SPORTS AND GAME, GOSSIPS AND TRANSFERS (Thursday)

TRANSFER WINDOW

Arsenal and Manchester United are preparing to move for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos. The Spain international is valued at £25m.
Full story: Caught Offside

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been cleared to approach his old club Monaco with a view to a cut-price £9m transfer.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner suggests a bid for Ajax's star Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez may be affordable, even at about £25m.
Full story: Metro

Keisuke Honda's agent is to discuss the Japan international's future with Premier League clubs. Liverpool are leading the chase for the CSKA Moscow midfielder, but Arsenal and Aston Villa are also interested.
Full story: sport.co.uk

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will approach his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson about signing Manchester United veteran Michael Owen this month as a replacement for Darren Bent.
Full story: Caught Offside

Schalke 04 midfielder Ivan Rakitic is being chased by Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Bolton Wanderers and Everton. The Croatian will be out of contract in the summer.
Full story: sport.co.uk

Aston Villa are ready to let unwanted midfielder Stephen Ireland join Newcastle on loan and are preparing a third bid for Blackpool playmaker Charlie Adam.
Full story: Daily Mirror

 

 

OTHER GOSSIP

Tessa Jowell, the former Olympic minister who retains a place on the London 2012 board, says West Ham's joint bid with Newham council to take over the Olympic stadium does fulfil the promises made in the bid book.
Full story: The Guardian

Real Madrid have left troubled midfielder Lassana Diarra out of the squad for the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
Full story: Yahoo/Eurosport

Manchester United have been warned off a summer move for Japanese star Shinji Kagawa, with Borussia Dortmund valuing him at £20m.
Full story: talkSPORT

Avram Grant has been handed no extra funds to recruit players, despite West Ham United's statement on Tuesday backing their under-pressure manager.
Full story: The Guardian

ARSENAL OUST LEEDS

Arsenal produced a clinical performance at Championship side Leeds to book their place in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Gunners were impressive throughout and took an early lead when Samir Nasri slotted in from Andrey Arshavin's pass.

Kasper Schmeichel brilliantly denied Marouane Chamakh before Bacary Sagna thumped home a second, though Bradley Johnson's screamer halved the deficit.

Davide Somma's effort flew wide before Robin van Persie headed in a superb Nicklas Bendtner cross to settle it.

Arsenal, who are still in the hunt for four trophies this season, will now entertain League One side Huddersfield Town next.

He's Staying, Says Iker

Reports in Spain today indicated that Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho would leave the club in the summer due to backroom squabbles. Club captain Iker Casillas appeared on radio this evening to deny these rumours, however, stating that both Jose and the club management were happy for the Portuguese to stay...

Five For Five

Under Leonardo Inter have been in rampant form, now winning five consecutive matches. The Nerazzurri continued their reinvigorated chase for the Serie A title with a 3-2 triumph over Cesena in a topsy-turvy Serie A contest. The Nerazzurri gave up a 2-0 lead before Chivu headed in the winner...

 

Barca Survive Fighting Betis

Barcelona would have thought they had little to worry about in the second-leg of their Copa del Rey clash with Real Betis, but the second division side came out firing despite being unable to overturn the eventual 6-3 aggregate in Barca's favour. On Another note, Messi scored but also missed a penalty...