sport gossip..........

WORLD CUP GOSSIP

Italy veteran Andrea Pirlo, 35, says his team will keep England guessing with their midfield options.Daily Mirror(external)

England coach Gary Neville's training plans were photographed as he left the team hotel in Brazil on Wednesday. The notes suggested England have been working on maintaining possession for their Group D opener against Italy on Saturday. Daily Mail(external)

Kovac replaced Igor Stimac in October last year.

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Croatia coach Niko Kovac insists his team will be looking to do more than just defend against Brazil in the World Cup opener on Thursday. "Croatia never parked the bus against anyone and won't start now," he said. Guardian(external)

Mesut Ozil insists he is not concerned about negativity from some Germany fans as he has the confidence of national team coach Joachim Low and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Ozil, 25, was jeered by some Germany supporters in their 2-2 draw with Cameroon on 1 June. Bild (in German)(external)

Landon Donovan believes USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann is wrong to suggest his team cannot win the World Cup. Donovan, who was left out of Klinsmann's squad, said: "This will come as a surprise to nobody, but I disagree with Jurgen."ESPN(external)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Yaya Toure will remain at Manchester City this summer, according to his father. Last month the Ivory Coast international's agent Dimitri Seluk claimed the 31-year-old wanted to leave as the midfielder felt the club had not paid enough attention to his birthday. Goal(external)

Morata started three league games last season.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes a £27m deal for Barcelona's Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 27, is close to completion. Daily Mirror(external)

Mourinho will allow Petr Cech, 32, to leave Stamford Bridge in order to offer Belgium international Thibaut Courtois, 22, who has spent the last three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid, regular first-team football. Daily Express(external)

Real Madrid want £24.1m for Arsenal target Alvaro Morata but may accept between £14.5m and £20m if a buy-back clause is included in the deal. The Spanish forward, 21, has a year left on his contract and is also wanted by Juventus, Inter Milan and Wolfsburg. AS(external)

Southampton defender Dejan Lovren, who is wanted by Liverpool, handed in a transfer request on 30 May. The Croatia centre-back, 24, told the club in an email that he wants to leave for a Champions League club this summer. Daily Mail(external)

Carlos Vela, 25, wants to stay at Real Sociedad, rather than return to Arsenal, according to the Spanish club's president Jokin Apperibay. Sky Sports(external)

Lovren joined Southampton from Lyon last summer.

Jose Mourinho is willing to allow Ramires to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid if the Brazilian, 27, can be used as part of a deal for Luka Modric, 28. Daily Express(external)

Real Sociedad's Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, 31, is set to reject a move to Arsenal in order to join Barcelona to provide competition to new signing Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. Daily Star(external)

Benfica's Argentina striker Nicolas Gaitan's agent has suggested he could leave Lisbon this summer. The 26-year-old has been linked with Manchester United, Tottenham and Zenit St Petersburg. Daily Express(external)

Arsenal have held talks with Gremio over Brazilian centre-back Bressan, 21, as Arsene Wenger looks to boost his defensive options. Metro(external)

Mourinho was Real manager when Modric moved to Spain in 2012.

West Ham have offered £3m for Nice defender Timothee Kolodziejczak but will move for Fiorentina's Spanish left-back Marcos Alonso, 23, who had a loan spell at Sunderland last season, if the deal for the 22-year-old Frenchman falls through. Daily Mail(external)

Everton manager Roberto Martinez is interested in Heerenven's Dutch midfielder Hakim Ziyech, 21, but the Blues are unlikely to move for Barcelona forward Cristian Tello, 22. Liverpool Echo(external)

Martinez checked on Dynamo Kiev forward Jeremain Lens, 26 and Feyenoord defenders Bruno Martins Indi, 22, and Stefan de Vrij, 22, when he watched the Netherlands train on Wednesday.Daily Mail(external)

Wigan are set to offer £3m for Rapid Vienna's American striker Terrence Boyd, 23. Daily Mail(external)

AND FINALLY

Thousands watched Argentina train in Belo Horizonte on Wednesday and Lionel Messi was confronted by a pitch invader who was a lookalike for Brazil legend Ronaldinho. 

Source: BBC