Gossip column: Ings, Scholes, Donsah, De Gea, Ronaldo

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Burnley striker Danny Ings, 22, has turned down a move to David Moyes's Real Sociedad - in favour of joining Liverpool this summer. (Daily Mirror), external

Image source, Independent
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Wednesday's Independent back page

Moyes is in the market for another Premier League player, with Everton midfielder Bryan Oviedo, 25, a reported summer target for the Sociedad boss. (Daily Express) , external

Arsenal and Manchester City are monitoring the progress of Cagliari midfielder Godfred Donsah, 18, after Tottenham watched the player earlier this season. (London Evening Standard), external

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is closing in on a new long-term Old Trafford contract after Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti appeared to cool his interest in the 24-year-old Spaniard. (Daily Mail), external

Brazilian great Ronaldo, 38, has confirmed he will come out of retirement with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the USA's second tier. (Sun - subscription required), external

Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray, 31, has been told he will not be going out on loan despite reported interest from Championship promotion-chasers Bournemouth. (South London Press), external

OTHER GOSSIP

League One side Oldham Athletic are interested in making former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes, 40, their new manager. (Daily Mail), external

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has accused Uefa of failing to stand up for European club football over the plan to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter. (Times - subscription required), external

Image source, Daily Mirror
Image caption,

Wednesday's Daily Mirror back page

The Premier League is considering legal action against Fifa over the decision to play the World Cup in the middle of the English domestic season. (Independent), external

But Fifa could respond by putting pressure on Uefa to ban English clubs from European competitions. (Daily Express), external

Angry fans are on the verge of boycotting the 2022 World Cup over the decision to move it to winter. (Daily Star), external

Fifa's Belgian executive committee member, Michel D'Hooghe, has been cleared of ethics breaches over the gift of a painting from Russia's 2018 World Cup bid and accusations he tried to secure a job in Qatar for the son of a friend. (Guardian), external

Barcelona forward Neymar was involved in a row with a Manchester City fan after being substituted during his side's Champions League round of 16 first-leg victory at Etihad Stadium. (Daily Mail), external

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville says manager Louis van Gaal should not be sacked even if his side fail to finish in the top four this season. (Talksport), external

Neville's former Old Trafford team-mate Peter Schmeichel says Van Gaal is right to use "boring long-ball tactics". (Sun - subscription required), external

Referee Phil Dowd has admitted he was wrong to give Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 29, a penalty during their 3-1 FA Cup fifth-round win at Preston on 16 February. (Daily Mail), external

Image source, Guardian
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The Guardian sport pull-out's front page

QPR manager Chris Ramsey says racism in football has been "parked, not eliminated". (London Evening Standard), external

Owner Randy Lerner has put a £150m price tag on Aston Villa after fresh interest was generated following the announcement of a lucrative new Premier League TV rights deal. (Daily Mirror), external

Villa's financial state has improved significantly after the latest accounts showed an annual loss of £3.9m - down from £51.8m the previous year. (Birmingham Mail), external

Newcastle are delaying on plans to bring Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez, 31, back into the first team after his 12-month fight against testicular cancer.(Sun - subscription required), external

Liverpool goalkeeping legend Ray Clemence has praised current number one Simon Mignolet, 26, for reviving his Anfield career. (Liverpool Echo), external

Former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen, 29, has suffered an injury setback in his bid to make his Barcelona debut before the end of the season. (Daily Mail), external

Hull City Council has written to the Premier League asking for £20m to fund a 10,000 expansion of the KC Stadium, but the league has rejected the request. (Hull Daily Mail), external

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Former Arsenal and England full-back Ashley Cole went on social media on Tuesday to explain why he declined an offer to appear in a book celebrating Arsenal's 'Invincible' season of 2003-04. "I thought it would be for the best. I didn't think fans would want it," he wrote on Twitter., external

David James is against the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in winter. The former England goalkeeper tweeted:, external "As much as I believe any Fifa country should have the chance to host the World Cup, changing the dates of the comp is a joke!"

Image source, Wayne Rooney/Twitter

Wayne Rooney posted a photo on Twitter, external of his visit to a Manchester school on Monday. "Great day yesterday visiting the local pupils @StretfordHigh," the Manchester United and England captain wrote.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was in bullish mood after his side slipped to defeat by Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, writing on Twitter:, external "It's not the result we wanted but the tie is still unfinished. And as usual we'll fight 'til the end. C'mon, City!"

AND FINALLY...

Image source, AP

Could Liverpool's revival be down to divine inspiration? The Reds have not lost a Premier League game since a fan turned up dressed as Jesus for the 2-2 draw with Arsenal on 22 December. Since then they have risen from the bottom half of the table to sixth. (Daily Star), external