Transfer Gossip

INTER WAIT FOR LAMPARD
FRANK LAMPARD will sign with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan for FREE on January 1,' says the News of the World, who claim that a deal worth £160,000 a week is on the table for him to sign in Italy as soon as the clock ticks past midnight and he is free to sign for other clubs.

Lampard has apparently been told that Chelsea will not budge on an offer of £140,000 a week for four years, and that is just not acceptable to Lampard. One of his 'most trusted pals' said: "Even if Blues eventually crumble and come up with a new five-year deal, I'm sure Frank will tell them where to stick it - the damage is done."

Roman Abramovich is said to be ready to lose £16m over the next season 'on a matter of principle' rather than sell Lampard now - turning down a £10m fee and paying a disgruntled player £6.1m over the next season. Obviously the credit crunch is not really biting in west London...


BERBATOV OUT, SANTA CRUZ IN
Tottenham have already agreed 'in principle' to sell Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United for £24m, with the Bulgarian set to sign a contract worth £80,000 a week, according to the News of the World. But the deal will not go through until Spurs find a replacement, with Juande Ramos determined not to be left short-handed.

That replacement is likely to be Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz, though the Mail on Sunday also mentions the names of Spartak Moscow's Roman Pavlyuchenko and Espanyol striker Luis Garcia.

The same newspaper also suggests that Spurs will launch an £18m bid for Andrei Arshavin, but that's likely to be a waste of time as the Russian has made it clear that he a) wants Champions League football and b) quite fancies wither Barcelona or Arsenal.


AND THE GUNNERS WANT...
There's Saturday's rumour of a late bid for Gareth Barry repeated in the Sunday Express, who also throw in the name of £15m-rated Portsmouth winger Niko Kranjcar and dredge up another old favourite in Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins.

Martins' teammate Charles N'Zogbia also wants a piece of the action, telling the Sunday Telegraph that it would be a dream to play for Arsenal. Keep dreaming, boy.


JOHNNO TO THE HAMMERS
Last week the talk was that Andy Johnson would join Wigan because he did not want to uproot his young family, but the massive wonga probably on offer at West Ham could soften the blow of a move, we suspect. The Hammers are the new favourites to sign Johnson after a reported £11m bid, with neither Wigan, Sunderland nor Fulham likely to match that sum.

The Hammers could make room on their payroll by offloading Lucas Neill to Manchester City in a £1.6m deal, with Mark Hughes apparently ready to forgive the Austalian for walking out of Blackburn for nothing last summer.


GILBERTO TO TOFFEES
Everton need a defensive midfielder and maybe David Moyes has not been watching any football over the last two years, because according to The People he is hoping to persuade Gilberto Silva to move north rather than complete his expected move to Panathinaikos.

Moyes is also expected to miss out on Darren Fletcher, with the player himself saying he's not interested in leaving the ManYoo bench and Sir Alex Ferguson set to reject a bid in the region of £5m for the Scottish part-timer.


AND THE REST
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants to bring Albert Riera back to the Premier League and Anfield...Benitez is also set to move for Mallorca's £5m-rated star Borja Valero...Everton will this week complete the signing of goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic from Sporting Lisbon...Fulham are set to launch an ambitious swoop for Rangers' Carlos Cuellar...Mark Hughes could sign Brad Friedel for Man City from former club Blackburn...But he'll face competition from Aston Villa...Sunderland's Roy Keane has made an enquiry about Spurs star Steed Malbranque...Doncaster are keen to sign Darren Byfield, who has been released by Bristol City...Peterborough may be forced to slash their £3m asking price for Aaron McLean...Harry Redknapp has been told to raise his offer for £12m-rated Monaco ace Jeremy Menez...

Sulley Muntari is heading back to Italian football in a £12m deal with Juventus...Stoke are set to buy Scott Carson from Liverpool for £4m...Fulham are expected to make a £4m bid for Spurs' Jamie O'Hara...Blackburn target Jermaine Pennant has been given the green light to leave Liverpool...Blackburn are plotting a stunning £16m swoop for Valencia winger Joaquin...David Moyes is set to bid for Sheffield Wednesday defender Richard Wood...Hull are closing in on a £2m double swoop for Portsmouth defenders Djimi Traore and Noe Pamarot...Newcastle will offer Damien Duff to West Ham in a player-plus-cash bid for Anton Ferdinand..Aston Villa and Everton are leading the chase for Man City's Michael Johnson...Watford defender Danny Shittu will arrive in Glasgow today to complete a £1.5m move to Rangers.