Ribery’s wife forces EPL snub and other red-hot gossip

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, who is wanted by just about every top club in Europe, has turned down a move to Chelsea, insisting he will only move to Spain. Why? According to reports, the French international’s wife hates the cold and wet English weather! Elsewhere, Manchester City want Hamburg's Jerome Boateng and are prepared to pay £11m move for the German international defender; Lokomotiv Moscow have not given up on signing Roman Pavlyuchenko from Tottenham; and Serie A club Palermo have their sights set on Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen, with Rovers hoping to take Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano in the other direction.