Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, 62, has been told he has at least £35m to spend in the January transfer window and could try to sign deadly Atletico Madrid striker Falcao, 26.
Manchester City plan to be busy as well in the New Year, and will make another attempt to buy Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic, 22. The Montenegro international is valued at £25m, and is also being tracked by Juventus.
Drogba has scored seven goals in 10 appearances for Shanghai
Drogba has scored seven goals in 10 appearances for Shanghai
Serie A champions Juve also hope to bring in former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 34, on a three-year contract if he is released from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua because of ongoing disputes within the club's hierarchy.
Sunderland are happy to let striker Connor Wickham, 19, leave on loan. The England Under-21 international is surplus to requirements at the Stadium of Light and has yet to make a first team appearance this season.

OTHER GOSSIP

Steve Kean, 45, resigned as manager at Blackburn Rovers - and walked away from a contract worth up to £14.9m - as a successful claim against the club for constructive dismissal would see him receive a much larger settlement figure than if he had been sacked by the Championship side.
Newcastle United are hopeful an overhaul of their youth academy will see it belatedly clinch Category One status in the next few months and bring in a minimum annual funding of £775,000 under the Elite Player Performance Plan.
Wickham did not make the Sunderland bench for Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City
Wickham did not make the Sunderland bench for Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City
The north east club are also in detailed talks with consumer finance company Wonga to sponsor both the shirts and the club's stadium in a deal believed to be worth £8m a year.
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole has no interest in wearing the captain's armband when he wins his 100th cap for England, which he could earn against Poland on 16 October.
However, that honour might have to wait as the 31-year-old is to be left out of the World Cup qualifier against San Marino on Friday by manager Roy Hodgson, 65, and fined £240,000 by Chelsea after his expletive-laden tweet about the Football Association.

AND FINALLY

Winger Juan Mata, 24, has showed his talents are not limited to football by singing the Macarena to Chelsea fans at a Q&A session also featuring Spanish compatriots striker Fernando Torres, 28, midfielder Oriol Romeu, 21, and right-back Cesar Azpilicueta, 23.