Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City are weighing up an approach to West Ham for £7m-rated Welsh striker Craig Bellamy. (Daily Mail)

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has said that midfielder Jimmy Bullard could leave the club if he cannot agree a new contract beyond his current deal which expires in 2010. (The Times)

Tottenham are in talks over a £15m move for Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. (Daily Mail)

Portsmouth defender Lauren is being lined up for a move to AEK Athens after revealing that he wants to quit Fratton Park next month. (Daily Mail)

England midfielder Frank Lampard has insisted Chelsea do not need to sign Newcastle striker Michael Owen in the transfer window. (The Sun)

Fulham hope to persuade in-demand Norway skipper Brede Hangeland to stay at the club by signing his international team-mate Tore Reginiussen from Tromso for £2.75m. Both Manchester City and Liverpool are said to be interested in Hangeland. (The Sun)

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is making an £8m move for West Ham's England centre-back Matthew Upson. (Daily Mirror)

AC Milan are looking to take Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati on a six-month loan to ease their injury problems. (The Sun)

OTHER FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Sunderland's stand-in boss Ricky Sbragia is two wins away from clinching the Stadium of Light job on a full-time basis. (Daily Mail)

The Danish Football Federation may be willing to offer under-pressure Chelsea chief scout and head of youth development Frank Arnesen a route away from Stamford Bridge after indicating it considers him a "natural candidate" to succeed current coach Morten Olsen. (The Guardian)

Manchester United captain Gary Neville has launched a stinging attack on the Football Association after he was accused by Soho Square officials of being abusive during the Patrice Evra hearing. (Daily Mail)

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has called for the introduction of a mid-season break in England to reduce the risk of player burn-out. (The Guardian)

Fulham defender John Pantsil has denied he dived in a bid to get Stoke's Ricardo Fuller sent off last weekend - even though his manager Roy Hodgson admonished him for doing so. (The Sun)

Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov says he no longer has ambitions to dominate the SPL and is happy for the Jambos to become a selling club. (Daily Record)



AND FINALLY

Reformed Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland used to have pink alloy wheels on his black 4x4 vehicle. (The Times)

Birmingham players have decided to put their Christmas party plans on hold. Marcus Bent revealed the whole squad made the decision to delay the night out in order to focus on the club's promotion push. (The Sun)

Reading's Australian goalkeeper Adam Federici insists he would not swap chilly Berkshire for the sun-drenched beaches of his native Sydney after making his first league start for the club and signing a new deal. (The Sun)

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has revealed that he hates it when players celebrate scoring goals by cradling their arms together. "If it is any one of our boys I don't care whether they have had twins, quadruplets or 19 children at the one time," he said. "I will go absolutely apoplectic." (Daily Mirror) .