Thursday's gossip column

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has identified Manchester City midfielder Elano as his number one January transfer target. (Daily Mail)

Tottenham have set their sights on £12m Brazil striker Vagner Love. Spurs are hoping to clinch the deal for the CSKA Moscow man with an early bid when the transfer window reopens. (Daily Star)

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure claims brother Kolo and boss Arsene Wenger have made contact to try to persuade him to move to Arsenal. (Daily Mirror)

Barcelona are eyeing up a £12m swoop for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso - if they lose Toure. (The Sun)

Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is set to make a £30m cash injection to sustain Martin O'Neill's push for the Champions League. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea want to take Inter Milan youngster Mario Balotelli from their former manager Jose Mourinho. (Daily Mirror)

Bolton striker Heidar Helguson is the latest QPR target after the Hoops failed with a move for Michael Chopra. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes claims he wants to sign old heads rather than superstars when the transfer window reopens in January. Roque Santa Cruz, Torsten Frings and Wayne Bridge are high on his list. (Daily Star)

West Ham utility man Valon Behrami is being targeted by Roma. (Daily Star)



OTHER GOSSIP

Cesc Fabregas believes Arsenal's youngsters are struggling to win matches because they lack experience. (Various)

Ashley Young is poised to sign a new contract at Aston Villa worth about £45,000 a week. (Various)

Uefa are set to make a U-turn to give Atletico Madrid the go-ahead to stage their Champions League tie with Liverpool at home next week. (Various)

Kevin Keegan is in danger of being left in the lurch by the billionaire consortiums battling to buy Newcastle. Not one of the seven groups vying to take control from owner Mike Ashley have indicated they are keen to take Keegan back as manager. (Various)

Newcastle's owners are almost certain to be foreign, according to Keith Harris, the man charged with finding a buyer. (Daily Mail)

Niko Kranjcar hopes to be ready for a Portsmouth recall by the end of October following ankle surgery. (Daily Express)

West Ham are close to announcing the signing of a new £3.5m sponsorship deal. (Daily Mirror)

Jo claims Manchester City will win the Premier League. "This club will win the Premier League. But I think to win it this season might be a little bit early." (Daily Mirror)

New Grimsby boss Mike Newell has sacked striker Martin Butler because the 350-mile round-trip from his Worcester home meant he missed too many training sessions. (Daily Mirror)

Wigan manager Steve Bruce has rejected claims by Paul Scharner that they have clashed over the defender ending a two-year exile from the Austria side. (Daily Mail)



AND FINALLY

Carlos Tevez is risking Alex Ferguson's wrath by blaming him for his goal drought at Manchester United. (Various)

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been ordered to attend the African Footballer of the year ceremony. The striker sent his wife there last year. (The Sun)