Race on to sign Stoke star and other red-hot gossip

(07-12-2010) The race is heating up for the signature of highly-rated Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross. According to reports on Monday, Italian giants Juventus are prepared to offer a £20m package to beat Manchester United and Liverpool to the signature of the tough-tackling defender. Elsehwere, Manchester United are believed to be interested in Shakhtar Donetsk midfield pair Douglas Costa and Willian; Ajax will move for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner if their Uruguayan goal machine Luis Suarez leaves the club; former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista, now with Italian side Roma, has ruled out a move to Tottenham in January; Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will swoop on former club Fulham with an attempt to sign attacker Clint Dempsey in January; and Tottenham are also edging closer to concluding a deal for Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, who is out of contract in the summer and seems certain to leave Goodison.