Paper Gossip: RVP's Shock Arsenal Link, United Eye Cavani and JT's Chelsea Exit

The transfer window may be closed for business until the summer, but that has not dampened the speculation.

There’s a whole host of transfer chatter, with some of the biggest names in the game involved.

There’s also talk of new deals, for players and clubs, while Financial Fair Play is also in focus.

All this and more feature in Sunday’s edition of the Paper News and Gossip roundup.

Manchester City face Chelsea on Monday, but they could be set for a battle off the field as well.

A report from the Daily Mail’s Nick Harris suggests City’s spending is in focus and could be challenged by major clubs in a bid to get them booted out of next season’s Champions League.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho took a swipe at the spending of some clubs, with Harris referencing the Portuguese's words in his piece.

There are clubs that are following exactly the project of Financial Fair Play and there are other clubs doing it in a dodgy way. For me, that is very clear. I don’t say the clubs—that is not my job.

It’s for Mr Platini and other people to analyse it, it’s not for me… I’m waiting for that.

Harris claims lawyers from a host of “major clubs” are looking into the possibility of lodging an appeal to have City banned from the Champions League.

The transfer window has only just closed for the remainder of the season, but there is transfer talk in Rob Shepherd’s column in the Daily Mail.

The player in focus is Robin van Persie, with Shepherd suggesting the Dutchman could leave Manchester United and make a stunning return to Arsenal.

In his column, Shepherd wrote:

Manchester United manager David Moyes plans a mass makeover of the squad at the end of the season.

Indeed, after unveiling Juan Mata at the start of the week, Moyes made hints of a substantial clearout followed by a spending spree to rejuvenate United in the close season.

And the biggest shock sale could be Van Persie—especially if United succeed in persuading Wayne Rooney to stay rather than move to Chelsea or PSG.

Shepherd suggests Van Persie and his family have not settled well in the North West, as opposed to when they lived in London, and claims the player “would love” to return to Arsenal.

Manchester City are the power team in the Premier League right now, but there are vultures circling over their squad.

The Sunday People’s Steve Bates claims Barcelona are plotting a raid on City for David Silva as the long-term replacement for Xavi.

In his piece, Bates wrote:

Senior officials from the Catalan club have compiled a list of candidates to take over the 34-year-old Barca idol’s role this summer—and £50million-rated Silva is their unanimous choice.

They see Silva, 28, as the ideal man to slot into midfield at the Nou Camp if and when Xavi moves on.

Bates added that City boss Manuel Pellegrini fears the Spanish players in the Barcelona squad could lean on Silva during next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

David Moyes’ Manchester United overhaul will continue with the capture of Eliaquim Mangala in the summer, per another report from Bates in the People.

Mangala was a January target for Manchester City, but they failed to push through a deal.

Bates feels that has left the door ajar for United to step in and he claims Moyes will not be put off by the reported £35 million asking price.

The French defender could be viewed as the long-term replacement for Rio Ferdinand, who has struggled for playing time this term.

Another player on David Moyes' Manchester United radar is Edinson Cavani, according to the Star's Harry Pratt.

Pratt claims United had the Paris Saint-Germain forward in their sights late last year, and that Sir Alex Ferguson spoke to Laurent Blanc about his availability.

They were knocked back in January, but Pratt suggests Moyes will go in again in the summer.

The future of Chelsea stalwarts Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole is up in the air.

The Daily Mirror’s Steve Stammers claims to have the inside word, as he’s penned a piece he has tagged exclusive.

In the piece, Stammers suggests the older of the three, Lampard, could be handed a new deal.

Things are not so positive for Cole and Terry, as Stammers suggests they could be allowed to leave on free transfers in the summer.

Ross Barkley is closing in on the signing of a bumper new deal at Everton, according to Dean Jones of the Sunday People.

The midfielder is one of the hottest properties in the English game, and he has been in the sights of the likes of Manchester United, per James Robson of the Manchester Evening News.

However, Bates claims the 20-year-old is content at Everton and will secure a new deal on massively increased terms.

Arsenal are trying to send injured loan signing Kim Kallstrom back to Spartak Moscow, according to Charlie Wyett in the Sun (subscription required).

Kallstrom was a surprise loan signing for Arsenal on deadline day, but it emerged the following day that he was injured and would miss around six games, per BBC Sport's David Ornstein.

There have been conflicting reports as to how much Arsenal knew of the injury, but Wyett claims they are looking to see if they can cancel the deal.

Rene Meulensteen has two games to save his job and will be replaced by Alan Curbishley if Fulham’s form does not improve, according to Stammers and Dave Kidd of the Mirror.

Swansea are lining up Graeme Jones as a likely replacement for Michael Laudrup, according to Jones of the Sunday People.

West Ham midfielder Joe Cole could be on his way to the MLS in the summer, according to Kidd of the Mirror.

Manchester United are close to sealing a £1 billion kit deal with Nike, according to John Richardson of the Express.

Randy Lerner is looking to sell Aston Villa, but he wants £200 million for the club, per Wyett of the Sun (Subscription).