Paper Talk
Liverpool and England winger Raheem Sterling are "nowhere near any agreement" on a new contract, according to a source close to negotiations.
Southampton are concerned that France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is unwilling to sign a new contract - and could leave St Mary's for either Tottenham or Arsenal.
Chelsea are monitoring AFC Wimbledon's teenage striker Daniel Agyei.
Sami Hyypia has been given a stay of execution as Brighton boss after just three wins in 20 matches.
Leicester will launch a record-equalling £10million raid for Anderlecht forward Aleksander Mitrovic in January.
Curtis Davies has vowed to fight for a future with Hull - despite being wanted by Premier League rivals Sunderland and Leicester.
Modibo Maiga, who is on loan at Metz, could be sent back to West Ham after going AWOL at the French club.
Sunderland, Crystal Palace and West Brom are eyeing Toulouse's Ivorian full-back Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro, 22.
Watford are set to cancel Irish midfielder Keith Andrews' loan and send him back to Bolton after a bust-up with boss Slavisa Jokanovic.
Liverpool are struggling to agree a new contract with Raheem Sterling as the impact of their Champions League exit takes effect.
Liverpool and Everton are considering making a move for full-back Martin Montoya, 23, after the Spanish full-back revealed he would like to leave Barcelona. Juventus are also thought to be interested.
Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam is open to the possibility of a move abroad in the future amid links to Real Sociedad.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez says he has no intention of losing striker Kevin Mirallas.
Liverpool have already held talks with prospective replacements for embattled manager Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool's elimination from the Champions League is already having an effect with Raheem Sterling considering his future at the club.
Fernando Torres could return to Chelsea this January. He is currently on loan at AC Milan.
Arsenal have joined Liverpool in the race for Borussia Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Stefan Johansen has urged Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard to snub Europe's elite and join him at Celtic.
Juventus have made enquiries into Barcelona's Martin Montoya in a move that could puncture Arsenal and Liverpool's efforts to sign the full-back.
Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has held talks with a number of Australian clubs about a talent-swap deal.
Terry Butcher has withdrawn his interest in the Motherwell job, leaving the door open for Premiership rivals St Mirren to swoop.
Celtic boss Ronny Deila says only a "crazy" offer would be enough for him to sell Republic of Ireland striker Anthony Stokes to Cardiff City. The Bluebirds are thought to be ready to table a £1.5m offer for the Irishman.
BBC
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Inter Milan central defender Nemanja Vidic, 33, is on the verge of making a shock return to Manchester United. (Daily Star)
Roma's Champions League exit could also clear the way for United to snap up long-term target Kevin Strootman, the 24-year-old Netherlands midfielder. (Independent)
Sunderland and Leicester are interested in signing Hull City defender Curtis Davies, 29. (Daily Mail)
Chelsea winger Thorgan Hazard, 21 is open to a permanent move away from Stamford Bridge after impressing during his loan spell at Borussia Monchengladbach. (Evening Standard)
Manchester United are set to compete with Real Madrid for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Christoph Kramer, 23. (Talksport)
Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam, 29, is open to the possibility of a move abroad and could join up with David Moyes at Real Sociedad. (Stoke Sentinel)
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has made a cheeky offer to take Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, 28, on loan. (Sunderland Echo)
Chelsea are monitoring the progress of AFC Wimbledon's prolific 17-year-old striker Daniel Agyei. (Daily Mirror)
OTHER GOSSIP
Forward Raheem Sterling, 20, is set to turn down a new Liverpool deal worth £70,000 a week. (Daily Telegraph)
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says the club do not know when Emmanuel Adebayor will return after the 30-year-old striker was granted leave to fly to Togo on a personal matter. (London Evening Standard)
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says the entire club is to blame for the Reds' Champions League exit. (The Times - subscription required)
Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker, 24, has set his sights on winning back his England place after finally overcoming an abdominal injury. (The Sun - subscription required)
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, 25, is set to be sidelined for two weeks with a groin injury. (Guardian)
Newcastle winger Rolando Aarons, 19, returned to training on Tuesday after a month out with a hamstring injury. (Daily Star)
Newcastle's Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez, 31, was moved to tears by the fans' support during his battle with testicular cancer. (Daily Mirror)
Goalkeeper Joe Hart, 27, says Manchester City showed great character to defeat Roma and qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. (Manchester Evening News)
Southampton midfielder Jake Hesketh, 18, wants more Premier League action after making his debut in Sunday's defeat by Manchester United. (Southern Daily Echo)
Besiktas manager Slaven Bilic, 46, is eyeing a move to a Premier League club. (Daily Express)
Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward, 25, is close to agreeing new contract terms with the Premier League club. (Croydon Advertiser)
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey, 23, says the Arsenal squad back manager Arsene Wenger even if the club's supporters do not. (Daily Telegraph)
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Injured Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, 26, said on Twitter that watching City's crucial Champions League match against Roma from the sidelines was "nerve-wrecking".
