Friday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
- From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Luka Modric is being forced to train on his own at Tottenham's training ground, but Real Madrid could be cooling their interest in the 26-year-old Croatian midfielder.
Manchester United chief executive David Gill is set for more negotiations with Arsenal this weekend over the possible transfer of striker Robin van Persie, 29.
Chelsea are looking to sign Napoli centre-forward Edinson Cavani, 25, after Zenit St Petersburg made a move for 26-year-old Porto striker Hulk.
Spurs hope to sign Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar, 32, on a free transfer.
However, the Italian club have asked that Spurs right-back Kyle Walker, 22, be included in part-exchange for the Brazil international.
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Dutch international Wesley Sneijder is urging Inter Milan to buy his team-mate, 27-year-old midfielder Nigel de Jong, from Manchester City.
Chelsea are looking at Juventus right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, 28, after their move for 22-year-old Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta of Marseille stalled.
Middlesbrough hope to finalise a loan move for Chelsea's 19-year-old midfielder Josh McEachran.
Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung, 23, is now a target for Atletico Madrid as well as Arsenal.
Caen striker M'Baye Niang, 17, is set to disappoint Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham by joining AC Milan on loan.
John Guidetti's proposed loan move from Manchester City to Sunderland could be in jeopardy because the 20-year-old Swedish striker is struggling to shake off a virus.
Birmingham have decided not to sign defender Lee Naylor, 32, after an unsuccessful trial period.
West Brom manager Steve Clarke hopes to add to his new club's defensive options during the remainder of the transfer window.
OTHER GOSSIP
John Terry, 31, is set to be left out of the England squad for the friendly against Italy as Roy Hodgson opts to name an experimental line-up.
The Premier League is exploring whether to introduce its own system of Financial Fair Play in an attempt to control spending on wages and transfer fees.
Tottenham have confirmed midfielder Scott Parker, 31, is ruled out until mid-September after he underwent surgery on an Achilles injury.
Aston Villa midfielder Marc Albrighton, 22, is expected to miss the first six to eight weeks of the season with a broken foot.
AND FINALLY
Everton fans fulfilled a long-standing promise to invade the pitch if stalwart Tony Hibbert, 31, ever scored a goal. The long serving defender, who has made 308 senior appearances for the Toffees, finally got onto the scoresheet in his testimonial match against AEK Athens.
