Gossip column: Mourinho, Hazard, Beckham, Alderweireld, Boonen

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City are keen to sign Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld, who is currently on a season-long loan at Southampton from Atletico Madrid, but Saints have a £6.8m option on the 25-year-old.(Daily Mail)external-link

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is preparing to spend in excess of £150m on five new players - a right-back, centre-back, midfielder, winger and striker - in the summer. (Daily Express) external-link

The Times backpage
The Times backpage

Liverpool are preparing a bid for Borussia Dortmund's 24-year-old striker Ciro Immobile in the summer and reports suggest the German side will let him go. (Daily Star)external-link

Chelsea stars Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois agreed deals to join Tottenham before signing at Stamford Bridge, according to former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. (talkSPORT)external-link

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick will be offered a new one-year contract at Old Trafford after becoming a key player for manager Louis van Gaal. (Daily Mail)external-link

The Red Devils are also celebrating after beating Arsenal and Manchester City in the race to sign Belgian rising star Indy Boonen, 16. (Nieuwsblad - in Dutch)external-link

Barcelona have emerged as favourites to sign Arsenal target Lars Bender, 25, from Bayer Leverkusen. (Daily Mirror)external-link

Everton are preparing a summer move for Real Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, 22, who is currently on loan at Porto.(Daily Mirror)external-link

West Brom boss Tony Pulis is not looking for any 'free agent' signings to cover for strike duo Saido Berahino, 21, and Brown Ideye, 26. (Birmingham Mail)external-link

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, 52, is expected to sign a new four-year contract at Stamford Bridge in the summer despite having two years left on his current deal. (The Times - subscription required)external-link

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes says Lionel Messi is so good that when the Red Devils played Barcelona he hoped the Argentine would take up positions as far away from him as possible. (Independent)external-link

Paul Scholes and Lionel Messi
Paul Scholes faced Lionel Messi four times

Former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry, 37, who is being touted as a potential long-term successor to manager Arsene Wenger, has joined the club's backroom staff in role focused on youth development. (Daily Mail)external-link

Newcastle United have offered striker Siem de Jong, 26, a coaching role during his rehabilitation from lung operation. (Daily Mirror)external-link

Chelsea supporters have the worst record in the Premier League for arrests for racist or indecent chanting, according to official Home Office statistics. (Metro)external-link

Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, 20, claims cleaning Rickie Lambert's boots when the pair were at Southampton helped turn him into an England player. (Daily Star)external-link

Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard thinks manager Manuel Pellegrini is very similar to his former boss at Chelsea Carlo Ancelotti. (The Sun - subscription required) external-link

Gary Neville, former Manchester United star and England coach, is expected to complete the final qualification he would need to launch a managerial career - the Uefa Pro Licence - this summer. (The Times - subscription required)external-link

SOCIAL MEDIA

Juan Cuadrado
Juan Cuadrado joined the Blues from Fiorentina in the January transfer window

Chelsea's new Colombian forward Juan Cuadrado has responded to rumours that he hired Playboy model Carla Howeexternal-link to be his English teacher by posting a picture of his real tutor on Twitter.external-link

Mamadou Sakho has been helping his team-mate Steven Gerrard get fit by assisting with his rehab, as the Liverpool captain revealed on his Instagram page. external-link

Charlie Austin could have a career as a detective when he hangs up his boots after successfully predicting #whokilledlucy. On Tuesday the QPR striker striker claimed Bobby was the killerexternal-link and he's been gripped by the live episodes since. On Wednesday he also tweeted "Bobby Beale #killedlucy"external-link - we should have listened Charlie!

AND FINALLY...

Burnley boss Sean Dyche joked that striker Danny Ings brought him back a souvenir toy donkey from Spain after meeting Real Sociedad manager David Moyes to discuss a summer transfer.(The Sun - subscription required)external-link

Romeo Beckham has joined brother Brooklyn at Arsenal after playing for their academy side against Liverpool. Dad David travelled to the North West to see his middle son make his Gunners debut.(Liverpool Echo)external-link