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Paper Talk
Dejan Lovren's future at Liverpool is in doubt just six months after his £20million arrival.
Ally McCoist quit as Ranger boss last night to return the focus of attention to the scandal of mismanagement at the club.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman wants West Ham striker Mauro Zarate.
Eden Hazard will 'soon' sign a new five-year contract at Chelsea.
Brendan Rodgers has told his army of critics: I'm the best man to boss Liverpool.
Sunderland are ready to open contract talks with Lee Cattermole.
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal injury nightmare has turned into a farce with 11 players out injured.
Brazilian defender Filipe Luis admits Jose Mourinho is right to leave him on the Chelsea bench.
Nigel Pearson fears he may not see out the season at rock-bottom Leicester.
Manuel Pellegrini has challenged Edin Dzeko to prove he does not need to buy another striker.
Defiant Brendan Rodgers last night insisted: I am the only man who can rescue Liverpool.
Manuel Pellegrini is plotting a shock £20million swoop for Newcastle star Papiss Cisse.
Pellegrini has also urged Frank Lampard not to quit Manchester City.
Jose Mourinho has provided the clearest indication yet that he will recommend Chelsea offer skipper John Terry a new 12-month contract.
Liverpool and Manchester United target Martin Odegaard has been training with Bayern Munich.
Liverpool's £10million striker Divock Origi is complaining of burnout at loan club Lille.
BBC
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is plotting a shock move to sign former Reds striker Fernando Torres, 30, who is on loan at AC Milan from Chelsea. (Daily Star)
Atletico Madrid are looking to sign a striker in January, with Torres one of the players they are looking at, along with Arsenal's Lukas Podolski, 29. (AS)
Liverpool have made a £3.2m offer to sign Atletico Juventud's Uruguayan striker Jaime Baez, 19, who has been dubbed the new Luis Suarez. (Metro)
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren, 25, faces an uncertain future at Liverpool only six months after his £20m arrival from Southampton, after losing the confidence of some team-mates who feel he is a weak link. (Daily Mirror)
Real Madrid have pipped Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool in the race to sign Marco Reus, 23, and will complete the deal to sign the Borussia Dortmund midfielder in the next few days. (Daily Star)
Inter Milan manager and former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is set to buy Serbia defender Matija Nastasic, 21, from his old club. (Daily Mirror)
Arsenal and Liverpool look set to miss out on a move for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Christoph Kramer, after the 23-year-old revealed his desire to remain in the Bundesliga. (Metro)
Manchester City are considering whether to sign a striker in the January transfer window as Manuel Pellegrini weighs up the need to replace Alvaro Negredo, who is on a season-long loan at Valencia. (Guardian)
Celtic striker Kris Commons, 31, could make a Premier League move in January after rejecting the club's latest contract offer with Leicester and West Brom interested in signing him. (Sun - subscription required)
Liverpool midfielder Suso, 21, whose contract is up in the summer, is set to join AC Milan in the January transfer window. (Daily Express)
OTHER GOSSIP
Manager Brendan Rodgers has responded defiantly to mounting criticism of his Liverpool tenure and claimed he is the best man for the task of restoring fortunes at Anfield. (Guardian)
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard, 23, is set to sign a new £200,000-a-week deal, which will tie him to the London club until 2019, in the next few days. (Daily Express)
Captain John Terry may join team-mate Hazard in signing a new deal at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hinting the 34-year-old defender could be offered a 12-month extension to his current contract, which expires at the end of the season. (Daily Mail)
Sunderland are ready to open contract talks with midfielders Lee Cattermole, 26, and Adam Johnson, 27, as well as forward Steven Fletcher, 27, to keep the trio at the Stadium of Light. (Sun - subscription required)
Former Aston Villa assistant manager Roy Keane and forward Gabriel Agbonlahor almost came to blows in an explosive training ground bust-up before the Irishman's shock departure. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger gave full-back Mathieu Debuchy, 29, just 24 hours to learn his trade in the centre of defence, and is likely to start the Frenchman in the position against Newcastle United on Saturday evening. (Daily Mirror)
Netherlands striker Robin van Persie, 31, admits to suffering a World Cup hangover at Manchester United this season, but claims he has now rediscovered his form and silenced suggestions he is past his best. (Daily Telegraph)
Roma winger Gervinho, 27, has hit out at former employers Arsenal for the way he was treated by manager Arsene Wenger and says he "hates the club". (Daily Express)
Dave Whelan is expected to step down as Wigan Athletic chairman after accepting the Football Association's charge of misconduct for comments made about Jewish and Chinese people. (Daily Telegraph)
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Manchester City midfielder Fernando has tweeted a Breaking Bad meme sitting next to Brazilian team-mate Fernandinho with the caption "Breaking Legs" following the pair's solid performance in the Champions League victory over Roma.
