Wednesday Paper Talk

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Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is confident of signing Netherlands midfielder Kevin Strootman - although the move could be delayed until the summer if the 24-year-old helps Roma reach the Champions League knockout stages by beating Manchester City on Wednesday. (Daily Telegraph)

The Guardian sport pull-out's front page
But Van Gaal has dismissed suggestions that he needs to strengthen his defence in January. (Daily Express)
Manchester United are in pole position to sign Benfica's £25m-rated Argentine midfielder Enzo Perez, 28, because Valencia cannot afford him. (Talksport)
Van Gaal is also hoping to bring Bayern Munich and ex-Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, 30, back to the Premier League in January. (Daily Express)
Liverpool are continuing to look at Chelsea's Petr Cech, 32, and Stoke's Asmir Begovic, 27, as a replacement for keeper Simon Mignolet, 26 - but are set to miss out on Cologne's Timo Horn, 21. (Daily Mail)
Monaco's Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho, 28, could be heading for the Premier League, with agent Jorge Mendes ready to sound out Chelsea, Ars*nal and Manchester United over a £30m deal. (Daily Express)
Crystal Palace are weighing up a January move for Norwich and England keeper John Ruddy, 28. (Daily Mirror)
Palace are also involved in a three-way fight to sign £2m-rated Bournemouth defender Steve Cook, 23. (London's Evening Standard)
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says his job would not be in danger if they were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday. (Guardian)
And City striker Edin Dzeko, 28, has promised that his recent thigh problem will not prevent him from leading their bid for the knockout stages in the absence of the injured Sergio Aguero. (Daily Star)
Argentine forward Aguero, 26, could be out for as long as eight weeks - rather than the four to six weeks suggested initially by Pellegrini - after straining his medial knee ligament against Everton on Saturday. (Independent)

The front of the Daily Telegraph's sport supplement
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, 31, has warned Liverpool he is at the peak of his powers ahead of Sunday's Premier League match-up at Old Trafford. (Sun - subscription required)
Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan believes Louis van Gaal is partly culpable for the prolonged injury crisis at the club this season. (Manchester Evening News)
Ars*nal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 21, says he needs to improve his scoring record after managing just two goals all season. (Sky Sports)
Former Chelsea defender David Luiz, 27, says he made a "good choice" in leaving Stamford Bridge for Paris St-Germain in June. (Daily Mirror)
Paul Lambert has been let down by his bench at Aston Villa - as only three goals have been scored by substitutes in his 91-match Premier League reign as manager. (Birmingham Mail)
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claims Chelsea may as well close the doors on their academy unless youngsters like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 18, who is set to make his club debut on Wednesday against Sporting Lisbon, start proving their worth. (Daily Star)
Former Ars*nal and England defender Sol Campbell, 40, is being lined up to launch his coaching career with Ajax. (Daily Mirror)
Experts have described the sale of Edward Glazer's stock in Manchester United as a shock, but played down the significance in regards to the overall ownership of the club. (Manchester Evening News)
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard's cousin Anthony - who plays for Championship side Huddersfield - has offered his solution  to improve fortunes at Anfield: "Liverpool need to buy a dynamic midfielder and a world-class striker ASAP!"

Great woolly jumpers of our time, as modelled by Koeman (left) and Edmonds
Times journalist Rory Smith offered his verdict  on Liverpool's failure to repeat their Champions League heroics of a decade ago against Basel: "It's almost like football isn't a scripted drama, where what happened 10 years ago will somehow repeat itself just when you want it to."
Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott - now a BBC Test Match Special summariser - has laid into Manchester United's defence on Twitter:  "50 years I've supported them and I've never seen a defence so bad."
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman geared up for the club's Christmas party - by posting a photo of himself  wearing a Christmas jumper worthy of former BBC host Noel Edmonds.
Many Premier League footballers have been visiting local hospitals to bring some cheer, among them West Brom keeper Ben Foster,  who wrote: "Humbling day at Birmingham children's hospital, if you've got kids, give em a hug, cos we don't know how lucky we are."
Mario Balotelli has been made Liverpool's featured player for January in their official 2015 calendar - saving them any embarrassment if he doesn't stay at Anfield for the rest of the year. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs, 41, showed he has lost none of his skills by doing keepy-ups with a potato. (Manchester Evening News)
Germany's shock 7-1 thrashing over World Cup hosts Brazil was the UK's most tweeted about moment of 2014. (London's Evening Standard)
A group of dedicated Merseyside nurses got a festive shock when Everton boss Roberto Martinez gatecrashed their surprise tour of Goodison Park. (Liverpool Echo)

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Real Madrid are prepared to smash the goalkeeping transfer record to sign Manchester United's David De Gea, 24, with a fee that is likely to eclipse the £33m paid for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001. (Daily Express)

Wednesday's Daily Telegraph back page
Crystal Palace are planning a move to sign Roma's former Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole on loan. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United and Manchester City are both ready to launch £20m bids for Barcelona's 26-year-old midfielder Ivan Rakitic in January. (Daily Express)
Liverpool are making an audacious bid to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech on loan. (Daily Mirror)
Newly-appointed Real Sociedad boss David Moyes hopes to agree a loan deal with former club Manchester United for forward Adnan Januzaj, 19. (Daily Star)
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is planning to strengthen his attack in January with a move for 22-year-old Burnley striker Danny Ings. (Daily Star)
Tottenham are considering offloading strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado to fund a move for Porto's Jackson Martinez, 28. (Daily Express)
Burnley and Leicester are eyeing unsettled £5m-rated Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle, 24. (Daily Mirror)
Liverpool have agreed a £3m deal to sign 29-year-old Malaga goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. (Metro)
West Ham are planning to sack manager Sam Allardyce despite him guiding the Hammers to fourth place in the Premier League. (Daily Star)

Wednesday's Sun back page
Midfielder Cesc Fabregas believes Chelsea have the "talent, discipline and courage" to win four trophies this season. (London's Evening Standard)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was named coach of the year at Dutch Sports Gala as Robin van Persie picked up award for his stunning World Cup header against Spain. (Daily Mail)
Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has been criticised by his former AC Milan team-mate Adel Taarabt. (Daily Mail)
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says his cup record at the club has been an "embarrassment" that needs changing. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United defender Phil Jones has defended his injury record, even though Sunday's win over Liverpool was only his fifth club appearance this season. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester City will host the first game in their new Academy stadium in Thursday night's FA Youth Cup tie against Oxford United. (Manchester Evening News)
"Watched every single Thierry Henry goal for Ars*nal about 100 times and still get goosebumps," tweeted  Southampton defender Jack Stephens after the Frenchman retired from football.
Celtic have shown their thoughtful side ahead of Christmas by offering unemployed fans free tickets to watch the team take on Ross County. (Metro)

