Thursday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

For updated transfer news and gossip throughout the day, read our breaking news service Sportsday Live.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Colombian forward and Chelsea target Radamel Falcao, 26, admits he is unsure whether he has a future at Atletico Madrid because of the deepening economic crisis in Spain.
Liverpool seem to have successfully warded off interest from Manchester City in their centre-back Daniel Agger - the 27-year-old is to agree a new four-year deal to remain at Anfield.
Everton will strive to keep hold of all of their talented players in January, according to 33-year-old goalkeeper Tim Howard, as they push for a Champions League place come the end of the season.
Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman admits his 19-year-old winger Wilfried Zaha could be bound for the top flight - alerting potential suitors Tottenham and Liverpool.

OTHER GOSSIP

Daniel Agger on Liverpool
Daniel Agger is to sign a new Liverpool contract
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew denies suggestions from his 26-year-old midfielder Yohann Cabaye that Tottenham tried to sign the France international in the summer.
England manager Roy Hodgson has taken a calculated risk and decided to let Stuart Pearce select a number of up-and-coming talents for the Under-21 squad, including 19-year-old deputy goalkeeper Jack Butland, 20-year-old Tottenham defender Steven Caulker and Liverpool's 17-year-old winger Raheem Sterling.
Meanwhile, West Ham are to seek assurances that Hodgson will treat 23-year-old striker Andy Carroll with care if he is selected for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland - Carroll is only just returning to action from a hamstring injury.
And it appears that veteran defender Rio Ferdinand's career as an England centre-half is at an end after Hodgson confided to commuters of a London Underground journey: "It is over for him and England. It has got to be the end of the road. He is pushing 34 and hasn't played for England for a long, long time."
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway insists his winger, 20-year-old Tom Ince, is as good if not better than Arsenal's England international pair Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott.
Celtic's Essex-born striker Gary Hooper, 24, is world class and should be considered for a place in Thursday's England squad announcement, according to manager Neil Lennon.
Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace
Wilfried Zaha could soon be heading to the Premier League
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers backs Italian striker Fabio Borini, 21, to hit goalscoring form in the near future. "Over time he will come good," promised Rodgers.
Former Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale is to have his role as Preston's chairman of football examined by the Football League, after being disqualified from acting as a director of any company for seven and a half years.

AND FINALLY

Steven Gerrard has belatedly joined Twitter and already has over 56,500 followers, but he assures the powers that be at Anfield that @SGF08 "won't be anything too ambitious or controversial".
Charlton chairman Michael Slater, who is a Manchester City supporter, is to complain to Uefa after being knocked unconscious after an alleged police charge outside the Bernabeu ahead of City's 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid last month.