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With just 48 hours to go before the transfer window is thrown wide open, the rumour mill is warming up nicely.

First up today is serial wantawayer Didier Drogba, who could, you've guessed it, still make a move away from Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea striker has suffered a traumatic 12 months during which he claims the club failed to support him through a series of injuries and the death of his grandmother.

"I've only one year left on my contract, so I'm going to go with the flow," Drogba said, rather ominously, in The Sun.

And with the Ivorian seemingly incapable of committing his future to the Blues - he has a history of telling French-speaking publications of his desire to leave - a move elsewhere is right back on the cards.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari could offset the loss with the recruitment of Hatem Ben Arfa, the young France star.

The highly-rated 21-year-old, who only moved to Marseille from French champions Lyon in the summer, could be tempted by a big-money move to the Bridge. According to the Daily Mirror, Scolari is lining up a £10 million bid.

And that could be good news for Arsenal who, along with Chelsea, are thought to be courting Karim Benzema, Ben Arfa's former Lyon team-mate.

How? Well, rumour has it that the French pair do not get along at all well - something to do with a clash of monstrous egos, apparently. Scolari would be crazy to bring both players into his dressing room; so with a swoop for Benzema ruled out, Arsenal would be left in the driving seat to capture the France international striker.

Another man Arsenal are fluttering their eyelids at is Shay Given , Newcastle's immense goalkeeper. You had to feel sorry for the Irishman at the weekend when, despite his heroics in between the sticks, he still had to pick the ball out of the net five times against Liverpool.

But nevertheless, that kind of performance made Arsene Wenger sit up and take notice - the Gunners boss is ready to pay £8m for Given's services, according to the Express.

That kind of money would allow Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear to strengthen his squad in other areas, while he could replace Given with Paddy Kenny of Sheffield United, who has fallen out with Blades' boss Kevin Blackwell.

Staying on the subject of goalkeepers, the Daily Mirror reports that Heurelho Gomes is wanted by the club who sold him to Spurs for £7.8m in the summer - PSV Eindhoven. But the Eredivisie club are likely to pay just half that figure for the man responsible for around 75 per cent of the content of any end-of-season blooper DVDs.

While Gomes could be leaving White Hart Lane, Jermain Defoe is still hoping to secure a return to Spurs, says the Daily Mail.

But The Independent claims Harry Redknapp is being frustrated by Portsmouth's £24m valuation of the England striker with Pompey denying any bids have been made for either Defoe or his team-mate Glen Johnson, who Liverpool have been linked with.

Halfway through Gossip Shop and still no mention of Manchester City?

Well, the Daily Star claims City boss Mark Hughes has been told he can have West Ham stars Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker for a combined £20m. Strange then, that Hammers' keeper Robert Green - another Spurs target - said in the Mirror: "We've been assured as senior players that there won't be a fire sale" and that The Sun reports that a massive £12m bid from Spurs for Bellamy has been rejected.

Who knows what to believe.

Meanwhile, City have been warned off Everton pair Mikel Arteta and Joleon Lescott but youngster Daniel Sturridge is on the verge of committing his future to the Eastlands outfit.

Striker-strapped Everton are interested in Fiorentina ace Giampaolo Pazzini - the first player to score at the new Wembley - with a loan deal on the cards after the Italy Under-21 international lost his place in the starting line-up to Alberto Gilardino.

Emile Heskey has been told he can leave Wigan if he so wishes, while Jermaine Pennant has been tipped by The Times to arrive at the JJB Stadium after having snubbed a move to Real Madrid. The Liverpool midfielder is wanted by the Latics to fill the void about to be left by Luis Antonio Valencia who, unlike Pennant, has had the good sense not to ignore the overtures of Real and is reportedly on the verge of joining the Spanish giants.

And finally, Fulham's connections with North American players look set to continue after Standard Liege and US defender Oguchi Onyewu caught Roy Hodgson's eye and West Brom are tracking Real Mallorca's Oscar Trejo, although the Baggies will have to break the bank if they are to land the Argentine striker.

Eurosport