West Brom defender Joleon Lescott met his match on a visit to Birmingham Children's Hospital ahead of a Midlands derby this weekend when a young Aston Villa fan subjected him to some pre-match banter captured on Aston Villa's YouTube channel.
Uefa has published a tribute to the World War One truce on their YouTube channel featuring Sir Bobby Charlton, Philipp Lahm, Gareth Bale, Wayne Rooney and Uefa President Michel Platini.
AND FINALLY
World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, gave his Real Madrid team-mates personalised Bulgari watches worth £6,500 featuring the words 'La Decima' and 'CR7' after the club's Champions League triumph. (Daily Mail)
Mirror
Southampton lining up January swoop for West Ham striker Mauro Zarate
By Darren Lewis
The 27-year-old is third choice at Upton Park behind Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll, and Ronald Koeman wants to add firepower to his forward line
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman wants West Ham striker Mauro Zarate.
The Dutchman is looking to add more firepower to his frontline to take the pressure off Graziano Pelle and Shane Long.
Pelle netted in Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. But that strike was his first in six games after nine goals in his first 12 matches. Long, who missed two sitters against United, has scored just three times for the Saints this season.
Koeman is keen on a loan deal for Zarate, 27, who is third choice at Upton Park behind Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll.
But the Hammers want to hold on to Zarate as Sakho leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations next month.
West Ham are confident that Winston Reid will not leave the club during the January transfer window.
The defender, 26, has been linked with Chelsea and Arsenal, but an insider said: “There’s never been a bid for him from a top-five club.
“That is unlikely to change, despite his contract expiring in the summer.”
West Ham sharpshooter Diafra Sakho reminds Big Sam of Michael Owen
By Neil McLeman
The Senegalese striker has netted eight goals in just ten appearances for the Hammers, including a comeback goal against Swansea last weekend
Sam Allardyce has claimed Diafra Sakho will become as deadly as Michael Owen.
Andy Carroll stole the headlines in last weekend’s win over Swansea with his first goals of the season.
But the Senegal striker came off the bench to score his eighth goal in 10 games despite suffering his own injury problems since signing for a summer bargain £3.5m.
Allardyce named Nicolas Anelka, Mark Viduka and Owen as the three most clinical strikers he has ever worked with.
And the Irons boss said: “He will be as good eventually. I think the way he is going at the moment he will get there. He is learning all the time.
"He is a terrific lad with a great attitude and he has the desire to be successful as a footballer and a goalscorer.
“All we are doing is getting him to play to his strengths and tell the other players to play to his strengths.
“It is using the spaces in behind the opposition defences where he can really hurt them. It is our players having the capability to play the balls into those areas to get him in where he can hurt the opposition and they fear him the most.”
After struggling for goals last season, the Hammers are now joint third top scorers in the Premier League with Enner Valencia also offering an option up front.
Before the visit to Sunderland, Allardyce added: “There will be some miserable faces no doubt about that because they won’t be playing as often as they think they should and that’s always a problem when you’ve got the strength and depth of squad.”
Sporting Preview
FUEGO LEADS TRIO OF PLAYERS ON WEST HAM SHOPPING LIST
Spanish press reporting Los Che midfielder is a key part of Sam Allardyce's plans for January...
West Ham have three players they are looking at signing according to the Spanish press, and Valencia midfielder Javi Fuego is the main target, so says the newspaper Marca.
The Hammers are likely to lose Diafra Sakho, Cheikhou Koyate and Alex Song for a sustained period from mid-January with the demands of the Africa Cup of Nations taking hold.
Therefore reinforcements will be necessary if they are to continue their attack on the European qualification places.
Sam Allardyce reportedly sent out chief scout Martin Glover to cast his eye over the 30-year-old Spaniard during Los Che's La Liga tie against Rayo Vallecano.
By all accounts, Glover was please with what he saw in Iberia, and movements on a possible transfer are reported to have begun.
Fuego joined Valencia in July 2013 on a three year contract, and although he still has 18 months left to run, the fact he joined on a free may mean he is available relatively cheap, with a fee of around £4m mooted.
The tough-tackling midfield lynch-pin would be an able deputy for either Song or Kouyate in the heart of the Irons' midfield, and would join during a season in which he has been in excellent form in the Spanish league.
