Tuesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool are lining up an audacious La Liga double swoop for Atletico Madrid's Turkish winger Arda Turan, 25, and Barcelona's Chile international forward Alexis Sanchez, 23.
Arsenal are considering an ambitious move to bring Manchester United's Mexican striker Javier Hernandez, 24, to the Emirates.
Arsenal are aiming to beat north London rivals Tottenham to the signing of 23-year-old Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao from Internacional.
Chelsea could add to their growing Brazilian contingent with a move for Corinthians 24-year-old midfielder Paulinho. The Blues already have Oscar, Ramires, David Luiz and Lucas Piazon in their ranks.
Arsenal's Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone, 24, insists he wants to stay with the north London club despite interest from Napoli.
Tottenham are keeping tabs on Feyenoord's 21-year-old Holland international Jordy Clasie as boss Andre Villas-Boas prepares to add to his squad in in January.
Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone
Vito Mannone has made seven appearances for Arsenal this season
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has emerged as a surprise target for Spanish side Real Madrid. Real see see Schmeichel, 25, as a long-term successor to current keeper Iker Casillas, 31.
Steve Browett, the Crystal Palace co-chairman, has moved to assure the club's supporters that Wilfried Zaha "is not for sale", despite Sunday newspaper reports that clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal want to buy the 19-year-old winger.
Aston Villa's 28-year-old Darren Bent could be set for a January move out of Villa Park, with Liverpool and QPR lining up bids for the out-of-favour striker.
Daniel Sturridge will look to leave Chelsea in January to try to revive his England chances with Liverpool and Totttenham both keen to recruit the 23-year-old striker.
Andrey Arshavin's time at Arsenal looks set to be coming to an end with Fulham boss Martin Jol reported to be interested in signing the 31-year-old Russian in January.

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, 27, has branded Liverpool's 25-year-old striker Luis Suarez a "diver" and a "cheat" in a French interview. "He is tiresome to defend against. He cheats. He pulls your shirt, giving small blows," said Koscielny. "He is a player who likes to dive as soon as there is contact."
Striker Nicklas Bendtner has taken a swipe at former club Arsenal by claiming the training programme at Juventus is the best he has been involved in. The 24-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at the Italian club.
Blackburn will have to pay a £500,000 'transfer fee' to get managerial target Ian Holloway out of his Blackpool contract. However, Blackpool will fight to keep the 49-year-old at Bloomfield Road.

AND FINALLY

Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first sportsman to receive over 50m 'Likes' on social networking site Facebook. The 27-year-old boasts 10m more fans than his great adversary on the football field, Barcelona's Lionel Messi. The figure also means 5% of everyone who uses Facebook is a fan of the former Manchester United player.