Football Rumour Mill

CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti is apparently about to be handed the necessary funds to finally land AC Milan starlet Alexandre Pato before the January transfer window ebbs to a close in three weeks’ time.

Former England captain David Beckham, 35, is willing to take a pay cut to force through a loan move from Los Angeles Galaxy to TottenhamAC Milan look set to scupper Tottenham and Manchester City’s moves for Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel by taking the Dutch international to Italy.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is aiming to bring in at least one of his three top targets this month – Bolton’s Gary Cahill, Werder Bremen’s Per Mertesacker or Emir Spahic of Montpellier – after defender Thomas Vermaelen suffered another setback in his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury.Manchester United are lining up a bid for Lyon’s Brazilian wing-back Michel Bastos.Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has pulled off a major coup by persuading Everton striker Yakubu to join the club on loan. Aston Villa are interested in Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko but the Russian striker is expected to sign a new contract at White Hart Lane. West Ham are confident they will complete the loan signing of Manchester City and England left-back Wayne Bridge in time for him to face Arsenal on Saturday. Fulham want to sign Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips in a £4m deal, although the 29-year-old would have to take a drop in wages to move to Craven Cottage. – Various Sources

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