Transfer Gossip

Liverpool are ready to offer striker Rickie Lambert,
33, to Aston Villa in their bid to sign Belgium
international Christian Benteke, 24. (Daily Mirror)
Arsenal are reportedly biding their time to finalise
the signing of Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal and
will announce the deal for the 28-year-old Chilean
after next month's Copa America. (Daily Star)
Watford are considering replacing manager Slavisa
Jokanovic, despite the 46-year-old Serb leading
them to the Premier League, with former Atletico
Madrid and Getafe coach Quique Sanchez Flores
sounded out about taking over. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will be
looking for a new holding midfielder this summer.
(Daily Express)
Everton are looking at a summer move for Wolves'
Mali international winger Bakary Sako, 27. (Sun -
subscription required)
Chelsea are considering a £20m deal for Ghana
international defender Baba Rahman, 20, currently
with German side Augsburg, who are managed by
former Blues boss Avram Grant. (Daily Star)
The odds-on favourite to replace Sam Allardyce at
West Ham is former Hammers defender Slaven
Bilic, 46. (London Evening Standard)
However, the London club are reportedly plotting
an ambitious move for outgoing Real Madrid head
coach Carlo Ancelotti. (Daily Telegraph)
The vast majority of the Real Madrid dressing
room want Carlo Ancelotti to remain as manager.
(Marca)
The odds on Jurgen Klopp, 47, replacing Brendan
Rodgers at Anfield have been cut substantially in
the aftermath of Liverpool's final-day thrashing at
Stoke. (Metro)
Manager John Carver hopes to keep the Newcastle
United job and the 50-year-old believes that
owner Mike Ashley's rare public statement on
Sunday means he will invest in the transfer
market. (Newcastle Chronicle)
Leicester are planning a summer move for
Manchester United defender Tom Thorpe, with the
22-year-old out of contract in the summer and
expected to find a new club in search of first-team
football. (Daily Express)
After guiding his side to a 10th-place finish in the
Premier League, Crystal Palace manager Alan
Pardew is looking for four first-team signings for
next season. (Daily Mail)
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has said his
side did not perform in their 1-0 defeat against
Spurs on Sunday. (Times - subscription required)
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given, 39, could miss
Saturday's FA Cup final against Arsenal with a
groin injury. (Sun - subscription required)
Didier Drogba was carried off in the 28th minute of
Chelsea's win over Sunderland, but the 37-year-
old striker had pre-planned the substitution.
(Independent)
Brentford are close to naming former Dunfermline
striker Marinus Dijkhuizen, manager of the
Eredivisie side Excelsior, as their first-team coach.
(Guardian)
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson says he will be
aiming higher than just surviving in the Premier
League next season after the Foxes finished the
campaign in 14th place. (Guardian)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has
accused midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 27, of being
"unbelievably stupid" after he was sent off in his
side's 0-0 draw against Hull City. (Daily
Telegraph)
Manager Aitor Karanka has ordered Middlesbrough
to forget about the £130m at stake in Monday's
Championship play-off and win for pride. (Daily
Mirror)
Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard, 36,
insists he could have played on in the Premier
League for another two years, but is determined
to make a name for himself in America.
(Manchester Evening News)
Youssouf Mulumbu's West Brom career is at an
end after the 28-year-old midfielder failed to get a
one year contract extension activated by Tony
Pulis. (Birmingham Mail)
Best of social media
Preston North End striker Kevin Davies, 38,
celebrated promotion to the Championship by
tweeting a shot of him holding the League One
play-off trophy in the Wembley changing rooms.
Midfielder Tom Huddlestone, 28, was
understandably upset after Hull City were relegated
from the Premier League, tweeting: "Worse day in
my football career today. Absolutely gutted."
After his goal against West Ham United helped
Newcastle United beat the drop, Jonas Gutierrez,
31, posted: "The fans, the club, the city deserved
the three points. This club deserves to always be
in the Premier League."
Outgoing Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 37, sent a
message to former team-mate Frank Lampard, 36,
who is leaving the Premier League to play for New
York City FC in the USA. "Good luck on this
special day my best all time partner in crimes," he
posted on Instagram.
Glen Johnson, 30, looks set to leave Liverpool
when his contract expires this summer after telling
followers he will start a "new chapter". The
defender said: "A big thank you to all the people
out there who have genuinely supported me
through the last six years."
Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, 26, was a
happy man after scoring 26 Premier League goals
this season. "I have no words to express my
gratitude for all the kind words and
encouragement for having won the Golden Boot.
I'm very happy," he said on Twitter.
Tottenham Hotspur's 21-year-old striker Harry
Kane tweeted: "Buzzing to finish the season with
a goal and a win! Fifth place it is! We use this as
a building block for next year! Thanks to all the
fans!"
And finally
An Australian footballer has received one of the
strangest red cards of all time - after being given
his marching orders for a late tackle on a BBQ
sauce bottle. (Metro)
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho gave his Premier
League winners' medal to his daughter Matilde
following the Blues' victory over Sunderland. (Daily
Mail)