Hull City striker Sone Aluko, 25, tweeted that Chelsea midfielder and Nigeria team-mate John Obi Mikel, 27, is "massively underrated" following his goal against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.
AND FINALLY
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, 27, sparked much mirth on social media after turning up to Barcelona's Champions League match wearing a bizarre hooded sweater. (Daily Mail)
Millwall have condemned a sixth-form college's plan to bring sociology students to a match to teach them about working-class habits, masculinity, homophobia and racism. (The Times - subscription required)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Ed Aarons
It’s not exactly been the best of seasons so far for the plethora of experienced Premier League defenders who hotfooted it to Italy in the summer.
Ashley Cole did not even make the bench for Roma’s crucial Champions League tie against Manchester City on Tuesday, while Patrice Evra has been restricted to just six appearances for Juventus in Serie A so far. Micah Richards, meanwhile, has played for just 162 minutes in Fiorentina’s rather fetching purple shirt and was last spotted endorsing a Manchester-based electrical firm on Twitter.
But if you want evidence that Italian football these days isn’t the soft touch everyone says it is then spare a thought for poor Nemanja Vidic. After giving away a penalty in a 4-1 defeat on his Internazionale debut, the former Manchester United captain has only been on the winning side twice in his nine appearances so far and was dropped by new boss Roberto Mancini last month.
So the Daily Star’s claim that the tough-tackling Serbian with a penchant for picking up red cards against Liverpool could be set for a shock move back to Old Trafford is perhaps not that surprising given Louis van Gaal’s defensive woes at the moment. Having declared in flawless Italian on his unveiling at Inter back in July that “I should have arrived to Italy many years ago,” Vidic may have some serious backtracking to do if he does swap the San Siro for Salford.
If United are struggling to find a space in their squad for him then friendly old Gus Poyet may have a solution. The Sunderland manager has kindly offered to help £250,000 a-week Radamel Falcao build up the strength in his dodgy knees by turning out for The Blacks Cats until the end of the season. How considerate.
Liverpool look like they could face a struggle to keep Raheem Sterling after the England winger reportedly turned down a new £70,000 a week deal to stay at Anfield. Real Madrid are waiting in the wings and hope that the promise of sitting next to Javier Hernández on the bench will be enough to persuade him to leave Anfield.
Elsewhere, Charlie Adam has been honest enough to admit that yes, he would actually quite fancy swapping a winter in Stoke for the delights of San Sebastián. David Moyes is reportedly desperate to snap up the Scotland star for Real Sociedad and having been something of a peripheral figure so far this season, Adam clearly has his reasons for looking overseas.
“There’s better weather than here,” he told the Stoke Sentinel. “I would love the experience of playing abroad because it’s certainly something different. Hopefully, more British players will go and do it.”
Away from the big-hitters and with Leicester’s defence looking leakier than a sieve, Nigel Pearson has identified Hull’s Curtis Davies as the man to help the Foxes move away from trouble. Steve Bruce will not want his captain to leave without a fight, mind, and with that man Poyet also interested in the former England Under 21 starlet, things could get nasty should push come to shove in January.
Three grown men fighting over one slightly younger grown man? Now that the Mill would pay to watch.
Mirror
West Ham old boy Slaven Bilic backing the Hammers to nail down a Champions League place
By John Cross
Ex-Irons defender and Besiktas boss fancies their chances of hanging on to their current top 4 position - and admits he'd like to manage in England
Slaven Bilic has claimed his old club West Ham can get into the Champions League next season.
Besiktas coach Bilic, a Hammers defender for 18 months from January 1996, says current boss Sam Allardyce can pull off a miracle and upset the Premier League big guns by finishing in the top four.
Bilic's side host Tottenham in a dead-rubber Europa League group game in Istanbul on Thursday this evening, and believes the fourth-placed Irons can finish ahead of their London neighbours.
Echoing West Ham striker Andy Carroll's comments after Sunday's defeat of Swansea, Bilic said: "I hope so. Still, there is a long way to go. But you can't talk about 'early days' today. There are enough games.
"They are also doing well at Southampton. I think one of them can make it.
Especially because those clubs, they are improving a lot. West Ham were struggling last year, okay, but they were very good in the [summer] market, bought good players and kept good players. And it clicked.
"Big Sam knows the league like this, from Bolton and Blackburn. He was under pressure. But he got used to pressure. He never doubts himself. Because he has done it in past.
"It is a big advantage if you feel something like deja-vu - you have been there."
Bilic still has a big connection with English football because of his time at Upton Park and Everton - as well as being the man who brought the downfall of Steve McClaren as England boss.
McClaren was tagged the "wally with the brolly" after a Bilic-coached Croatia side knocked them out of the Euro 2008 qualifying, and the 46-year-old revealed that he still feels bad - but says he is happy he weathered the storm that rainy night at Wembley.
