World Football Gossip Roundup: Chelsea Battersea Bid, Fellaini, De Jong, Giroud

Unprecedented news today in the B/R World Football Gossip Roundup.

Chelsea Football Club has been outbid.

Relax, though, Blues fans. It might not be what you're thinking.

Chelsea's financial mishap is just the tip of the iceberg today. We've also got updates on both Milan clubs, a highly sought-after Dutch striker, a highly sought-after French striker and the latest on Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero.

The details, as ever, await inside.

Bettered Battersea Bid

Chelsea's bid to redevelop the iconic Battersea Power Station has failed.

The winning bid for the site along the River Thames came from Malaysia's SP Setia and Sime Darby. Chelsea had hoped to use the site for a new stadium to replace Stamford Bridge.

Full details are at The Guardian.

New Race Row?

Liverpool could have a new race controversy brewing.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Liverpool's Dani Pacheco used the word "negrito" when tweeting at teammate Glen Johnson on Wednesday.

The tweet reportedly read: "@glen-johnson good luck negrito!!!!" The tweet can no longer be found on Pacheco's timeline.

Pacheco moved to explain himself later Wednesday, saying he used the term in a friendly way. He said he and Johnson are friends.

"

I Allready explained in past what Negrito could mean. Good or bad depends how you say it. I always called@glen_johnson it in terms of love

— Daniel Pacheco(@dani37pacheco) June 6, 2012"

"

Last tweet about it. @gln glen_johnson speak spanish and he knows what that mean when I say it to him. He is one of best mates there for me.

— Daniel Pacheco(@dani37pacheco) June 6, 2012"

Liverpool's Luis Suarez was banned eight matches this past season for calling Manchester United defender Patrice Evra the same word during a game last October.

Pacheco, a 21-year-old reserve forward, spent last season on loan with Rayo Vallecano.

Milan Clubs Chasing Defender

Matias Silvestre is apparently the most wanted man in Milan.

Silvestre, a 27-year-old Argentine defender who currently plays for Palermo, is being chased by both Inter Milan and AC Milan, according to reports out of Italy.

ESPN Soccernet cites Corriere dello Sport in quoting Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini: "Inter have taken important steps towards acquiring the player while Milan have shown an interest."

Silvestre joined Palermo from Catania in 2011.

Chelsea Want Fellaini?

Chelsea are reportedly considering a move for Everton's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

According to the Daily Mirror, Everton could be persuaded to sell Fellaini for £20 million.

Fellaini, 24, has earned 35 caps for Belgium, scoring five goals.

Arsenal Tidbits

Plenty of Arsenal news today, and for once, little of it has to do with Robin van Persie.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Zenit St. Petersburg "are open to discuss" a permanent move for Andrey Arshavin.

"Everything depends on Arshavin. If Andrey is ready to stay in the team and go on the field as a player, we are ready to discuss it," said Zenit chief executive Maxim Mitrofanov.

Arshavin, 31, joined Arsenal from Zenit in 2009 and returned to Russia in February on loan after struggling during the first half of the season.

In other Arsenal news, chief executive Ivan Gazidis has said Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who owns nearly 30 percent of Arsenal, will not join the club's board of directors (per the Daily Telegraph).

Gazidis, however, has also said Arsenal's wage structure will be altered in order to attract "top talent" (per ESPN Soccernet).

Luuk De Jong to Stay?

Dutch striker Luuk De Jong anticipates staying with FC Twente next season, according to reports out of Holland.

Goal.com cites TC/Tubantia in quoting De Jong himself: "I have still heard nothing [and] I therefore assume that I [will] just stay at Twente."

De Jong, 21, has made seven senior appearances for the Netherlands. He has been linked with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich (via Goal.com).

QPR After Giroud?

French striker Olivier Giroud experienced a breakout season with Montpellier in 2011-12, scoring 21 league goals and reportedly attracting interest from teams across Europe.

Today, one of those teams appears to be...

...Queens Park Rangers?

The Daily Mail has all the speculation.

Del Piero to Mexico?

Alessandro Del Piero could be heading to Mexico.

That's the word from Goal.com, which cites a publication called Record. Club America and Cruz Azul are said to be interested.

Del Piero, 37, recently ended his 19-year career with Juventus. He has also been linked with moves to MLS and River Plate, according to Goal.com. 

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