Gossip column: Defoe, Silva, Rodriguez, Redknapp, De Gea

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Toronto striker Jermain Defoe, 32, has agreed a £14m deal to return to English football permanently with Sunderland. (Sun - subscription required)

Arsenal remain confident of agreeing a deal for Legia Warsaw midfielder Krystian Bielik, 17, despite Hamburg emerging as major rivals for his signature. (London's Evening Standard)

West Brom boss Tony Pulis wants to offload striker Georgios Samaras, 29 to bring in Blackburn forward Rudy Gestede, 26. (Daily Mirror)

Wednesday's Daily Express back page

Southampton are lining up a move for £15m-rated Braga midfielder Rafa Silva, 21. (Daily Mirror)

Paris St-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, 29, is set for an £8m switch to Liverpool as PSG line up Nicolas Gaitan, 26, as his replacement. (Daily Express)

Manchester City are considering a £20m move for Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez, 25. (Daily Mail)

West Ham are looking to complete a permanent move for ex-Arsenal midfielder and Manchester United target Alex Song, 27. (Marca)

Arsenal are considering launching a £12m bid to sign Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin, 22. (Daily Express)

Burnley boss Sean Dyche is confident striker Danny Ings is not being affected by speculation surrounding his future. The 22-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with Sunderland and Newcastle. (Sunderland Echo)

Ramon Calderon, the former president of Real Madrid, insists the Spanish club have no need for 24-year-old Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea - because Iker Casillas is better. (Talksport)

OTHER GOSSIP

Harry Redknapp's future as Queens Park Rangers boss is in the balance with a growing belief he could be sacked if his side lose to Manchester United on Saturday.(Daily Mirror)

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says Gunners fans who have protested against Arsene Wenger are "out of order". (Times - subscription required)

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears 21-year-old striker Harry Kane is in danger of burnout. (Daily Express)

Aston Villa fans are being urged to mount a stay-away protest on Saturday - to help force out owner Randy Lerner. (Sun - subscription required)

The Football Association is determined to stop the use of an appeals process to sign the non-European Union players who, the governing body fears, block the progress of young English footballers. (Independent)

Wednesday's Daily Mirror back page

Senior players have urged the Newcastle United board to make their minds up about the identity of Alan Pardew's successor. (Guardian)

Manchester United fans have claimed that they are being ripped off after first Yeovil and then Cambridge United hiked ticket prices for their FA Cup clashes with the Reds. (Daily Mail)

Arsenal have offered Chuba Akpom a new three-year deal as they try to keep the 19-year-old striker at the club. (London's Evening Standard)

West Brom defender Gareth McAuley, 35, says the club need new players in the transfer window.(Birmingham Mail)

Levski Sofia attacking midfielder Bozhidar Kraev, 17, has completed a trial at Manchester City after attracting a number of European clubs including Juventus.(Manchester Evening News)

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren's Kinder Egg collection

Liverpool central defender Dejan Lovren, 25, posted a picture of his impressive and substantive Kinder Egg toy collection on Instagram.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, 28, tweeted: "Brilliant game. That was crazy!" after watching West Ham beat Everton 9-8 on penalties in a thrilling FA Cup third round tie.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 23, posted a video on Instagram of him not holding back in taking a penalty against a child during a coaching session. "Had fun coaching my team earlier," he wrote. "Couldn't go easy on the penalty though. #PeopleWatching #Pressure."

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku posted an emotional message on Instagram in tribute to his late friend Junior Malanda, who died in a car crash on Saturday.

He said: "Thank you for your support throughout the game. We did our best but penalties is like gambling you never know what's going to happen. Junior brother I give everything to you. I try to make you proud, for the first time in my life I was sad after scoring. My brother I promise I'll make you proud. I love you and I miss you very much my little brother."

AND FINALLY...

Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini was floored for the second time in three days by a ball launched by one of his own players. (Metro)