SPORTS AND GAME, GOSSIPS AND TRANSFERS (Thursday)

Manchester City's efforts to sign Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko have been rocked by a stunning £38m price tag.
Full story: Daily Mail

Nicolas Anelka's brother and agent has claimed the striker could move to the United States when his Chelsea contract expires in 2012.
Full story: Daily Star

President of Brazilian side Gremio, Paulo Odone, claims the club has agreed terms with AC Milan star Ronaldinho.
Full story: ESPNsoccernet

Newcastle's Joey Barton has played down suggestions that he could leave the club by insisting he wants to stay at St James' Park for the rest of his career.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Meanwhile, Barton's team-mate Steven Taylor has hailed the appointment of Alan Pardew, stating the new manager's arrival could hold the key to his own future at the club.
Full story: Daily Star

Liverpool have joined Fulham and Arsenal in the race for the highly rated Southampton youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Full story: Daily Mail

But Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has opened the door for Milan Jovanovic to leave Anfield.
Full story: talkSPORT

Everton are in a battle with Aston Villa to sign Middlesbrough defender David Wheater.
Full story: Dail Mail

Former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista could be in line for a north London return after he revealed he has received an offer from Tottenham.
Full story: talkSPORT

Hamburg are to approach Manchester City misfit Jo with a way out of Eastlands
Full story: Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

Howard Webb has revealed he would be in favour of goal-line technology, claiming most of his fellow referees would welcome its introduction.
Full story: The Mirror

David Bernstein has vowed to rebuild bridges with FIFA once he takes up his role as the chairman of the FA.
Full story: talkSPORT

Jamie Carragher is set to join England's coaching set-up after being earmarked by the FA as a potential national manager.
Full story: Daily Star

But former Culture Minister and Sports Secretary Richard Caborn has criticised England's failed 2018 World Cup bid and laid the blame firmly at the door of the FA.
Full story: talkSPORT

Manchester United striker Michael Owen has declared himself fit for the club's Christmas fixtures.
Full story: The Mirror

Roy Hodgson has dismissed Rafael Benitez as a threat to his job and insisted the Spaniard's return to Merseyside has not placed him under any extra pressure.
Full story: Daily Mail

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will return to action against Blackpool on Boxing Day after manager Roy Hodgson confirmed he is now fit.
Full story: The Mirror

Crystal Palace are set to sack manager George Burley as fear of relegation grips owners Steve Parish and Martin Long.
Full story: Daily Mail

AND FINALLY

Pep Guardiola can be Barcelona's coach for years to come and rival the Manchester United tenure of Sir Alex Ferguson, according to the Catalan club's president Sandro Rosell.
Full story: The Mirror

Negotiating An Exit
The agent of Inter coach Rafael Benitez, Manuel Garcia Quilon, has confirmed that he is attempting to negotiate an exit from the Italian club on behalf of the Spanish tactician. The former Liverpool manager and the club look destined to end their relationship and are working towards a mutual agreement...

 Benz & CR7 Inspire 8-0 Real Madrid haven't won the Copa del Rey since the early 90's and showed they are desperate to put an end to their drought in the competition with a brilliant 8-0 win over Levante in the first-leg of their encounter. Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo each scored a hat-trick!


Back To Gremio
Milan playmaker Ronaldinho is on his way back to his boyhood club Gremio. Tricolor president Paulo Odone has revealed that an agreement has been reached between the Brazilian outfit and the 30-year-old player, and all that remains now is for 'Dinho's agent to negotiate a release from the Rossoneri.

Nowhere Near Messi
FIGC president Giancarlo Abete feels Manchester City's Mario Balotelli has a long way to go before he can compare himself to Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Super Mario was named Europe's best young player and boasted that he is now only second to Messi, but Abete doesn't quite share the same enthusiasm