Sunday's gossip column

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TRANSFER RUMOURS

Michael Owen could be next out of the door at Newcastle as he looks set to reject a new contract at St James' Park that would mean him taking a £1m-a-year pay cut. (Sunday Mirror)

Manchester United or Tottenham could be ready to bid for Owen, depending on the outcome of the Dimitar Berbatov saga. (Sunday Mirror)

Owen, 29, would be available for as little as £2m as Newcastle hope to cash in now instead of losing him on a free transfer at the end of the season. (Mail on Sunday)

Berbatov is set to seal a £28m switch to Old Trafford by the end of the transfer window at midnight on Monday. (The People)

Spurs have asked that Hull target Frazier Campbell, 20, be included in a £30m deal for the Bulgarian striker. (News of the World)

Midfielder Lassana Diarra, 23, will sign for Tottenham in a £12m deal if Portsmouth fail to offload a number of other players after manager Harry Redknapp was told he has to slash the club's wage bill. (The People)

Robinho's move from Real Madrid to Chelsea still appears to be on after the 24-year-old was left out of Real's squad to play Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday. (The People)

The Brazilian forward will also hold a press conference on Sunday, when he will apparently discuss his future. (Various)

Blackburn manager Paul Ince is lining up a move for Uruguayan striker Alvaro Recoba, who is a free agent after his Inter Milan contract expired. (Sunday Times)

Everton have made a £500,000 bid to bring former Celtic and Manchester United striker Henrik Larsson, 36, to Goodison Park. (Sunday Mirror)

But West Ham have emerged as favourites to sign the Swedish striker for £1m. (News of the World).

Everton have also made a last ditch attempt to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Moutinho and has offered a club record £18m for the 21-year-old. (News of the World)

Stoke are also closing in on the signing of Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant for about £4m. (News of the World)

Blackburn are planning to bring Espanyol's 27-year-old Spanish winger Valdo to Ewood Park after losing ground in the race to sign Pennant. (News of the World)

West Ham have targeted Arsenal defender Johan Djourou as a replacement for Anton Ferdinand and are willing to pay £8m for the 21-year-old. (Sunday Mirror)

Arsenal have reportedly made enquires about taking Real Madrid's German defender Christoph Metzelder, 27, on loan for the season. (The People)

West Brom are planning a late £4m bid for Portsmouth striker David Nugent. (News of the World)

Stoke have launched a £5m bid to sign highly-rated Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley and have also offered Ipswich Town £2m for striker Jon Walters. (Sunday Mirror)

Potters boss Tony Pulis is also set to bid £1.75m for Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham. (Sunday Mirror)

Alexei Smertin and Collins John have been told they can leave Fulham on free transfers. (News of the World)

Fulham and Reading have been told they need to bid £2m to prise Tom Soares away from Crystal Palace. (Sunday Mirror)

OTHER GOSSIP

West Ham are ready to replace manager Alan Curbishley with Croatia boss Slaven Bilic, despite guiding the club to their best start to a season in nine years. (News of the World)

Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson, who had been linked with Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton, is set to sign a new £50,000-a-week contract at Eastlands. (Various)

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will be ready to return to action on 27 September, two weeks earlier than previously thought. (The People)

Liverpool's American owners are facing a new threat after being told they have to pay back their £350m loan within six months, rather than the 18 they were hoping for. (News of the World)

The club's future is also in danger after George Gillett and Tom Hicks failed to get the necessary funding in place for their new 73,000-seater stadium, which has been delayed by up to a year. (Sunday Express)

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hit back at claims that he unsettled Gareth Barry behind Martin O'Neill's back and said he was in constant communication with the Aston Villa manager. (Various)

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has blamed his side's poor start to the season on wantaway striker Dimitar Berbatov. (The People)

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has compared midfielder Deco to France great Zinedine Zidane. (Various)


AND FINALLY

Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand is learning Hebrew as he goes to Israel on holiday every year and is considering settling there when he retires. (The People)