SPORTS AND GAME, GOSSIPS AND TRANSFERS NEWS Friday

BREAKING GOSSIP

0810 GMT: Interest in Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is hotting up with Turkish side Galatasaray joining a list of teams that include Malaga and Atletico Madrid vying for the 33-year-old Spaniard.Full story: goal.com



0802 GMT: Aston Villa and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce are battling over the signature of Lyon and Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun.Full story: insidefutbol.com


0746 GMT: Arsenal are favourites to land Belgian winger Eden Hazard. Lille's 19-year-old has been a target for Manchester United and Real Madrid and is reported to be worth £15m. Full story: caughtoffside.com

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Fulham lead the race for the signature of Steve Sidwell after a move to West Ham for the Aston Villa midfielder fell through earlier this week.Full story: Daily Mirror

Birmingham are looking to beat Blackburn to the signature of Blackpool's star midfielder Charlie Adam.Full story: Daily Mirror


Sheffield Wednesday are going to make "at least" six new signings in January, their biggest recruitment drive in years. Full story: Daily Mirror


Manchester United are tracking Brazil keeper Julio Cesar as boss Sir Alex Ferguson prepares for the retirement of Edwin van der Sar. Inter Milan's 31-year-old shot-stopper said recently: "England is sensational for football because of the atmosphere and fans' passion." Full story: the Sun


Manchester City will not let striker Roque Santa Cruz return to Blackburn on loan until they agree to buy him in the summer.Full story: Daily Mirror


Edin Dzeko's move to Manchester City has not been without its problems after the Wolfsburg striker was left stranded at Heathrow airport because he did not have the correct visa.Full story: the Sun


Aston Villa look set to acquire the services of Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge.Full story: Daily Mirror


Arsenal are weighing up another move for Porto striker Radamel Falcao, a year after an unsuccessful attempt to sign the Colombian, who has scored 18 goals in 24 games this season.Full story: the Sun

OTHER GOSSIP

With less than 48 hours to go before their FA Cup third-round clash with Chelsea, Ipswich are desperate to find a replacement for Roy Keane and top of the list is former Derby boss Paul Jewell. Newcastle's old manager Chris Hughton is also in the hunt.Full story: Daily Telegraph


Roy Hodgson's days as Liverpool manager are also over after saying goodbye to the players on the back of the 3-1 defeat by Blackburn on Wednesday. In 20 matches at the helm, Hodgson has seen the Reds win seven times but suffer nine defeats.Full story: the Sun


Speculation mounts regarding Hodgson's replacement but Marseille boss Didier Deschamps has ruled himself out of taking the Anfield hotseat.Full story: Daily Star


Meanwhile, the new American owners at Anfield have been warned key players, such as striker Fernando Torres and keeper Pepe Reina, will leave in the summer if the right boss is not chosen and they don't get reassurances of major investment.Full story: the Guardian


Bolton manager Owen Coyle has emerged as a surprise contender for the Liverpool job. Full story: Daily Express


West Ham boss Avram Grant has been given two games to save his job, the FA Cup tie with Barnsley and Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Birmingham.Full story: Guardian


Chelsea are going to stick with their manager Carlo Ancelotti despite their disappointing recent form which has seen them slump to fifth in the table.Full story: Daily Telegraph


Fifa has withdrawn an offer to Interpol's Anti-Corruption chief to head their own new integrity unit.Full story: Daily Telegraph


Argentina's friendly against Portugal at the Emirates Stadium on 9 February has been moved to Geneva.Full story: Daily Mail


Replays could be abolished in an attempt to revive interest in the FA Cup.Full story: Guardian

AND FINALLY

Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan had booked a winter break under the impression that English football stopped at Christmas. Full story: Daily Mirror

Leo Wins Inter Debut
Leonardo made a successful official debut as Inter coach as the Nerazzurri convincingly dispatched of Napoli 3-1 at the San Siro. Thiago Motta was the star of the show with a brace that sandwiched goals from Pazienza and Cambiasso. Inter are off to a winning start in 2011 under their new boss...


Back To Brazil, But Where?
Ronaldinho is set to leave Milan but he has not decided which Brazilian club he will join. The former Barcelona star held a press conference Thursday, confirming he will return to his homeland, adding that Gremio, Palmeiras, and Flamengo were all options...


'SAF Wouldn't Pick El Nino'
Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison has blasted star striker Fernando Torres and urged under-pressure manager Roy Hodgson to sign a top-class centre-forward. Torres has been way below his high standards this season and the Scot believes someone like Sir Alex Ferguson would leave him out...



Blancos Set Up Madrid Derby
Real Madrid lost their second game under Jose Mourinho as they fell 2-0 to Levante, but it was a result that did not count for anything as los Blancos had already won the first-leg 8-0 and thus will continue in the Copa del Rey, setting up a contest against Atletico Madrid. Kaka once again came off the bench...