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Manchester United are ready to offer £120m to sign 25-year-old winger Gareth Bale, already the world's most expensive footballer, from Real Madrid. (AS)
Paris St Germain coach Laurent Blanc has run out of patience with striker Edinson Cavani, 27, paving the way for a £50m move to Ars*nal in January. (Daily Express)
Manchester City are preparing a £25m bid for Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic, 28. (Daily Star)

Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid for a world-record fee of £85.3m in 2013
French Ligue 1 side Nice want to sign Hatem Ben Arfa from Newcastle, after Hull City cut short a loan deal with the 27-year-old midfielder. (Daily Mail)
Petr Cech's agent has confirmed talks have taken place between the Chelsea goalkeeper, 32, and Real Madrid. (Daily Star)
Striker Jermain Defoe, 32, has flown back to London to resolve his future - and is eyeing a move to Queens Park Rangers. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United could face a battle to retain a string of their most highly-rated young players in 2015. (Daily Mail)
Tom Cleverley, 25, the on-loan Aston Villa midfielder, will play a waiting game over his future before he becomes a free agent in the summer. (Times - subscription required)
Exiled Manchester City midfielder Scott Sinclair, 25, could be set for a move to Crystal Palace. (Sun - subscription required)
Besiktas are considering a January loan move for Chelsea's 25-year-old winger Mohamed Salah. (Independent)
Tottenham midfielder Paulinho, 26, looks set for a January loan switch to Inter Milan. (Daily Mirror)
Former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has said he would be willing to talk to Brighton about their managerial vacancy. (Talksport)

Wednesday's Daily Star back page
Former England striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has backed Harry Kane, 21, to become one of the greatest forwards in Tottenham's history. (Evening Standard)
Cardiff City boss Russell Slade has revealed why he let 19-year-old midfielder Mats Daehli leave the club, claiming the Norwegian's "heart wasn't in it". (Wales Online)
Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones, 32, has told the dropped Simon Mignolet, 26, that he won't give up the number one jersey at the club without a fight. (Daily Mirror)
Andy Carroll has told Chelsea that there will be no 19th-century football from West Ham United when the 25-year-old forward's side face the league leaders at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. (Guardian)
Manchester City are set to confirm a trip to Abu Dhabi in January. (Manchester Evening News)
West Brom manager Alan Irvine says the club are braced for bids for 21-year-old star striker Saido Berahino. (Sun - subscription required)
Arsène Wenger fears that defender Calum Chambers, 19, has "hit the wall," having had too much responsibility forced on to his young shoulders during his fledgling Ars*nal career. (Guardian)
England midfielder James Milner shows he's a good sport as he plays up to his "boring" parody Twitter account on day 23 of Manchester City's online advent calendar. (Manchester City FC, via YouTube)

James Milner flicks through a copy of Avoid Boring People
And on the theme of Christmas fun and games, Grimsby Town have had a lot of fun  creating a parody 'advert' featuring the club's top scorer Lenell John-Lewis.
Ars*nal and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez is a demon on the piano, it seems. In an Instagram posting  by Ars*nal team-mate Lukas Podolski, the 26-year-old is seen giving an impressive rendition of Richard Marx's 1989 hit Right Here Waiting.
A host of footballers, coaches, managers and officials have joined forces for a poetic tribute to the 1914 Christmas Truce. Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany, Gary Neville and Sir Trevor Brooking are just some of the names who recited lines for a video that will appear on Christmas Day - commemorating 100 years since soldiers on both sides of No Man's Land are said to have taken a festive respite from the horrors of the First World War by playing football. (FootballRemembers.com)
And Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has got into the Christmas spirit by sending 500 parcels to a children's cancer charity back in Uruguay. (Telegraph)

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Manchester United are ready to offer £120m to sign 25-year-old winger Gareth Bale, already the world's most expensive footballer, from Real Madrid. (AS)
Paris St Germain coach Laurent Blanc has run out of patience with striker Edinson Cavani, 27, paving the way for a £50m move to Ars*nal in January. (Daily Express)
Manchester City are preparing a £25m bid for Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic, 28. (Daily Star)

Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid for a world-record fee of £85.3m in 2013
French Ligue 1 side Nice want to sign Hatem Ben Arfa from Newcastle, after Hull City cut short a loan deal with the 27-year-old midfielder. (Daily Mail)
Petr Cech's agent has confirmed talks have taken place between the Chelsea goalkeeper, 32, and Real Madrid. (Daily Star)
Striker Jermain Defoe, 32, has flown back to London to resolve his future - and is eyeing a move to Queens Park Rangers. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United could face a battle to retain a string of their most highly-rated young players in 2015. (Daily Mail)
Tom Cleverley, 25, the on-loan Aston Villa midfielder, will play a waiting game over his future before he becomes a free agent in the summer. (Times - subscription required)
Exiled Manchester City midfielder Scott Sinclair, 25, could be set for a move to Crystal Palace. (Sun - subscription required)
Besiktas are considering a January loan move for Chelsea's 25-year-old winger Mohamed Salah. (Independent)
Tottenham midfielder Paulinho, 26, looks set for a January loan switch to Inter Milan. (Daily Mirror)
Former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has said he would be willing to talk to Brighton about their managerial vacancy. (Talksport)

Wednesday's Daily Star back page
Former England striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has backed Harry Kane, 21, to become one of the greatest forwards in Tottenham's history. (Evening Standard)
Cardiff City boss Russell Slade has revealed why he let 19-year-old midfielder Mats Daehli leave the club, claiming the Norwegian's "heart wasn't in it". (Wales Online)
Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones, 32, has told the dropped Simon Mignolet, 26, that he won't give up the number one jersey at the club without a fight. (Daily Mirror)
Andy Carroll has told Chelsea that there will be no 19th-century football from West Ham United when the 25-year-old forward's side face the league leaders at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. (Guardian)
Manchester City are set to confirm a trip to Abu Dhabi in January. (Manchester Evening News)
West Brom manager Alan Irvine says the club are braced for bids for 21-year-old star striker Saido Berahino. (Sun - subscription required)
Arsène Wenger fears that defender Calum Chambers, 19, has "hit the wall," having had too much responsibility forced on to his young shoulders during his fledgling Ars*nal career. (Guardian)
England midfielder James Milner shows he's a good sport as he plays up to his "boring" parody Twitter account on day 23 of Manchester City's online advent calendar. (Manchester City FC, via YouTube)

