Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Monaco are poised to make a 拢35m offer for Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri, 25, and forward Carlos Tevez, 29.

Manchester City are lining up a 拢20m bid for 22-year-old Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.

Villa boss Paul Lambert is thought to be monitoring Watford striker Troy Deeney, 24, who is yet to agree a new contract at Vicarage Road.

OTHER GOSSIP

Everton manager David Moyes is being targeted by Manchester City - if the club part ways with Roberto Mancini. Moyes is also said to be on Chelsea's managerial short-list.

Image caption, Moyes has a contract at Everton until the end of the season

Moyes has, however, been ruled out as a potential successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The 49-year-old Everton boss says he had talks with fellow Glaswegian Ferguson over becoming assistant at Old Trafford in 1999.

Sir Bobby Charlton says Ferguson will not stand down at the end of the season, even if he leads Man Utd to another Premier League title.

Young referees across Europe are being targeted by criminal gangs intent on fixing matches.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says England manager Roy Hodgson went back on an understanding not to play Jack Wilshere for 90 minutes in the midweek friendly against Brazil. Wilshere limped off in the second half of Arsenal's 1-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday.

West Ham are in no hurry to hand manager Sam Allardyce a new contract and are already eyeing up Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio as a potential replacement.

Former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo could return to management with German club Schalke next season.

AND FINALLY

Wayne Rooney has sent a message of support to his childhood hero Paul Gascoigne as the former England and Everton star continues his battle with addiction. "I used to dream of being like him," said the Manchester United striker. "I hope he can get himself out of this."

Brighton boss Gus Poyet hit back at Hull counterpart Steve Bruce, who said his Hull team - beaten 1-0 at the Amex - should have won comfortably given their second-half chances. "Well he didn't watch the first half, that's for sure. I thought games in England are 90 minutes," the Seagulls manager said.

The Labour Party is trying to recruit 颅Liverpool's Jamie Carragher after the Liverpool defender announced he will retire at the end of the season.