Gossip: Grealish, Hazard, Toure, Clasie, Skrtel, Vieira, Ivanovic

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TOP GOSSIP

The SunImage source, The Sun
Image caption,

The front page of Thursday's Sun

Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, 19, has become the third Premier League player photographed taking the legal high known as 'hippy crack', the growing craze that anti-drug campaigners warn can kill. The picture was reportedly taken in a hotel room after a night out around six months ago. (Sun - subscription required), external

Bayern Munich are considering making a move for Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, 31. (Daily Express), external

Chelsea will attempt to keep hold of Ivanovic by breaking their policy of only offering short-term deals to players over 30 and committing the Serbia international to a new three-year deal. (Daily Star), external

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, 30, says he has no plans to leave the Anfield club amid reported interest from Wolfsburg and Napoli. (ESPN), external

Yaya Toure's agent Dimitri Seluk will hold talks with Manchester City after saying several clubs are interested in signing the 31-year-old midfielder. (Sky Sports), external

Serie A club Inter Milan and French champions Paris St-Germain are thought to be monitoring the status of Ivory Coast international Toure. (Times - subscription required), external

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, now head of Manchester City's elite development squad, has the backing of the City players to replace Manuel Pellegrini should the club sack their coach. (Daily Mail), external

Southampton want £20m for striker Jay Rodriguez. The 25-year-old, who is still recovering after he ruptured his right knee ligament against Manchester City a year ago, is a target for City and Tottenham. (Daily Star), external

Southampton's 23-year-old midfielder Victor Wanyama says Arsenal are interested in signing him. (Sun - subscription required), external

Southampton are hoping to beat Newcastle to Feyenoord midfielder and captain Jordy Clasie, the 23-year-old Netherlands international. (Daily Mirror), external

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said Tottenham striker Harry Kane, 21, has informed the FA he wants to play for England in the European Under-21 Championship this summer. (Daily Mail), external

Liverpool are reportedly free to complete a transfer deal for Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, 26, with the Italian side unable to afford a permanent move for the Belgium international they co-own with Cagliari. (Metro), external

Daily MailImage source, Daily Mail
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Thursday's Daily Mail back page

A study by the Daily Telegraph has found two thirds of Premier League clubs have either frozen or cut their season-ticket prices for next season. (Telegraph), external

Chelsea attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, 24, will remain at the London club despite recent overtures from Real Madrid. (Telegraph), external

Napoli manager Rafael Benitez has dismissed reports linking him with a return to the Premier League at Manchester City. (Guardian), external

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry criticised Real Madrid's on-loan forward Javier Hernandez for celebrating like he had "won the World Cup" after scoring in his side's 1-0 Champions League quarter-final second-leg victory over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. (Daily Express), external

Fifa's head of security during the controversial race to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has called for an investigation into claims Mohamed bin Hammam made a vote-trading pact with Spain's Angel Maria Villar Llona to aid Qatar's 2022 bid. (Guardian), external

Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna, 32, has no plans to leave the club in the close season. (Manchester Evening News), external

Andy Carroll says the West Ham squad want manager Sam Allardyce to stay next season and spearhead a challenge for European football. (London Evening Standard), external

Everton winger Steven Pienaar, 33, considered retiring during his injury problems this season but was persuaded to stay on because of the team spirit in the dressing room. (Liverpool Echo), external

Stoke will support Peter Odemwingie, who will be 34 in July and has not played since rupturing a cruciate knee ligament last August. (Stoke Sentinel), external

Swansea's Jazz Richards, currently on-loan at Fulham, has pledged £1,000 to help pay for a headstone for Swansea soldier Josh Maddick, who was found dead last month aged 22. (South Wales Evening Post), external

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Jack WilshereImage source, JackWilshere
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Jack Wilshere's large flat screen

Manchester United dominate in unlikely areas such as Central Devon and North Norfolk in a Twitter map of football fans, but cannot lay claim to a single London borough, with the capital dominated by Arsenal supporters, with pockets of Chelsea and Liverpool fans. (Independent), external

Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney, watching Real Madrid's victory over Atletico Madrid, tweets, external some praise for a match official. "The referee in the Madrid game has been excellent."

Rooney also sends his congratulations to team-mate Javier Hernandez, on loan at Real Madrid, who scored the winning goal. Another United player, Michael Carrick, tweets:, external "Not surprised...@CH14_ So pleased for you mate."

Jack Wilshere puts his feet up to watch the Champions League action. No grainy black and white portable for the modern day footballer. "Can't beat a champions league night," he tweets., external

AND FINALLY

Sampdoria president Massimo Ferro says Rafa Benitez would need to "see a dietician" before he would appoint him. (London Evening Standard), external

An Arsenal fan has demanded a poster of former skipper Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates is taken down before the Spaniard plays at the stadium for Chelsea this weekend. (Metro), external

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