James Milner flicks through a copy of Avoid Boring People
And on the theme of Christmas fun and games, Grimsby Town have had a lot of fun  creating a parody 'advert' featuring the club's top scorer Lenell John-Lewis.
Ars*nal and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez is a demon on the piano, it seems. In an Instagram posting  by Ars*nal team-mate Lukas Podolski, the 26-year-old is seen giving an impressive rendition of Richard Marx's 1989 hit Right Here Waiting.
A host of footballers, coaches, managers and officials have joined forces for a poetic tribute to the 1914 Christmas Truce. Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany, Gary Neville and Sir Trevor Brooking are just some of the names who recited lines for a video that will appear on Christmas Day - commemorating 100 years since soldiers on both sides of No Man's Land are said to have taken a festive respite from the horrors of the First World War by playing football. (FootballRemembers.com)
And Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has got into the Christmas spirit by sending 500 parcels to a children's cancer charity back in Uruguay. (Telegraph)

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Manchester City have made enquiries about signing striker Wilfried Bony, 26, from Swansea in January for £30m. (Telegraph)

Wednesday's Times back page
City will face competition for Bony's signature from Chelsea, who are also interested in the Ivory Coast international. (Times - subscription required)
Ars*nal manager Arsene Wenger has identified central midfield as the area he will look to strengthen when the January transfer window opens. (Guardian)
The Gunners are submitting a £25.5m bid for 22-year-old Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho. (Daily Star)
AC Milan have told clubs including Ars*nal and Liverpool that striker Stephan El Shaarawy, 22, will cost £11.5m if they want to sign him in January. (Daily Express)
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers wants to sign Villarreal's 21-year-old Argentine striker Luciano Vietto, who has been dubbed the "new Sergio Aguero". ( Mirror)
Everton are weighing up a short-term move for Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, 33, because of an injury to Tim Howard, 35, who has been ruled out for up to six weeks. (Daily Mail)
Promising Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard, 16, will snub Europe's top clubs and sign for Southampton. (Daily Star)
Tony Pulis would be willing to work alongside a director of football at West Brom as long as guarantees of complete control of the club were included in his contract. (Guardian)

Tony Pulis quit as Crystal Palace manager before the start of the season
Pulis has also rejected the chance to replace Alan Pardew as manager at Newcastle because of fears that owner Mike Ashley would pick the team. (Daily Mail)
Ashley is considering giving caretaker boss John Carver the Magpies manager's job on a permanent basis. (Mirror)
Neil Warnock says he is not bitter about his departure from Crystal Palace manager and thinks Pardew would be the ideal choice to succeed him at Selhurst Park. (Talksport)
Pardew returned to Newcastle's training ground to say goodbye to players and staff before his appointment at Palace. (Newcastle Chronicle)
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber says the club are hopeful of naming Sami Hyypia's successor as manager in the next few days. (Sky Sports)
Southampton urged one of its supporters to pluck up the courage to ask out a girl he liked on its official Twitter feed. A Saints fan got in touch with the club to try to find out the name of a supporter sat near him. The club tweeted:  "Man up and ask if she fancies a drink - no lady can resist a hot Bovril."
Some Chelsea fans put their club allegiance first by refusing to give a Christmas kiss to a model wearing a Tottenham shirt during a social experiment. (Metro)

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Liverpool have earmarked James Milner of Manchester City as a possible replacement for Steven Gerrard who is departing for LA Galaxy in the summer.
Swansea are keeping tabs on Watford striker Matej Vydra.

Chelsea are apparently ready to lure Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to Stamford Bridge on a lucrative six-year deal and pay a £200m contract-release clause.
On-loan Radamel Falcao wants to remain at Manchester United beyond the end of the season.
On-loan Tom Cleverley would prefer to join Everton on a permanent deal rather than remaining with Aston Villa.
Norwich striker Luciano Becchio wants to return to fellow Championship club Leeds United.
Ars*nal have had a £5m bid for 22-year-old Dinamo Zagreb star Marcelo Brozovic rejected, with Everton, Liverpool, Tottenham, AC Milan and Valencia also linked with the midfielder.

Stoke are on the verge of capturing Bayern Munich’s Swiss striker Xherdan Shaqiri for £16m.
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson could miss out on signing 23-year-old Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric who had looked set to join the Foxes from HNK Rijeka for £9.5m.
Tottenham winger Andros Townsend insists he does not want to leave White Hart Lane during the transfer window by saying: “I’m a Spurs boy. I’ve been at the club since the age of eight.”
Crystal Palace will make a club record £9.25m bid to land Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis.
Shola Ameobi could make a shock return to Newcastle after quitting Turkish club Gaziantep.
Swansea are set to swoop for Tottenham full-back Kyle Naughton.
Ars*nal are set to make a £4m move for 17-year-old midfielder Krystian Bielik, after an initial £2.4m bid was rejected by his Polish club Legia Warsaw.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard reckons fellow midfielder Jordan Henderson, 24, is the perfect choice to become the club's next captain.

Aberdeen will not fine their striker Niall McGinn for being seen sitting among Celtic supporters during the Hoops’ league match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Monday.
New Charlton signing Tony Watts admits he was frustrated at Belgian club Standard Liege saying: “Glad to get out of Belgium and back in the UK.”

Manchester United are hoping to tie down David de Gea to a new longer deal in a bid to prevent Real Madrid from getting their hands on the 24-year-old Spanish 'keeper.
Luis Suarez faces an uncertain future at Barcelona - which could see him return to England - following the dismissal of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.
Sunderland’s Jozy Altidore is attracting interest from three MLS clubs – Toronto, Portland and New York Red Bulls.
West Brom are making plans to sign Blackburn’s Rudy Gestede.
Southampton are looking to buy Dundee's teenage striker Craig Wighton.
Aston Villa are continuing talks with Manchester City over a deal to sign Scott Sinclair.
Nottingham Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi has asked the side's players if they still want manager Stuart Pearce at the club after a run of only two wins in 19 games.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is targeting Dutchman Frank de Boer to replace Alan Pardew who left last week to manage Crystal Palace.
Romelu Lukaku wants Everton to tailor their tactics to suit his own style of play – in other words be more direct.
Tottenham are hoping they can offload Emmanuel Adebayor during the transfer window – possibly to MLS.
Fulham are ready to make a £3m bid for Bournemouth forward Matt Ritchie.

