taarabt, 25, he won't be sold in January unless someone meets the club's asking price. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland have rejected Scunthorpe's loan bid for 20-year-old striker Duncan Watmore. (Sunderland Echo)

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal will have to replace more than 100 seats after Galatasaray fans caused damage during the Gunners' 4-1 Champions League victory on Wednesday. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, 25, who signed a new five-year deal with the club on Friday, has said he wants to become an actor once his football career is over. (Esquire)

Former Southampton forward Matt Le Tissier says ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino has taken a massive gamble with his reputation by joining Tottenham. (Daily Express)

West Ham's former Liverpool winger Stewart Downing says Reds boss Brendan Rodgers was "the one manager I had problems with". (Daily Mail)

England assistant coach Gary Neville says Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas has elevated himself into an elite group of player and will be the architect of the club's success. (Daily Telegraph)

Toulouse have taken a novel approach to trying to contain Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic - by sending him presents on his 33rd birthday. (Reuters)

Former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has come out in defence of his former manager Alan Pardew, suggesting that Newcastle players should share the blame for the team's predicament. (Guardian)

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says patience is needed as £20m winger Lazar Markovic adjusts to life in the Premier League after his summer move from Benfica.(Liverpool Echo)

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Malky Mackay, Brian McDermott and former manager Owen Coyle are among those linked with the managerial vacancy at Bolton following the departure of Dougie Freedman. (Daily Express)

Former Arsenal Ladies assistant coach Emma Hayes said a clairvoyant helped her decide to take over at Chelsea Ladies, who are on the brink of winning their first Women's Super League title. (Guardian)

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Rafael Benitez signed Sterling for Liverpool from the QPR Academy in February 2010

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher hit out at Raheem Sterling's agent after reports claiming that Real Madrid are interested in the 19-year-old, who is negotiating a new contract with the Merseyside club. Carragher tweeted: "Message to Raheem Sterling's agent, shut up feeding stories about his contract."

A broken down bus on the M6 caused a stir on Twitter. North West Motorway Police tweeted: "Cheshire NWMPG have just help remove a broken down coach from the M6 S/B J19-J18. This was the Wigan FC team bus (not joking)..."

AND FINALLY

The Times (subscription required) has a double page spread from The Official Autobiography of Roy of the Rovers by Roy Race, which is published on 9 October, "extracted with permission from Roy".

Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca, 33, has been paying £3.50 to play for second division pub side Willow Pond FC. The Argentine made 177 appearances for Sunderland before joining Middlesbrough. (Daily Mail)

A new survey has found that Liverpool are everybody's favourite second team, with football fans saying the Anfield club are the least offensive side to follow in England. (Metro)