%202.png)
.png)
Tuesday's Gossip column
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident of signing Wilfried Zaha, 20, for £12m from Crystal Palace by the end of the week, with the aim of loaning the winger back to the Championship club for the remainder of the season.
Man Utd striker Federico Macheda, 21, is poised to join Elche on loan, according to the Spanish club's president Jose Sepulchre.
Liverpool are poised to snap up Inter Milan midfielder Philippe Coutinho, 20, after offering an improved fee of £8m.
Mario Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola claims Manchester City will not sell the 22-year-old striker to AC Milan this month.
New Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has joined the chase for Anderlecht's £8m-rated midfielder Lucas Biglia, 26.
John Terry's long-term future at Chelsea remains in doubt, with the club unlikely to open discussions about an extension to the 32-year-old's contract until the end of the season.
Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, 28, has not ruled out staying at City beyond the end of his contract in 2014, but admits he would love to return home to play for his boyhood idols Boca Juniors.
West Brom forward Peter Odemwingie, 31, wants to speak to QPR and may hand in a transfer request if Albion continue to block him.
France international Moussa Sissoko, 23, is ready to spurn interest from across Europe to push through a move to Newcastle United - although QPR could look to hijack the Magpies' bid for the midfielder.
Fulham are considering a move for Blackpool midfielder Ludovic Sylvestre, 28.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is considering whether to take Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, 26, on loan.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina's father says his son, 30, would love a return to Barcelona.
Long-serving Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, 34, says game-time could determine whether he will end his career with the club.
OTHER GOSSIP
Arsenal striker Theo Walcott, 23, who signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal last week, admits he was distracted by his drawn-out contract saga.
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, 27, believes Arsenal are no longer a threat to the Blues in the race for Champions League places and is more concerned with catching Manchester United in the title race.
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, 32, says he has set his sights on catching David Beckham's England haul of 115 caps.
Midfielder Clint Dempsey, 29, is confident he can start repaying the £6m Tottenham paid for him in the summer, following a difficult start to his career at White Hart Lane.
AND FINALLY
BBC 5 live's 606 newsletter reports that Manchester United players wore matching pairs of Bugs Bunny pyjamas for their journey to Qatar at the weekend.
The United players jetted to the Middle East following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Tottenham for warm weather training and team bonding.
