West Ham interest in midfielder Scott Parker

West Ham co-owner David Gold has hinted Premier League rivals Aston Villa may have an interest in midfielder Scott Parker.

The Hammers have previously stressed that Parker is the only member of the squad not for sale this summer following last season's disappointing campaign.
Gold remains insistent that he is not looking to cash in on the midfielder, who missed out on a place in England's World Cup party.
However, with Villa aiming to fend off Manchester City's interest in James Milner, reports have claimed Parker could be a possible replacement for his international team-mate.
"He is not for sale, but who would have thought Ronaldo could leave Manchester United," Gold told the Daily Express.
"If Manchester City pay £50m for James Milner, then Aston Villa have that £50m and they are going to want to replace Milner."
Parker has made 85 appearances for the Hammers since joining from Newcastle United in 2007 and was arguably the only shining light in a dismal last season for the club.

Luis Suarez has said he is desperate to move to Manchester United and Tottenham

Luis Suarez has said he is desperate to move to the Premier League and has named Manchester United and Tottenham as his favoured destinations.

Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez provided the goals for Uruguay at the World Cup

Suarez, 23, scored 49 goals in all competitions for Ajax last season and then netted three times for Uruguay as they reached the semi-finals of the World Cup.
United and Spurs are both rumoured to have shown interest in Suarez, and the striker has now made it clear that he wants a move to England this summer.
"I am not going to make any secret of my admiration for the Premier League," he told the Daily Star Sunday. "What I love about it is the fact that there are five or six Champions League quality teams in the league - and no other league in the world boasts that.
"When you look at the players Manchester City and Liverpool have like Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor and see they are playing Uefa Cup and not Champions League football, it tells you everything you need to know about the strength of the league.
"I know I have had a very good World Cup and with that naturally comes interest from other clubs. If a Premier League side comes in for me, it will be very difficult for Ajax to keep me and I think they are fully aware of that."
"Manchester United are a great side and, along with Real Madrid, are the most prestigious club in the world. You know if you join Manchester United and are there for any length of time you will win things.
"Tottenham hold appeal as well, though. They are a team with great ambition and have done well to reach the Champions League. I like teams that have shown ambition through the money they spend.
"If there are multiple offers from the Premier League, I will take time to decide, but at the moment they are the two clubs that stand out for me."

Holland star Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has hinted to Premier League

Holland star Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has hinted he could leave AC Milan this summer if he does not receive assurances over his first-team chances.

Huntelaar, who is set to start Sunday's World Cup final against Spain on the bench, endured a frustrating debut season with Milan last term.
The former Ajax and Real Madrid hit-man saw his first-team chances limited at Milan and he found himself playing out of position at the San Siro.
A number of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are thought to be waiting in the wings to sign Huntelaar and the 26-year-old has indicated he could be interested in a move to England.
"My first focus is on the final and then after that it will be on AC Milan so we will see what happens when I get back to Italy," Huntelaar told The People.
"But the truth is I want to play football - I don't want to be just sitting on the bench - so we will see what happens.
"Of course, the Champions League is important and every player wants to play there but the most important thing for me is simply to play.
"That is the number one priority."

Kaka swoop appeals to Chelsea

Chelsea chief Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed he is in regular contact with Kaka - and would love to tempt him to the Premier League champions.

Ancelotti worked with the Brazilian at AC Milan and is open to the idea of signing him from Real Madrid - who are now led by former Stamford Bridge manager Jose Mourinho.
The Italian told The People: "Kaka would do well for my cause and I speak to him on a regular basis. It would be a multi-million pound operation."

Arsenal is mulling over a £4million bid for Benfica's Rafik Halliche

ARSENAL are eyeing the Algerian defender who put the World Cup block on Wayne Rooney.

Boss Arsene Wenger is mulling over a £4million bid for Benfica's Rafik Halliche, 23, who starred in the goalless draw with England in South Africa.
Wenger has been impressed by the powerful centre-half especially after releasing William Gallas, Sol Campbell, Philippe Senderos and Mikael Silvestre.
The move comes just 24 hours after wrapping up the £8.5m signing of Laurent Koscielny from French club Lorient. And Wenger said: "It's not over - we are still open to buy."

SOL CAMPBELL is close to move to Sunderland

SOL CAMPBELL is close to completing a shock switch to Sunderland.

The former England stopper, 35, is available on a free after spending the second half of last season at Arsenal.
And after a move to Celtic failed to materialise, Mackems boss Steve Bruce has moved quickly to shore up his defence.
Campbell has begun talks and Bruce hopes to finalise a deal today.
The former Spurs and Gunners ace favours a move to the North East with fiancee Fiona Barratt based in Northumberland.
His advisors tried to get him a move to Newcastle last term after an ill-fated spell at Notts County but Toon would not meet his demands.
But after Lorik Cana was sold yesterday to Galatasaray for £5.5million and with owner Ellis Short continuing to bankroll the Black Cats, Bruce has been able to satisfy his £40,000 wage request.
Albanian powerhouse Cana wanted the move to be closer to his family.
It is a blow for Bruce. He said: "His attitude made him a natural choice as captain but when he came back for pre-season it became clear he wanted to be closer to his family in Albania."
Cana, 26, said: "It has not been an easy decision. I hope people understand."

City bid 20m for Didier Drogba

MANCHESTER CITY are lining up a £20million bid for Didier Drogba.

City boss Roberto Mancini is a long-term admirer of the Chelsea striker.
The Ivory Coast star, 32, has not ruled out a move and a source said: "Chelsea will have to decide whether they want him to stay. City's offer will be tempting considering Didier's age."
Drogba would earn over £18m in three years if he chose to move to Eastlands.
The striker won the Golden Boot with 29 Premier League goals last term as Chelsea stormed to the title and FA Cup.
Drogba still has two years to run on his Stamford Bridge deal.
But if he was to leave the champions, Chelsea would be sure to make a move for Liverpool hitman Fernando Torres.
City have already lashed out £60m this summer on David Silva, Jerome Boateng and Yaya Toure.
Boss Mancini also wants Lazio full-back Aleksander Kolarov - though the Serb may prove too expensive.
Lazio president Claudio Lotito said: "In my opinion, he is worth as much as Mauro Zarate, who we paid around £18.7m for."