Saturday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal want Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, 30, in the January transfer window and are confident the Reds will sell if the Anfield club sign Birmingham's 19-year-old England international Jack Butland.
West Ham are interested in taking Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, 28, on loan, while the Gunners are keen on making a move for Hammers midfielder Mohamed Diame, 25.
Frank Lampard is poised to accept QPR manager Harry Redknapp's offer of a two-and-a-half year deal if he does not land a new contract with Chelsea.
Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen does not turn 21 until February but has already made 30 senior appearances for Denmark
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has admitted he is worried about on-loan Yossi Benayoun's latest injury and could decide against signing the 32-year-old permanently from Chelsea.
Everton manager David Moyes insists he will not sell players in order to fund the transfer business he wants to do in January.
Tottenham are weighing up a move for Ajax's £20m-rated Denmark international Christian Eriksen, 20, during the January transfer window.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson will fight a £15m battle for Liverpool's Raheem Sterling, 18.
Liverpool are trying to get Sterling signed to a new contract, possibly before January, after Arsenal joined Chelsea and Manchester City in tracking the England winger.
Wigan insist they will not be forced into selling key players like Franco di Santo and James McCarthy in the January transfer window.
Samir Nasri is facing a battle to save his Manchester City career following a bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce wants to sign Southampton striker Rickie Lambert.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will take a first-hand look at Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet on Saturday as he weighs up a move for a new number one.

OTHER GOSSIP

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, 23, and manager Andre Villas-Boas have met with referee Andre Marriner after the player's recent bookings for diving.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Jack Colback
Jack Colback has scored one goal in 62 Premier League appearances for Sunderland
Stoke manager Tony Pulis says he is "surprised" Everton manager David Moyes, who will be in the opposition dug-out at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, has not been poached by one of the Premier League's top-four clubs.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has accused manager Arsene Wenger of failing to address the club's current plight and believes any other manager would have been sacked for going so long without a trophy.
Gianni Paladini says he is set to meet Birmingham officials on Monday, with the Italian hopeful of finally wrapping up a deal for the club.
Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback, 23, says he is not a player who is likely to "light up the crowd", but would like to score more goals to lift the Black Cats up the table.
Striker Emile Heskey, 34, faces an uncertain future after his Australian side Newcastle Jets were issued with a winding-up order.
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri is battling a severe migraine problem, which can leave him bedridden.

AND FINALLY

Harry Redknapp, manager of Queens Park Rangers, has revealed that golfing partner and former Blackburn Rovers boss Graeme Souness called him "mad" for taking charge of the Premier League's bottom club, who have yet to win this season.
A 73-year-old official at Bastia has started a hunger strike after the French club were barred from playing at home until further notice because of a series of violent incidents. Jo Bonavita is responsible for logistics at the club.