Reds eye Hammers striker and other red-hot gossip

(29-08-2010) Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is set to make a last-gasp effort to sign West Ham striker Carlton Cole. According to Sunday’s News of the World newspaper, Hodgson will offer the Hammers £8m for the England international. The Merseysiders are also said to be tracking Fulham defender Paul Konchesky, as well as PSV Eindhoven’s £13m-rated forward Ola Toivonen. Elsewhere, Manchester United are ready to test Everton's resolve to hang on to midfielder Jack Rodwell with a £20m bid; Tottenham have had a sensational enquiry into the availability of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand rebuffed by Sir Alex Ferguson; Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg will not join Arsenal as he wants to remain with his boyhood club; and AC Milan have reached an agreement to take striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on loan from Barcelona for the rest of the season.