Manchester United have made an offer for German central defender Mats Hummels - but struggling Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund insist the 26-year-old is not for sale.
Greek side Olympiakos have made an attempt to sign Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, 24, on loan until the end of the season.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32, could leave the club at the end of the season and has been linked with a move across London to Premier League rivals Ars*nal.
Alan Pardew may have left his job as Newcastle United manager after being told by owner Mike Ashley that he intends to sell the North East club.

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Toronto striker Jermain Defoe, 32, has agreed a £14m deal to return to English football permanently with Sunderland. (Sun - subscription required)
Ars*nal remain confident of agreeing a deal for Legia Warsaw midfielder Krystian Bielik, 17, despite Hamburg emerging as major rivals for his signature. (London's Evening Standard)
West Brom boss Tony Pulis wants to offload striker Georgios Samaras, 29 to bring in Blackburn forward Rudy Gestede, 26. (Daily Mirror)

Wednesday's Daily Express back page
Southampton are lining up a move for £15m-rated Braga midfielder Rafa Silva, 21. (Daily Mirror)
Paris St-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, 29, is set for an £8m switch to Liverpool as PSG line up Nicolas Gaitan, 26, as his replacement. (Daily Express)
Manchester City are considering a £20m move for Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez, 25. (Daily Mail)
West Ham are looking to complete a permanent move for ex-Ars*nal midfielder and Manchester United target Alex Song, 27. (Marca)
Ars*nal are considering launching a £12m bid to sign Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin, 22. (Daily Express)
Burnley boss Sean Dyche is confident striker Danny Ings is not being affected by speculation surrounding his future. The 22-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with Sunderland and Newcastle. (Sunderland Echo)
Ramon Calderon, the former president of Real Madrid, insists the Spanish club have no need for 24-year-old Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea - because Iker Casillas is better. (Talksport)
Harry Redknapp's future as Queens Park Rangers boss is in the balance with a growing belief he could be sacked if his side lose to Manchester United on Saturday. (Daily Mirror)
Ars*nal legend Thierry Henry says Gunners fans who have protested against Arsene Wenger are "out of order". (Times - subscription required)
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears 21-year-old striker Harry Kane is in danger of burnout. (Daily Express)
Aston Villa fans are being urged to mount a stay-away protest on Saturday - to help force out owner Randy Lerner. (Sun - subscription required)
The Football Association is determined to stop the use of an appeals process to sign the non-European Union players who, the governing body fears, block the progress of young English footballers. (Independent)

Wednesday's Daily Mirror back page
Senior players have urged the Newcastle United board to make their minds up about the identity of Alan Pardew's successor. (Guardian)
Manchester United fans have claimed that they are being ripped off after first Yeovil and then Cambridge United hiked ticket prices for their FA Cup clashes with the Reds. (Daily Mail)
Ars*nal have offered Chuba Akpom a new three-year deal as they try to keep the 19-year-old striker at the club. (London's Evening Standard)
West Brom defender Gareth McAuley, 35, says the club need new players in the transfer window. (Birmingham Mail)
Levski Sofia attacking midfielder Bozhidar Kraev, 17, has completed a trial at Manchester City after attracting a number of European clubs including Juventus. (Manchester Evening News)
Liverpool central defender Dejan Lovren, 25, posted a picture of his impressive and substantive Kinder Egg toy collection on Instagram.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, 28, tweeted:  "Brilliant game. That was crazy!" after watching West Ham beat Everton 9-8 on penalties in a thrilling FA Cup third round tie.
Ars*nal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 23, posted a video on Instagram of him not holding back in taking a penalty against a child during a coaching session. "Had fun coaching my team earlier," he wrote.  "Couldn't go easy on the penalty though. #PeopleWatching #Pressure."
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku posted an emotional message on Instagram  in tribute to his late friend Junior Malanda, who died in a car crash on Saturday.
He said: "Thank you for your support throughout the game. We did our best but penalties is like gambling you never know what's going to happen. Junior brother I give everything to you. I try to make you proud, for the first time in my life I was sad after scoring. My brother I promise I'll make you proud. I love you and I miss you very much my little brother."
Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini was floored for the second time in three days by a ball launched by one of his own players. (Metro)

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Manchester United have been quoted a world-record £112m for 20-year-old Paris St-Germain and Brazil centre-back Marquinhos, the man they have identified as their top defensive target, who cost £26m from Roma in 2013. (Sun - subscription required)

Wednesday's Daily Mirror back page
United are not the team who made a £26m bid for Valencia's Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi and are more likely to move for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, also 26, in the summer. (Manchester Evening News)
Tottenham hope to persuade Everton to sell them Belgium winger Kevin Mirallas - who missed a penalty against West Brom on Monday - and are willing to offer Aaron Lennon, also 27, in part exchange. (Daily Mirror)
But the Toffees are thought to have rejected a swap deal involving England winger Lennon. (Sun - subscription required)
Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel, 26, has alerted Manchester United by saying he is keen to play in the Premier League. (Bleacher Report)
Barcelona midfielder Xavi wants the Spanish giants to sign fellow Spaniard, Ars*nal midfielder Santi Cazorla, 30. (Metro)
Chelsea want to sign Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado, 26, but may have to sell Germany forward Andre Schurrle, 24, and 22-year-old Egypt winger Mohamed Salah first. (Daily Mirror)
England midfielder James Milner, 29, could leave Manchester City and join an Italian or Spanish club as contract talks stall. (Guardian)
Tottenham want £5m from Swansea for their England Under-21s midfielder Tom Carroll, 22, who has been on loan at the Welsh club this term, having already agreed a deal for the same price for full-back Kyle Naughton, 26. (Independent)

