As we approach the business end of the season, and despite the fact that only free agents and loan extensions are negotiable between now and the end of the season, transfer rumours inevitably continue to fuel the internet and the newspapers. Clubs across Europe, not surprisingly are already planning ahead and looking at players with a view to next season. Meanwhile players themselves are also assessing their options with an eye on a possible summer move.
Here is a round up of today's transfer gossip:
Is your club involved?
Newcastle United, AZ Alkmaar, Chelsea, Porto, Guizhou Renhe, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Santos, Manchester United, Schalke O4, FC Twente, Napoli, Liverpool, Arsenal, Udinese, Napoli, Arsenal, Rennes, Toulouse, Fulham, Montpellier, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Blackburn, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan, Brighton and Barnsley are all caught up in transfer gossip as we speak.
Chelsea are planning a £30m summer move for Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul, 23, and 25-year-old Magpies midfielder Cheick Tiote - The Independent
Newcastle have sent scouts to watch highly
rated AZ Alkmaar midfielder Adam Maher (right), 18, as a possible replacement for Tiote - The Independent Meanwhile Chelsea have held talks to sign Porto's Brazilian striker Hulk, 25, for a reduced fee of 40m euros (£34m) - Daily Telegraph
Chinese Super League club Guizhou Renhe are preparing summer moves for Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, both 33, in deals that would see each player earn £250,000 a week - skysports.com and The Sun
Barcelona have made a 14m euro (£11.6m) down-payment to Brazilian club Santos for 20-year-old forward Neymar - Cadena Ser (Spain's biggest radio station).
Striker Edin Dzeko is considering quitting Manchester City in the summer. Dzeko has not requested a transfer but City officials are aware of his unhappiness over a lack of first-team opportunities. The 26-year-old could be set for a swap deal with Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain (right) - The Independent Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov is poised to leave Manchester United at the end of the season despite the English champions taking up an extra year's option on his contract, his agent said on Sunday. Several clubs from Spain, Germany and France have been linked in the media with signing Berbatov - The Guardian and The Independent
Schalke 04 are prepared to break the bank in a bid to keep Klaas Jan Huntelaar on their books in the long term. The former Real Madrid and AC Milan striker has scored 38 goals in 37 appearances for the Royal Blues in all competitions this campaign. This despite rumours yesterday that Schalke 04 are looking at FC Twente striker Luuk de Jong as a possible replacement for Huntelaar - football365.com
Reports in Italy are linking Liverpool and Arsenal with Udinese duo Mehdi Benatia, 24 (right) and Mauricio Isla, 23, but they face competition from Napoli. Benatia is a Moroccan international defender, whilst Isla is a Chilean international defender/midfielder - talkSPORT Arsenal are interested in Rennes 21 year-old midfielder Yann M'Vila. Gunners scouts watched M'Vila in a recent match against Toulouse - footballpress.net
Dirk Kuyt has admitted he could be forced to consider his future at Liverpool if he does not play more reguarly next season. The Dutchman insists he is happy at Anfield and would consider finishing his career at Liverpool, but that he might have to reconsider his options if he finds himself on the sidelines. skysports.com and sportinglife.com
Barcelona are plotting a shock summer move for Manchester United twins Fabio and Rafael da Silva, both 21 - caughtoffside.com
Crystal Palace's highly rated right-back Nathaniel Clyne (right) is a summer target of Manchester United. The England Under-21 international who is out of contract at the end of this season has been on the Reds' radar for sometime now, and Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have been impressed with the Stockwell-born defender in Palace's shock Carling Cup quarter-final win at Old Trafford last November. Source: Take your pick!Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu has conceded he is likely to leave Craven Cottage at the end of the season. Etuhu is unhappy with his lack of regular first-team action under Martin Jol - skysports.com and The Sun
Blackburn striker Ruben Rochina is eyeing a summer move away from Ewood Park, if he continues to be left on the bench. The former Barcelona player has not started a Premier League game since New Year’s Eve - Daily Mirror
Arsenal are also believed to be chasing Montpellier and France striker Olivier Giroud (right), 25, who has also caught the eye of both Aston Villa and Newcastle United and Arsenal are also set to swoop for Toulouse centre-back Aymen Abdennour - Metro and sportinglife.com Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cotterill has revealed his frustration after failing to sign Portsmouth forward Luke Varney - skysports.com and Daily Express
Brighton & Hove Albion have extended the loan deal of Manchester City winger Gai Assulin until the end of the season - skysports.com
Sheffield Wednesday boss Dave Jones, who took Robbie Fowler to Cardiff in 2007, is set to offer the former Liverpool striker a deal at Hillsborough until the end of the season - Daily Mail
Wigan's Irish striker Conor Sammon is wanted on loan by promotion-seeking Sheffield Wednesday - Daily Mirror
Barnsley have signed Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper David Button on a month's loan after losing David Preece for the rest of the season - skysports.com
