Saturday's Gossip column

 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool have launched an £8m bid for Inter Milan's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho, 20, after becoming increasingly frustrated in efforts to sign Blackpool's former Reds youngster Thomas Ince.
Queens Park Rangers are chasing Porto and Portugal defender Rolando, even though the 27-year-old Europa League winner has turned them down three times already.
Brek Shea
Brek Shea has been linked with moves to Liverpool, Manchester City and German side Schalke
Meanwhile, QPR's hopes of signing Rennes and France midfielder Yann M'Vila, 22, have been complicated by interest from Rubin Kazan and Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, 34, is close to agreeing a deal with LA Galaxy for next season - but he will definitely remain at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the current campaign.
Stoke City are close to signing 22-year-old United States and FC Dallas winger Brek Shea.
Arsenal want 20-year-old French midfielder Gilbert Imbula, who has starred for French second-tier side Guingamp in recent seasons and holds the record as the youngest player to play in the division, at 17 years, one month and four days.
West Bromwich Albion defender Craig Dawson, 22, is attracting attention from a number of Championship clubs, including Black Country neighbours Wolves. Blackburn, Bolton and Leeds are also keen on taking him on loan.
Full story: skysports.com 
West Ham are ready to abandon their pursuit of Blackburn left-back Martin Olsson, 24, as they are not keen to offer more than the £2m bid which has been rejected.
West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has held talks with striker Peter Odemwingie, 31, and defender Jonas Olsson, 29, after interest from Queens Park Rangers, and told the pair to forget about leaving the club.

OTHER GOSSIP

Nigel Adkins knew he was going to be sacked by Southampton after watching television - before he met with executive chairman Nicola Cortese.
Mauricio Pochettino will walk head first into a supporters' protest when he takes charge of Southampton, with fans set to wave white handkerchiefs in protest after five minutes of Monday's televised game against Everton.
Adkins, 47, scribbled a message on a flipchart for his Saints players after being given his marching orders: "Keep smiling. Have faith and belief that you are doing the right thing. Keep looking to improve."
Lucas Radebe, the former Leeds United and South Africa captain, expects more Premier League players will follow Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, 30, and decide not to play in future Africa Cup of Nations because of its scheduling.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has warned his Newcastle United players before Saturday's home game with Reading that 29-year-old Royals striker Pavel Pogrebnyak is "one of the worst players I've seen for falling over and buying free-kicks".
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak has scored five goals in 17 league games since joining Reading in July
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has waded into the Luis Suarez row by blaming foreign players for the escalation of diving in the English game.
Full story: Daily Express
Rafael Benitez is ready to gamble on defender John Terry's fitness and recall the 32-year-old Chelsea skipper for Sunday's league game with Arsenal.
Blackburn Rovers co-owner Venkatesh Rao has vowed to win the hearts of the club's supporters, with the family expected to make an appearance at Ewood Park for Michael Appleton's first game in charge.

AND FINALLY

Boss Paolo Di Canio joined fans to shovel snow off Swindon's pitch before their scheduled League One game with Shrewsbury. Reports circulated on Twitter that Di Canio also ordered in pizza for the volunteers to thank them.