Wednesday's Daily Telegraph sports supplement
Blackburn will not be pressured into selling top-scorer Rudy Gestede, 26, after they turned down an initial offer from Crystal Palace believed to be £3.5m. (Lancashire Telegraph)
However, Palace hope to complete three signings after expressing an interest in Bolton midfielder Lee Chung-yong and Hoffenheim striker Anthony Modeste, also 26, as well as stepping up their attempts to sign Gestede. (Times - subscription required)
Norwich boss Alex Neil has hinted Swansea may have to wait until the end of the transfer window to discover if they can sign Martin Olsson, with the Canaries thought to want £5m for the 26-year-old Sweden international. (South Wales Evening Post)
Cristiano Ronaldo says he would like to play in Brazil when his Real Madrid career comes to an end, which is a blow to Manchester United's hopes of re-signing the 29-year-old Portugal forward. (Metro)
Manchester City's Argentine striker Sergio Aguero, 26, is determined to prove he can recapture the form he was in before his knee injury by scoring the goals to beat Chelsea and Barcelona next month. (Manchester Evening News)
Former Tottenham and Newcastle player David Ginola, 47, is attempting to raise £2.3m to fund his Fifa president campaign but has managed to gather just £5,506 in the first week. (Guardian)
Former striker Michael Owen says Manchester United are "not functioning as a team" and believes 31-year-old Netherlands striker Robin van Persie is no longer living up to his reputation. (Telegraph)
Romelu Lukaku, 21, is not doing the business at Everton and the club need to buy another striker, says former Toffees goalkeeper Neville Southall. (Talksport)
Ghana's myjoyonline criticised former Ars*nal striker Gervinho after the Ivory Coast forward was sent off in his side's draw with Guinea. (Myjoyonline)
"Everything is still to play for," The Ivory Coast's Fratmat.info  website said after their draw with Guinea.
Ars*nal target, 26-year-old defender Winston Reid, has denied on Twitter  he wants to leave West Ham in the January transfer window.

Mario Balotelli watched Liverpool's game against Chelsea at home while wearing a onesie
For the second game in a row, illness prevented Mario Balotelli, 24, from being included in the Liverpool squad, so the Italy striker donned his onesie  to watch Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg.
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, looked to have decided against watching the game, however, as he provided an insight into his musical tastes by tweeting a photo  from a Slipknot gig and the words: "Amazing concert."

Arsene Wenger and F1 driver Nico Rosberg attended a glitzy event this week
It was a trip down memory lane for England winger Theo Walcott on Tuesday as he tweeted a picture  of himself and Arsene Wenger holding an Ars*nal shirt with the caption "9 years ago today..." Walcott joined Ars*nal as a 16-year-old back in 2006 from Southampton.
Wenger, meanwhile, joined a host of sports stars and celebrities at a gala in Geneva. Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg posted a picture  of Wenger, along with the caption: "Met some great people. like every year..."
What do doodles say about players? Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Willy Caballero sketched pictures during a news conference in Abu Dhabi with intriguing results. (Manchester Evening News)
A Liverpool fan in Norway has given his daughter the middle name YNWA - the acronym for the Reds' You'll Never Walk Alone motto. (Daily Mirror)

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Real Madrid have rekindled their interest in signing Raheem Sterling from Liverpool. The Spanish club are willing to pay £50m for the 20-year-old England forward. (Daily Star)
Chelsea have contacted the agent of Sergio Ramos as they hope to persuade the 28-year-old Real Madrid defender to move to Stamford Bridge in the summer. (Daily Express)

The back page of Wednesday's Daily Mail
Meanwhile, Chelsea remain in talks with Fiorentina over a move for 26-year-old winger Juan Cuadrado. (London Evening Standard)
Birmingham City winger Demarai Gray, 18, is wanted by Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg. (Daily Mail)
Queens Park Rangers want to sign striker Fraizer Campbell, 27, from Crystal Palace as part of a deal to take midfielder Jordon Mutch, 23, to Selhurst Park. (Daily Mirror)
West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison, 21, will travel to Rome on Wednesday for a medical with Lazio, and will sign a pre-contract agreement to move to Italy in the summer after seeing out the remainder of his Hammers contract. (Telegraph)
Crystal Palace are closing in on making Wilfried Zaha's loan move from Manchester United permanent. The deal would see Palace pay up to £6m for the 22-year-old winger, who left Selhurst Park for Old Trafford two years ago. (Guardian)
Darren Fletcher's bid to leave Manchester United on a free transfer has hit trouble over a disagreement over the 30-year-old midfielder's pay-off. (Sun - subscription required)
Ars*nal plan to follow up the signing of Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal by adding Italian defender Daniele Rugani, 20, from Empoli. (Talksport)
Midfielder Fabian Delph, 25, has been told he is unlikely to realise his dream of helping Aston Villa reach the Champions League - by the club's own chief executive. (Daily Mirror)

Michel Vorm has made nine appearances for Tottenham this season
Boss Mauricio Pochettino says Wednesday's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Sheffield United is "the most important game" of his Tottenham Hotspur tenure so far. (Independent)
Meanwhile, Pochettino has confirmed that Michel Vorm will keep his place in goal for Tottenham in Wednesday's semi-final despite his costly mistake in the FA Cup defeat by Leicester City on Saturday. (Times - subscription required)
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the Spanish club are considering ending their lucrative shirt sponsorship deal with Qatar because of concerns over social issues in the Gulf state. (Guardian)
The apparent stamping by Chelsea striker Diego Costa against Liverpool has sparked some inventive responses on Twitter.

@papabeats on Twitter: The new stamp released by Royal Mail
The Football Jester ‏ on Twitter:  "Two more stamps and Diego Costa gets a free coffee."
The Guardian's Barney Ronay on Twitter:  "Hope I don't end up sitting next to Diego Costa on the tube home. Imagine sharing an arm rest with him."
Former Leicester and Norwich midfielder Darren Eadie on Twitter:  "I love how much of an irritant Costa is. Every quality team needs one. We had Robbie Savage at Leicester - an absolute pest on the pitch."
French club Nice's B team have adopted a novel way of defending free-kicks - by lining up a defensive wall on the goalline behind the keeper. (Metro)

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Manchester City are weighing up a move for Burnley striker Danny Ings, 22, who will be out-of-contract in the summer. (Manchester Evening News)
West Ham were one of two clubs to make a bid for Everton defender Sylvain Distin, 37, on deadline day. (Liverpool Echo)
The Hammers are considering signing Senegal defender Kara Mbodj, 25, from Belgian side Genk in the summer as the club prepare for the departure of New Zealand international Winston Reid, 26, on a free transfer. (Daily Mirror)

