Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

For transfer news and gossip throughout the day, read our breaking news service Sportsday Live

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has agreed a £10m deal for 25-year-old Marseille striker Loic Remy - paving the way for Magpies forward Demba Ba, 27, to leave in January.
Loic Remy
Remy has been linked with Tottenham in the past
Arsenal and Liverpool target Fernando Llorente is set to meet Juventus officials on Monday in a bid to thrash out a deal that will see the 27-year-old old Spain striker leave Athletic Bilbao.
Chelsea have been told to cough up £30m if they want to sign 28-year-old Corinthians striker Paolo Guerrero, who scored the winner against them in the Club World Cup final.
Reading are hopeful of beating Arsenal to a deal for highly-rated Zambian defender Stoppila Sunzu, 23, from Congolese club TP Mazembe.

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes plans to retire again at the end of this season, with fellow veteran Ryan Giggs also set to leave and defender Rio Ferdinand yet to indicate if he will extend his contract.
Former QPR striker Les Ferdinand is set to return to the club in a coaching role under manager Harry Redknapp.
Everton manager David Moyes has revealed his ambition to coach in a European league one day - and named Germany as the most appealing option.

AND FINALLY

Journalists, fans and Uefa officials were left stunned after the Champions League last 16 draw produced exactly the same ties in both the rehearsal and the real thing - the odds for which are 5,000-1.