World Football Gossip Roundup: Hulk, Falcao, Van Persie, Del Piero, Dalglish

It's that time of year.

With the season nearly over and players heading for vacation or Euro 2012, transfer rumors move at lightning pace.

Every day, there's something new to report. And everyday, that's exactly what we'll do.

Today, we have the latest on Hulk, Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie and a host of others.

Keep reading for all the details.

Hulk to Chelsea Done? Falcao-Torres Swap?

Rumors swirled around the web Tuesday over a deal that would take Brazilian midfielder/forward Hulk from Porto to Chelsea.

According to reports cited by Setanta, the deal is already done.

But according to Sky Sports, Porto will not sell.

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He has though been constantly linked with moves away from the Estadio do Dragao, with most of Europe's elite tracking him including Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid.

But he is contracted to the club until 2016 after signing a new deal last year, when Porto also bought another 40 per cent of his rights to take their total stake to 85 per cent and meaning they control his future.

Hulk also had a buy-out clause of £80million and Da Costa insists that is the amount any club would need to pay for him.

"I say today what I said a year ago, I will do everything to keep Hulk at Porto," he told Porto TV.

"I'm not interested in selling him.

"Hulk has a price and we are not going to negotiate and accept an inferior price to that of his clause, our desire is for him to be in our squad next season."

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Meanwhile, interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has denied reports that Chelsea want to swap Fernando Torres for Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao.

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"This is only speculation. I have a great relationship with Fernando, and I believe he will be here next season," he said.

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Check back here for all the latest.

RvP Latest

It's a daily ritual here at the rumor mill: The latest on the Robin van Persie contract saga.

Today, word is that Juventus have pulled out of the race for the Dutch forward's signature. According to Goal.com, Juventus manager Antonio Conte wants Napoli striker Edinson Cavani instead.

Over at The Sun, they're claiming that RvP might have to see out his contract. Gasp!

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Van Persie, 29 [sic, he's actually 28], has just one year left of his current deal and is a target for champions Manchester City.

The Gunners fear he will ask for a move to the Etihad but they are now ready to play tough.

If Van Persie does not take the £130,000-a-week offer the North London club could refuse to sell and make the player see out his contract.

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More tomorrow, I'm sure.

Wishy-Washy Players

Some players just can't make up their minds.

Here are a few.

Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric (pictured) reportedly is saying he'll decide his future after Euro 2012, which kicks off June 8 and concludes July 1.

Meanwhile, Arsenal target Yann M'Vila, currently at Rennes, says he'll decide next week.

Veteran Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf claims he may just stay at AC Milan after all, despite heavy speculation to the contrary.

And finally, Mr. Wishy Washy himself, Eden Hazard, says he'll finally decide (read: pick Manchester City) on Monday.

Sure he will. I'll believe it when I see it.

Del Piero to England?

Here's an interesting rumor I think we'd all like to see come true.

Veteran Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero could play in England next season.

Del Piero, 37, recently played his last match for Juventus. Now he's saying this, according to talkSPORT:

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"England is a place where the football is so good, but I have still not agreed anything with a club."

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Well, if that's not a ringing endorsement, I'm a monkey's uncle.

Sarcasm aside, talkSPORT says Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR are interested.

Vertonghen Agrees to Spurs Deal

According to Goal.com, Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen have agreed to a deal in principle.

All that's left is for Tottenham to agree a transfer price with Ajax.

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Tottenham have agreed personal terms with Ajax star Jan Vertonghen but the move has hit a snag over the Dutch club’s €16.3 million (£13m) asking price.

The 25-year-old was a guest at Spurs' 2-0 win over Fulham on Sunday before he had talks with club executives and was shown around the Londoners’ new training centre in Enfield.

Vertonghen has chosen Spurs ahead of their north London rivals Arsenal and has agreed to a salary worth around €75,000-a-week (£60,000) almost twice his wages at Ajax. The defender, who was named Eredivisie player of the year, wants to join Spurs irrespective of whether they play in next season’s Champions League.

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Drogba to Barca?

This one sounds unbelievable, but that's why they call it the rumor mill.

Didier Drogba, it seems, is a transfer target of Barcelona. Drogba, 34, is out of contract this summer at Chelsea and would be available on a free transfer.

As you probably recall, Drogba was instrumental in the Blues' two-legged win over Barca in this season's Champions League semifinal.

From The Sun:

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A Barcelona source confirmed: “What the team needs is an attacking player who has the presence and strength to trouble defenders.

“Drogba has that profile and is one of the players the club are looking at.”

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AC Milan have also shown interest, according to the article.

Kagawa, Ferguson Have a Chat?

The agent of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa has fueled speculation over a rumored move to Manchester United by admitting to holding talks with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Goal.com reports:

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[A]fter reports emerged on Tuesday that the player had flown to Manchester, agent Thomas Kroth confirmed to Goal.com that talks took place with Ferguson early in the day.

Both Manchester United and Kagawa are interested in a transfer, Kroth told Kicker, but the representative revealed that "The outcome is open."

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Bye-Bye to Yaya?

Yaya Toure could be on his way out of Manchester City.

That's according to the Daily Mail, which quotes the player's agent:

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Yaya Toure's agent has claimed the cornerstone of Manchester City’s title success could leave this summer.

Dimitri Seluk’s comments, in an interview on Spanish radio, could be an attempt to panic City into giving Toure a new contract. The player himself has not indicated to City that he is unhappy.

Nevertheless Seluk said: ‘Toure has done all he can do at City and needs new motivations. He would like a new challenge. He would not cost much."

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Sure, only a few million pounds. Pocket change, right?

Yanga-Mbiwa Bidding War?

The hot name out of France's Ligue 1 today is Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, the defender and captain of champions-elect Montpellier. That's him in the picture, on the left.

Yanga-Mbiwa, 22, is wanted by Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle and German club Borussia Monchengladbach, according to talkSPORT:

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The talented youngster has earned a surprise call-up to the France squad and is in the preliminary 26-man party for Euro 2012.

There have been no shortage of Premier League clubs chasing his signature, but reports in German magazine Kicker claim Borussia Monchengladbach have now entered talks to sign the 23-year-old defender.

There is certain to be a bidding war for his signature during the summer and with Yanga-Mbiwa only having one-year left on his current deal, Montpellier will be looking for a sizeable fee for their star defender.

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Dalglish in Danger?

Finally, the second reign of Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool might soon be at an end.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Dalglish is "clinging to (the) Liverpool manager's job" following crisis talks with the club's owners in Boston.

The Guardian opts for the word "limbo," and the Daily Mirror reports that the crisis talks were basically a disaster.

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