The Sun's back page on Wednesday
Aston Villa loan signing Scott Sinclair, 25, says he would "think twice" about joining a top-four club in the future after seeing his career stall at Manchester City. (Birmingham Mail)
Malaga midfielder Ignacio Camacho, 24, says the Spanish club may be forced to sell him this summer, with Liverpool and Ars*nal thought to be keen on signing the Spain international. (Daily Express)
Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero insists Samuel Eto'o, 33, will remain with the Serie A club, despite the Cameroon striker walking out of one of his first training sessions following his move from Everton. (Daily Star)
Everton will pursue a move for Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley in the summer. The 25-year-old is out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of the season. (Liverpool Echo)
Manchester United, Ars*nal, Liverpool and Tottenham may make a summer move for Porto striker Jackson Martinez, 28, after the Colombian hinted that he would like to move in the next transfer window. (Daily Star)
Wolves are one of several Championship clubs interested in signing Aston Villa winger Jack Grealish, 19, on loan. (Birmingham Mail)
West Ham striker Carlton Cole, 31, has accused manager Sam Allardyce of "wrecking his career" after his planned deadline-day move to West Brom fell through. (Daily Mirror)

Adnan Januzaj has made just five league starts this season under Louis van Gaal
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood, 45, tops QPR owner Tony Fernandes's shortlist to succeed Harry Redknapp as manager. (Guardian)
Redknapp, 67, was angry that QPR's head of football operations Les Ferdinand was given control over signings during the January transfer window. (Independent)
Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj, 19, says he struggles with the defensive demands of Louis van Gaal's system. (Guardian)
Following his free transfer move to Brazilian side Internacional, Anderson, 26, posted a picture on Instagram  of all the medals he won at Manchester United. "I have made some amazing friends, all of whom are great players and will continue to do great things," he wrote.
QPR captain Joey Barton, 32, is disappointed that he will no longer get to work with Harry Redknapp, after he resigned as manager on Tuesday. "Wish Harry well. Enjoyed my time working with him. He was great with me," he wrote on Twitter.
Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva, 28, was pleased that compatriot Philippe Coutinho, 22, had signed a new contract with the club. He wrote:   "Congratulations my friend on your new deal, you deserve it! I am very happy for you and I have no doubt you will be Liverpool legend."
Reds' striker Mario Balotelli, 24, posted a video of himself knocking a water bottle  off a table with a football.
Gerrard's Slip was a 10-1 winner in Tuesday's 3pm race at Southwell. The horse's owner, Bryan Smart, named him after Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard's infamous stumble in last season's Premier League title run-in defeat by Chelsea. (Daily Mail)
Crystal Palace have scrapped a plan to introduce a £100 compulsory catering charge for some season-ticket holders after pressure from fans. (Croydon Advertiser)
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, 25, says he only started dancing after scoring a goal because he kept getting booked when he used to celebrate by pulling his shirt over his head. (Daily Mail)

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Ars*nal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to make a £12m move for Manchester United and England defender Chris Smalling, 25, who he first tried to buy in 2010. (Daily Mirror)

Daily Mirror back page
Radamel Falcao, 29, wants to end his disappointing spell at Manchester United in the summer - even if Louis van Gaal offers him a permanent deal. (Manchester Evening News)
Southampton defender Toby Alderweireld, 26, has hinted at a switch to Tottenham this summer by admitting he would like to play with former Ajax team-mate Jan Vertonghen again. (Daily Telegraph)
Chelsea scouts watched Lazio forward Felipe Anderson, 21, who is under contract until 2020, score both goals in the recent 2-0 win at Torino. (London Evening Standard)
Chelsea want £10m for goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32, who is thought to be looking for a move this summer after losing his first-team place to Thibaut Courtois, 22. (Daily Mirror)
Everton's Scotland international midfielder Steven Naismith, 28, has refused to rule out a return to Rangers. (Liverpool Echo)
Manchester United's hopes of signing Porto full-back Danilo, 23, have been boosted after he denied any knowledge of an impending move to Real Madrid. (Metro)
England manager Roy Hodgson has criticised photographers after pictures emerged of a suspected team line-up which suggests he plans to start Harry Kane in Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania. (Talksport)
Ars*nal will ask record signing Mesut Ozil, 26, to explain his actions after he was pictured in a Berlin nightclub hours after being declared unfit to play, but insist the midfielder was free to go out on a night off. (London Evening Standard)

Raheem Sterling has already made over 100 appearances for Liverpool
Former QPR manager Harry Redknapp says attacker Raheem Sterling, 20, is lucky to play for Liverpool and should sign a new contract. (Talksport)
Winger Gareth Bale, 25, is under pressure at Real Madrid after supporters cast him as a scapegoat for the club's defeat by Barcelona. (Daily Mail)
Former Newcastle striker Mick Quinn has criticised manager John Carver's attack on unnamed ex-Magpies players in the press who have been critical of him and the club. (Newcastle Chronicle)
Aston Villa defender Leandro Bacuna, 23, reckons a jovial training ground since the arrival of new boss Tim Sherwood has helped lift the club away from the bottom three. (Birmingham Mail)
Liverpool defender Jose Enrique, 29, found an unusual alternative to gym work, swimming with dolphins in Dubai, and he tweeted:  "Amazing experience. One of the best things ever."
QPR striker Charlie Austin tweeted  cryptically: "Ouija time" before clarifying  soon afterwards: "It's just the film people, I'm not mad."
Midfielder Nabil Bentaleb acknowledged Tottenham team-mate Ryan Mason's England call and said:  "Congrats to Ryan Mason on the call-up, you truly deserved it. #HardWorkAlwaysPaysOff."
England captain Wayne Rooney on Instagram:  "Good to be back with the England squad and nice to pick up the Player of the Year award this morning, thanks again to everybody that voted."
Manchester United winger Ashley Young was informed on Twitter he had accidentally broken a Manchester City fan's phone when taking a selfie with them, and responded by offering to pay for a repair. (Metro)
Google is investigating how an abusive message was pinned to its map of Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium. (Manchester Evening News)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is to be handed an award from the Dutch Judo Association. (Inside Futbol)

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Ars*nal midfielder Santi Cazorla, 30, has played down talk of a summer move to Atletico Madrid. (El Mundo)

