Gossip column: Yaya Toure, Alexis Sanchez, Rio Ferdinand

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WORLD CUP GOSSIP

Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure has hit out at Manchester City in a France Football interview

Yaya Toure has criticised his club side Manchester City once again by claiming their post-season tour to Dubai, prior to joining up with the Ivory Coast for the World Cup, denied him the chance to spend time with his brother Ibrahim, who died of cancer last week. France Footballexternal-link

However, Manchester City have indicated that the club would never refuse any player compassionate leave. Daily Mirrorexternal-link

Michael Owen says his former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville should make the step up from his coaching role with England and become the next manager of the national team. Daily Telegraphexternal-link

Meanwhile, current England manager Roy Hodgson says it could take six years to get the best out of the the upcoming generation of players as he prepares for his final game at the World Cup against Costa Rica. Daily Mailexternal-link

Costa Rica boss Jorge Pinto has told England: "The mother nation of football cannot leave Brazil without a World Cup point." Daily Starexternal-link

Brazil coach Felipe Scolari said that if he had the option he would not choose Chile as their opponents in the next round of the World Cup. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish)external-link

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal says he is "not interested" in the opinions of Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli, who has criticised the Dutch for their approach in the 2-0 win over his side. El Mercurio (in Spanish)external-link

Celebrating Mexican fans caused disruptions in Los Angeles on Monday night, with police issuing a tactical alert to deal with what they called "unruly" behaviour". KTLAexternal-link

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric says that his nation's exit in the group stages represents a failure of his generation of players. Vecernji List (in Croatian)external-link

Cameroon coach Volker Finke says he will continue his job with the national side despite the team's failure to win a game at the World Cup. Bild (in German)external-link

Some supporters in Rio de Janeiro reckon they are safer staying in the favelas than the expensive hotels of the Copacabana. Guardianexternal-link

The president of the Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, has offered to double the bonuses of the national team if they beat Greece on Tuesday to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time. Guardianexternal-link

Uruguay's Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 28, has repeated his claim that he is not respected by the English media. Daily Mirrorexternal-link

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chile international Alexis Sanchez
Chile international Alexis Sanchez could swap Barcelona for Arsenal

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has held talks over a potential deal for 25-year-old Chile winger Alexis Sanchez, who has been told he can leave Barcelona in the summer. Daily Starexternal-link

Chelsea's Brazilian forward Oscar, 22, has revealed he held talks with Paris Saint Germain over a transfer to the French champions. Evening Standardexternal-link

Belgium striker Divock Origi, 19, says he is dreaming about a possible move from Lille to the Premier League after the World Cup. ESPNexternal-link

Manchester City are still waiting for the green light to proceed with their pursuit of Porto's 26-year-old midfielder Fernando. Manchester Evening Newsexternal-link

Rio Ferdinand has agreed to join Queens Park Rangers after 12 years at Manchester United. The former England defender, 35, will link up with Harry Redknapp, the manager who gave him his first start at West Ham. Daily Mailexternal-link

Real Madrid midfielder Angel Di Maria, 26, a target of Arsenal and Manchester United, has admitted he is not sure whether he will be playing for the European champions next season. Daily Expressexternal-link

Southampton's new boss Ronald Koeman has rattled Manchester United by increasing the price tag on England left-back Luke Shaw, 18, by £10m to £40m. Daily Mailexternal-link

The time is right for Luis Suarez, 28, to quit Liverpool and make a move to either Real Madrid or Barcelona because he has "nothing left to prove in England", according to his father-in-law. La Sexta (in Spanish)external-link

Chelsea will not allow Romelu Lukaku to go on loan next season. The Belgium striker, 21, has spent the last two seasons on loan at West Brom and Everton. Daily Expressexternal-link

Tottenham, Hull City and Manchester united are considering joining the race for Espanyol's 26-year-old defender Hector Moreno. Marca (in Spanish)external-link

Spanish forward Michu, 28, is on his way to West Ham in a £6m move from Swansea. Sun (subscription required)external-link

West Brom are considering a bid for £6m-rated Norwich midfielder Robert Snodgrass, 26, after they rejected a second offer from Derby for 21-year-old midfielder George Thorne. Express and Starexternal-link

Sunderland want to sign Chelsea's new £12m centre-half Kurt Zouma, 19, on loan for the season. Daily Mailexternal-link

Sunderland's former Manchester United defender John O'Shea, 33, is happy to stay on Wearside despite speculation linking him with Tottenham. Sunderland Echoexternal-link

Inter Milan are ready to pay £12m for Manchester United's 27-year-old Portugal winger Nani. Daily Starexternal-link

Standard Liege's Belgian forward Michy Batshuayi, 20, is set to snub Swansea and join French side Marseille. Walesonlineexternal-link

Netherlands World Cup defender Ron Vlaar, 29, is being tracked by Queens Park Rangers following uncertainty over his future at Aston Villa. Birmingham Mailexternal-link

Norwich are close to signing Palermo's 26-year-old Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty. Metroexternal-link

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Radamel Falcao
Former Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao could be heading back to Spain to join Real Madrid

Former Atletico Madrid and current Monaco striker Radamel Falcao, 28, will be playing in Spain again after the World Cup as the Colombian has signed a transfer deal with Real Madrid. Tuttosport (in Italian)external-link

German side Hertha Berlin have signed Fulham's 30-year-old Dutch defender John Heitinga on a two-year contract. L'Equipe (in French)external-link

Manchester United will pay £28m to Athletic Bilbao for midfielder Ander Herrera, 24. Marca (in Spanish)external-link

Juventus have raised their bid for Real Madrid's 21 year-old striker and Arsenal-target Alvaro Morata to £14m. As.com (in Spanish)external-link

Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, 29, says he is not at the World Cup to find a club and is only focused on taking France as far as possible in the tournament. L'Equipe (in French)external-link

Former Lorient striker Kevin Monnet-Paquet, 25, has signed on for French side Saint-Etienne. L'Equipe (in French)external-link

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United's midfield trio Michael Carrick, 32, Darren Fletcher, 30, and Tom Cleverley, 24, must wait to see if they figure in the plans of new boss Louis van Gaal with their contracts up for renewal in 2015. Manchester Evening Newsexternal-link

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil practices with a different shaped ball

Germany's Mesut Ozil is feeling so relaxed in Brazil that he joked on Facebookexternal-link he would be switching sports and heading to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Mexico manager Miguel Herrera's explosive reaction to El Tri's 3-1 victory over Croatia has gone viral. The Independentexternal-link

The World Cup has already seen more Facebook interactions than the Sochi Olympics, Super Bowl and Academy Awards combined.CBS Newsexternal-link

With England set to fly home on Wednesday, England striker Daniel Sturridge (@D_Sturridge) tweetedexternal-link: "Gutted my world cup will be over tomorrow.. Seriously been one of the best experiences I've had in my life. God willing I play in one again."

Following Neymar's brace in Brazil's 4-1 win over Mexico Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) heaped praise on the forward, tweetingexternal-link: "22yrs old, 53 games, 35 goals, 20 assists....that's illegal! Dealing with pressure like a boss."

AND FINALLY

Passengers on a Ryan Air flight sung the Luis Suarez terrace song ("His name is Luis Suarez, his plane flies overhead... I just can't get enough!") to a lookalike steward. Liverpool Echoexternal-link

FA chairman Greg Dyke was ironically caught reading a book called A Death In Brazil while England prepared for their final game of the World Cup.Sun (subscription required)external-link