Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea are considering a £12m move for Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao if Ashley Cole leaves the European champions. Coentrao, 24, was previously wanted by Chelsea during Andre Villas-Boas's spell as manager.
Arsene Wenger has hinted that Arsenal might bid for AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy in January. El Shaarawy, 20, has scored 13 league goals in Serie A this season.
Arsenal are also preparing to watch Ghana's £8m-rated midfielder Afriyie Acquah, 20, at the African Cup of Nations.
Blackpool boss Michael Appleton has confirmed there have been talks with other clubs regarding 20-year-old Tom Ince. Ince, who left Liverpool in 2011, has scored 13 Championship goals this season and attracted attention from his former club, as well as Manchester United.
Former Wigan defender Andreas Granqvist, 27, admits he would be keen on a move to Anfield. The Genoa centre-back has reportedly been identified as a target for Brendan Rodgers's side.
Manchester City have stepped up their chase for Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma. City boss Robert Mancini tried to sign the 18-year-old in August but refused the £24m price tag.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, 42, has been added to the list of candidates Chelsea will turn to if former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola snubs the chance to take over from caretaker chief Rafa Benitez at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool are on the trail of Galatasaray's Burak Yilmaz. The 27-year-old striker has scored six Champions League goals and 11 in the Turkish league this season.

OTHER GOSSIP

Jack Wilshere is close to signing a new contract with Arsenal. The 20-year-old midfielder says he is in talks and will probably commit his future to the north London club in the next couple of weeks.
Sir Alex Ferguson backs Everton boss David Moyes, 49, to take over when his reign comes to an end at Old Trafford. Ferguson, who will be 71 at the end of the month, is thought to prefer fellow Scot Moyes - and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho - ahead of former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola.
West Ham are set to offer Mohamed Diame twice his current salary in an attempt to keep hold of the Arsenal target this January. The Senegal international, 25, has a release clause of £3.7m, but West Ham officials are confident of tying Diame down with a £60,000-a-week deal, in which they would also remove the clause.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is wanted by Real Madrid to replace Jose Mourinho if the Portuguese manager leaves at the end of the season.
Germany manager Joachim Loew has distanced himself from the Real Madrid job, despite increasing speculation over Jose Mourinho's future.
Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling, 18, is happy at Anfield despite reported interest from Manchester United and Arsenal. Sterling, who made his England debut against Sweden in November, is yet to sign a new contract with the Reds.
Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli, 22, is taking his club to a Premier League tribunal to overturn a £340,000 fine. The Italian will appear before an independent two-man panel in London on ­Wednesday after being docked two weeks' wages by the champions.
Lionel Messi, 25, is ready to sign for life at Barcelona with a deal that would give him the highest club wages of any footballer in Europe's top leagues. The deal is expected to be structured so that it increases yearly, rising to £12.5m per year net before bonuses.
Though the Ballon d'Or is yet to be decided, Messi has already beaten Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta to one prize - the World Soccer Player of the Year award. The Barcelona star polled over 47% of the vote, with Ronaldo and Iniesta second and third respectively.
Newcastle striker Demba Ba, 27, will tell potential January suitors Liverpool and Arsenal he wants £90,000 a week, and has told the Magpies he won't sign a new contract for anything less.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp is also keen to sign Demba Ba, who has a £7m release clause. Redknapp is also looking at Argentine Milton Caraglio, who plays for Chilean club Rangers.
Full story: Sunday Telegraph
AND FINALLY
Dutch side VVV Venlo are attracting interest online after their snow-shovelling goal celebration in their 3-1 home win against Vitesse Arnhem. The move was in tribute to the home supporters, a number of whom helped clear the pitch of snow before the match in order to a avoid postponement.