The Daily Mirror back page leads on Andros Townsend's goal for England against Italy
Palermo's prolific striker Paulo Dybala, 21, has made Ars*nal his "first choice" should he leave the Serie A club for the Premier League. (Radio Marte)
The Gunners are also awaiting clarification regarding Petr Cech's future at Chelsea before moving for the Czech goalkeeper, 32. (Daily Mail)
Cologne defender Kevin Wimmer, 22, says he is ready to make his "dream" move to Tottenham, but a fee has yet to be agreed with the Bundesliga club. (Daily Mirror)
Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao, 27, says it would be "an honour" to join Manchester United. (Daily Telegraph)
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will renew his efforts to sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa, 24, with a £20million bid. (Daily Mirror)
Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn claims the club has "sold its soul", but still believes the future of the club is bright, pointing to the success of emerging young players at Elland Road. (Guardian)
Ars*nal midfielder Abou Diaby, 28, made his first appearance for the club's reserve team on his way back from serious injury. (Daily Telegraph)
Aston Villa's American owner Randy Lerner has flown to England for talks with a view to selling the club. (Daily Mail)
Gary Locke, 39, has been offered the Kilmarnock manager's job, but wants several clauses taken out, including a 'sack clause' before he accepts it. (Daily Express)
In an interview with MUTV, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal says being a "slow player" has made him a better manager. (Independent)
Everton striker Arouna Kone, 31, wants to put his injury-ravaged first two seasons at Goodison Park behind him. (Liverpool Echo)
West Brom's injured goalkeeper Ben Foster, 31, says his side will be in good hands with understudy Boaz Myhill, 32. (Birmingham Mail)
Gareth Southgate is reluctant to include players not involved in the qualifying campaign in his Euro 2015 England Under-21 squad. (Talksport)
Tottenham forward Harry Kane, who started in England's 1-1 draw in Italy on Tuesday, tweeted:  "Proud night making my first start for England! Great experience for me and one I can only learn from! Hopefully more to come!"
Southampton's 20-year-old midfielder James Ward-Prowse, who scored the winner in England Under-21's 3-2 victory over Germany on Monday, said on Instagram:  "Thanks for all the support guys! Been a great week, now looking forward to being back with the Saints!"
A Twitter user has provided compelling evidence that a picture of himself aged 12 is the inspiration behind a tattoo on England and Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason's arm. (Metro)

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Manchester City want to bring Ars*nal's Jack Wilshere, 23, and Liverpool's Jordan Henderson, 24, to the Etihad Stadium this summer. (Daily Mail)

England team-mates Jordan Henderson and Jack Wilshere could line up at Manchester City next season if reports are to be believed
Manchester United are willing to pay £60m for Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, 28, this summer while Robin van Persie, 31, and on-loan Radamel Falcao, 29, look to be on their way out of Old Trafford. (Daily Star)
Fiorentina are set to turn Chelsea midfielder Mohamed Salah's loan deal into a permanent move this summer despite interest from Juventus and Roma. (London Evening Standard)
Liverpool could move for 27-year-old Barcelona forward Pedro if Raheem Sterling, 20, leaves Anfield this summer. (Daily Mail)
Everton captain Phil Jagielka, 32, expects the club to bring in several new faces this summer following a below-par season. (Liverpool Echo)
Hull City are planning to bid for Leeds United midfielder Alex Mowatt, 20, this summer. (Mirror) 
Manchester City are set to part company with manager Manuel Pellegrini, chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain this summer after a disappointing season. (Sun - subscription required)

City set for summer clear-out, claims The Sun
But Pellegrini is also thought to have some support from the club's owners due to his successful first season in charge, and may be lining up some transfer targets to refresh the City squad. (Daily Express)
Samir Nasri's City career could be in jeopardy following his angry reaction to being left out of the Premier League champions' recent meeting with Leicester City. It is claimed the French midfielder left Etihad Stadium before the end of the game. (Mirror) 
Ars*nal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 23, says he is ready to play some part in the climax to the Gunners' season after being out with injury since late November. (Ars*nal.com) 
Gunners defender Mathieu Debuchy, 29, has admitted he saw his move to Newcastle as a step towards moving towards a bigger Premier League club. (La Voix des Sports) 
Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is being seriously considered by West Ham to replace current boss Sam Allardyce at the end of this season. (Daily Telegraph)
Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer wants his club's FA Cup replay against Liverpool to give their supporters a reminder of former glories at Ewood Park. (Lancashire Telegraph)
Emmanuel Adebayor has tweeted  to say "contrary to reports, I am very happy at Tottenham" and that he plans to fight for his place in the side.
Everton keeper Tim Howard has admitted on Twitter  that he "got his butt kicked" in his latest outing - playing against a powered wheelchair team that the American described as an "awesome bunch of boys".
Charlie Adam's long-range goal against Chelsea saw tweets about the Stoke midfielder, 29, rise by 6,000 per cent compared to the same period a week earlier. (Stoke Sentinel)
Non-league Ashington AFC, managed by former England, Durham and Yorkshire fast bowler Steve Harmison, won their seventh game in a row with ex-England captain Michael Vaughan  cheekily suggesting on Twitter that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley might be interested in Harmison.
Carlisle United boss Keith Curle has suggested he might invite 50 fans to meet his under-performing players with his squad languishing near the foot of League Two. (Guardian)

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Manchester City will attempt to sign Liverpool's England winger Raheem Sterling, 20, for over £30m as soon as the summer transfer window opens. The Premier League champions will also get rid of six players to fund new signings and want Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola to replace Manuel Pellegrini. (Daily Mirror)
City could pay as much as £50m to sign Sterling. (Daily Mail) 
But Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre says Sterling will not be leaving Anfield in the summer. (Daily Express)
Manchester City's unsettled England midfielder James Milner, 29, is keen on a move to Ars*nal. (Sun - subscription needed)
The Sky Blues, meanwhile, have identified West Ham's Aaron Cresswell, 25, as a possible answer to their troubled left-back position. He would also help to fill their quota of home-grown players. (Times - subscription needed)
Manchester United are ready to use striker Javier Hernandez, 26, on loan at Real Madrid, as bait to sign Southampton right-back Nathaniel Clyne, 24. (Daily Mirror)
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants to sign England winger Theo Walcott, with Ars*nal yet to agree a new contract with the 26-year-old. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United are confident of signing Germany's World Cup winning midfielder Sami Khedira, 28, from Real Madrid. (Sun - subscription needed)
Atletico Paranaense attacking midfielder Nathan, 19, is set to have a medical at Chelsea ahead of a £4.5m move to Stamford Bridge. (Daily Telegraph)
Swansea have made an offer to sign Marseille's forward Andre Ayew, 25. (Le 10 Sport - in French) 
But the Ghana international has admitted he has always been a Liverpool fan. (London Standard)
The South Wales club have also been linked with the Austrian national team skipper Christian Fuchs, 29. The left-back is set to become a free agent at Schalke. (South Wales Evening Post)
Aston Villa want to make Tom Cleverley's loan from Manchester United permanent with a £40,000-a-week contract. Everton are also interested in the 25-year-old England midfielder who is a free agent in the summer. (Daily Telegraph)
Stoke manager Mark Hughes wants to sign 24-year-old Nigeria winger Victor Moses permanently after his loan spell from Chelsea. (Daily Express)
Serie A side Sampdoria want to bring Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, 24, back to Italy according to their president. (Gazzetta - in Italian)
West Ham striker Carlton Cole, 31, says he will move abroad if he is not offered a new contract at Upton Park. (Metro)
Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, 27, has hinted he is ready to sign a new contract with the Potters this summer but will not start talks until the end of the season. (Stoke Sentinel)

