Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Barcelona will test Chelsea's resolve with a £30m offer for 25-year-old defender David Luiz before the transfer window closes on 31 August.
Manchester City still hope to sign Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez after Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer admitted their deal for the 23-year-old was "nowhere near being completed".
Rafael Van der Vaart
Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane
Tottenham are open to offers for Rafael Van der Vaart and are still keen to sign 25-year-old Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Tottenham look set to rival Manchester United for Fulham star Moussa Dembele, 25, with Andre Villas-Boas prepared to trigger a £15m release fee for the midfielder.
QPR are believed to have entered talks to sign Inter Milan's Brazil international goalkeeper Julio Cesar, 32.
Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup is hopeful of completing the signing of Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng, 23, this week and bringing in Pablo Hernandez from Valencia.
West Brom and Everton are battling it out to sign FC Copenhagen left-back Bryan Oviedo, 22.
Tottenham are working hard to bring in Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Willian, 24, but no longer want Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, 23.
West Brom have made a move to sign Blackburn defender Martin Olsson, 24, as left-sided defensive cover.
Southampton manager Nigel Adkins aims to bolster his defensive options with the £2m signer of 23-year-old Japan captain Maya Yoshida.

OTHER GOSSIP

New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has banned laptops and mobile phones from the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground.
Manchester United winger Nani is offering to drop his wage demands in an attempt to save his future at Manchester United.
QPR owner Tony Fernandes will not be rushed into making panic buys in response to his club's 5-0 home defeat by Swansea on the opening day of the season.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister has told fans not to write off his former club, despite their 1-0 opening day defeat at Everton.

AND FINALLY

Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt has pleaded for the help of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand to raise the profile of reggae music.