Bilic, who admits he would like to manage in the Premier League in the future, said: "The umbrella didn't help, of course. I got really wet!
"I respect him big time. I felt really sorry for him. Treat the guy with respect. Steve did really well in his career. He knows football, very polite and we played QPR last year in pre-season. I'm glad he's doing great."
The former Hajduk Split and Lokomotiv Moscow boss, whose Istanbul side drew the reverse fixture with Spurs 1-1 in October, added: "Managing in the Premier League is a question I get asked, not only about England - but mostly - and whatever you say, it sounds not fair to someone. I really like it here at Besiktas, I like this job, it's a massive club.
"I'm enjoying it big time. But, of course, I would say that, one day, I would be interested in England, of course I would.
"I've been there, I've played there, l liked it there - wherever I go there. Okay, I'm not a huge star, but I feel people like me there and I spent my best years - and not only in football - there.
"It's also the Premier League. If we have dinner, and there are big screens to watch, and there is no Turkish game, then we watch Premier League. That is the league that is most followed.
"Take away Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, that's two clubs. People know the line-ups of Southampton. Do they know the line-up of Getafe or Levante? I'm not sure."
Golazo Argentina
Spurs to rival West Ham for Newell’s teenage striker
Tottenham could be set to make a January move for Newell’s Old Boys teenage striker, Ezequiel Ponce according to some corners of the British press. After significant interest previously from West Ham United and Roma the hope for Newell’s is that any move from Spurs may spark a bidding war for one of Argentina’s top young prospects.
The reports suggest that Spurs maybe willing to offer up to £10 million for the 17-year-old in what would be a huge transfer fee for the Argentine Primera in recent years.
Ponce has actually missed the entire Torneo Transicion through injury and Newell’s have suffered a frustrating season, marked by a distinct lack of goals in his absence.
It was the season before this current one that Ponce really announced himself on the Primera as Newell’s manager, Alfredo Berti handed him his debut against Quilmes to make him the youngest player in the club’s history at sixteen. His first goal followed shortly when he netted in Newell’s victory over Racing in Rosario.
Berti, of course, was more familiar with Ponce’s talent given his experience with the club’s youth sides and would have watched him regularly when he scored 35 goals in the 2012 season.
Ponce is a powerfully built 17-year-old who despite his young age has no problems leading the line and during the previous Torneo Final showed the maturity and ability to play that number nine role for Newell’s.
Needless to say as a 16-year-old centre forward playing top flight football, at times Ponce looked a little raw but his potential did not go unnoticed around the world of football.
West Ham were reportedly interested in attempting to sign the player for as little as £5 Million in the summer transfer window but there was also complications from an offer of $5 million from a third-party ownership company. Newell’s decided to keep hold of their asset and in spite of the injury hit season, the valuation would appear to have risen.
January could see a number of sides come back in for Ponce but having played just 17 times for the Newell’s first team it would be nice to see him continue his development in Argentina a little longer. If Ponce progresses the way most predict then the big European move will inevitably follow.
London24
West Ham dealt major injury blow ahead of Sunderland clash
Brad Pinard
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has revealed main man Mark Noble is out of their trip to Sunderland on Saturday and could be out for a while.
The central midfielder has missed the last two games with a calf injury and is set to sit out again with the prognosis now looking as if it could be his Achilles.
Allardyce’s side are looking for four straight wins as they continue their impressive start to the season and the return of vice-captain Noble will only enhance that when he returns to training.
“Mark Noble still has trouble with his Achilles tendon but that’s the only injury worry at the moment,” Allardyce said.
Noble missed over a month earlier in the season with a calf problem and it appears the same issue has arisen.
This will be a huge concern for Allardyce as missing the fans’ favourite will serious effect their midfield.
Alex Song and Chiekhou Kouyate are both off to the African Cup of Nations in January and so guiding Noble back to full fitness by then is key.
The Hammers grabbed an impressive win at Sunderland last season thanks to an Andy Carroll winner and the former Newcastle man is back and firing after another summer injury.
A selection dilemma is positive for Allardyce, who must choose between Carroll, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho in attack.
C&H
Irons react to Metz Maiga threat
West Ham have this morning denied that Modibo Maiga can be sent back to Upton Park after going AWOL from Metz.
The misfit striker failed to appear for the clash again Marseilles after being named as a sub after an alleged bust up with the Metz coach. Metz were beaten 3-1.
There were reports that the player was on his way back to Upton Park but Hammers sources denied any knowledge of his whereabouts.
This morning – ahead of a Metz disciplinary hearing – The Sun is reporting that the player could be sent back to West Ham for breaking his contract.
However, ClaretandHugh was told by a top Hammers source: “There’s nothing of that nature in the deal and as far as we are concerned he is a Metz player until the end of the season.”
The BBC's language standards are slipping!
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