New pictures have emerged of Liverpool pair Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe holding shisha pipes. (Daily Mail)
But Liverpool team-mate Joe Allen says Sterling does not get distracted by off-field controversy. (Daily Star)
A third of the 92 Premier League and Football League clubs are owned by oversees proprietors, increasing the risk of tax avoidance. (Guardian)
Sunderland have targeted Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement, 43, a former Chelsea youth coach, as they look to appoint a permanent head coach. Current coach d**k Advocaat will also be considered for an extended role. (Northern Echo)
Midfielder Daley Blind says Manchester United can still win the Premier League title. (Daily Star)
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given does not think much of team-mate Charles N'Zogbia's fashion choices. The Republic of Ireland keeper labelled the Frenchman's floral outfit the "worst ever" in a post on Twitter  with a picture of the offending fashion crime.
Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper duo David De Gea and Victor Valdes enjoyed a day out at a theme park. De Gea tweeted  a picture of their fun in the sun.
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been enjoying the April sun in London. In a post on Instagram   the Spanish midfielder wrote "London or the Caribbean."
Ars*nal's Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez has also been making the most of the early summer, tweeting   a picture with his dogs.
Robin van Persie's son Shaqueel appears to have inherited his father's eye for goal. The Manchester United striker filmed the youngster scoring a stunning scorpion-kick in his back garden and posted it on Instagram.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi says he cannot remember all of the 32 hat-tricks he has scored. (FC Barcelona)

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Yaya Toure has revealed he is ready to quit Manchester City this summer, insisting: 'I won't stay where I'm not wanted'.
Manchester United are winning the race to sign Memphis Depay - because of his relationship with their manager Louis van Gaal.
Chris Smalling has signed a new deal with Manchester United.
David Moyes is ready to return to the Premier League - but only after completing his managerial rehabilitation in Spain.
Carlo Ancelotti says he is no hurry to return to Italian football because of off-field violence and "fans without brains".
Martin Skrtel is set to follow Jordan Henderson by committing his future to Liverpool.
Chelsea target Paulo Dybala has hinted he wants to join Barcelona.
Roberto Mancini wants to take on-loan West Ham midfielder Alex Song to Inter Milan next season.

Rafa Benitez wants to become the interim boss at Manchester City next season.
Manchester United believe they are still in pole position to sign £25m Dutch sensation Memphis Depay.
Yaya Toure has stunned Manchester City by admitting he is keen to join Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan.
Martin Skrtel is on the brink of signing a contract extension at Liverpool.

Ars*nal captain Mikel Arteta is ready to end his career at the Emirates - even though he has still not signed a new contract.
Alan Pardew is ready to launch a £10million raid to grab Tim Krul from old club Newcastle.
Yaya Toure has dropped the biggest hint yet that he might leave Manchester City this summer.
Monaco still do not know if Radamel Falcao is wanted by Manchester United.
Fernando Torres has revealed Steven Gerrard encouraged him to leave Liverpool and join Chelsea.
Adam Federici will be offered a new deal at Reading despite his FA Cup semi-final howler.
Cameron Stewart will demand £800,000 from Leeds at a secret hearing in London tomorrow.

Radamel Falcao has been given a lifeline at Old Trafford after Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev revealed that he has had talks with Manchester United executive chairman Ed Woodward.
Manchester City will not compromise on quality in their search for homegrown players this summer.
Derby County want Real Madrid coach Paul Clement to take over from manager Steve McClaren if, as expected, he replaces Newcastle head coach John Carver next season.
Chris Smalling has signed a three-year contract extension at Manchester United worth in the region of £80,000 a week after turning his career around at Old Trafford.
Rafael may have played his last game for Manchester United after he cracked three ribs in the club's Under 21 clash with Leicester on Monday.

Hugo Lloris will consider his future at the end of the season if and more likely when Tottenham Hotspur do not qualify for the Champions League.
Yaya Toure's Manchester City future is in the balance after he stated he is open to "new challenges", although there is no certainty the midfielder will leave the champions in the close season.

Yaya Toure has signalled his intention to leave Manchester City this summer after claiming he no longer belongs at the club and is ready to seek a new challenge with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan.
Queens Park Rangers' stark failure to translate their vast spending on player wages into comparable on-field success is laid bare in a new table of Premier League spending.
Tottenham Hotspur are confident of signing the Everton winger Kevin Mirallas after Atletico Madrid dropped their interest in the Belgian.
Ars*nal want to give Abou Diaby a final chance to resurrect his career and will consider a pay-as-you-play deal or an arrangement that allows the French midfielder to continue training at the club even if he does not prove his first-team fitness by the end of the season.
Chelsea face an unexpected battle to convince Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli to give up the Championship for a chance of playing in the Champions League next season.
Manchester United will attempt to secure new contracts for Ashely Young and Phil Jones before the end of the season and focus on resolving David de Gea's future, after signing Chris Smalling to a new four-year deal.

Yaya Toure has cast fresh doubt over his future at Manchester City by claiming that he is open to "new challenges" and would not stay at the club for the money.
Phil Jones is expected to follow Chris Smalling by signing a new contract with Manchester United but the future of another centre half, Jonny Evans, appears increasingly uncertain.

Liverpool are hopeful of following up the long-term deal for Jordan Henderson with another for Jordon Ibe, the 19-year-old who has a year left on his contract to run after this season.

Yaya Toure has thrown his Manchester City future into further doubt after revealing he is open to "new challenges".
Manchester United target Memphis Depay could be as good as Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Ronald de Boer.
Marko Arnautovic wants to stay at Stoke despite a limited number of starts and interest from other clubs.

Veteran St Johnstone defender Frazer Wright is ready to do a a U-turn and extend his stay with the Perth club.
Jamie Reckford has revealed his future lies in Dingwall - and he's hoping the rest of Ross County's in-form squad join him.