So if he is one of three West Ham are after, who are the other two?
The east London side were extensively linked with Croatian full-back Ivan Strinic over the summer, but no move came to fruition, although that could change in January.
With a lack of depth in the left-back position, Allardyce's men could look short if the in-form Aaron Cresswell picked up an injury.
And with Strinic's contract with Dnipro expiring at the end of the month, it would be no surprise if the interest from the Premier League hasn't already been put to the 33-capped international.
The third man on Messrs Gold and Sullivan's radar could be subject to a bidding war in the upcoming window.
Celtic's Virgil Van Dijk looked set to be on his way to Manchester United over the summer, with the Red Devils suffering somewhat of a defender shortage.
It appears that no bid came from the Old Trafford outfit, but the interest from numerous Premier League clubs continues to burn bright, with West Ham the latest to enter the fray, although a hefty bid may be required to tempt the Bhoys.
All in all, it could be a busy window for the side from the East End.
HITC
Keown: Arsene Wenger was more gutted when Alex Song left than Cesc or Van Persie
Martin Keown has suggested that Alex Song's departure hurt Arsenal's boss more than Cesc Fabregas' departure.
Former Arsenal star Martin Keown believes that of Arsenal's departures in recent years, Alex Song is one who has hurt the most.
Song is currently starring at West Ham, who are four points above the Gunners in the Premier League table.
He is on loan from Barcelona, where his move from Arsenal did not work out well, but now he is getting his career back on track.
Keown told the Mail: "The grass is not always greener. When Fabregas and Robin van Persie left, Wenger let them go to further their careers.
"With Song, it was more of a disappointment. Arsenal invested a lot of time in him and hoped he would want to stay and repay them."
Van Persie and Fabregas were established stars by time they left Arsenal, but with Song - he was part of their side, but did not seem like an essential one at the time, and they way he failed at Barcelona showed him to be lacking the world class status to which he perhaps aspired.
It could be that fact that Song, being not quite an elite player, wanted to quit the club, that irked Arsene Wenger so much.
Looking at the present Arsenal side, he is a player they could sorely do with, as his combative style is proving so valuable in the Premier League. Arsenal have amazingly never really replaced him, unless you count a move to bring back Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer.
OS
Preview - Sunderland
All you need to know about the Hammers' trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday
SUNDERLAND v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
STADIUM OF LIGHT
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: PHIL DOWD
West Ham United travel to Wearside to face Sunderland on Saturday as the Hammers look to extend their winning run to four games. The Black Cats currently sit in 14th place with 15 points from 15 games.
Gus Poyet's men are looking for their first win in five games, however they have drawn four of those matches, including meetings with Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton.
Sam Allardyce's men are ten places higher, lying in fourth with 27 points. The 3-1 victory over Swansea City was their eighth of the season and the Hammers are now joint third top scorers with Manchester United on 26 goals scored.
Big Sam on: Sunderland
Chadwell Chatter
Who are they?
Sunderland were founded in 1879 as Sunderland and District Teachers, by James Allan, who taught at Hendon Board School.
They won their first league title back in the 1891/92 season and have been crowned champions six times in total, most recently in 1935/36.
Further honours include winning the two FA Cups, in 1937 and 1973.
More recently, they came close to winning the League Cup last season, however they lost to 3-1 to Champions Manchester City in the final.
Historically a yo-yo team between the top two divisions, they have now established themselves as a Premier League club, having played in the top flight for the last seven years.
Team news
West Ham United
Mark Noble is doubtful through injury as he battles a problem with his Achilles tendon, picked up against Newcastle United. Otherwise, Sam Allardyce has a full squad to choose from.
Sunderland
The Black Cats will be without Patrick van Aanholt who is to undergo surgery for a dislocated shoulder.
They will also be without Billy Jones (Hamstring) and Emanuele Giaccherini (Ankle), both of whom could return to face Newcastle on Sunday 21 December.
Referee
Saturday's referee is Phil Dowd. This is Dowd's first West Ham assignment of the season, but last year he was in charge of the Hammers' 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, 0-0 draw away with Swansea City and 3-1 defeat by Arsenal.
The Assistant Referees are David Bryan and Peter Kirkup, while Darren Bond is the Fourth Official.
Statistics
(2014/15 season - Barclays Premier League only)
Matches refereed: 10
Yellow cards shown: 48
Red cards shown: 2
Penalties awarded: 1
One to watch
West Ham United
In form midfielder Stewart Downing has been in excellent form all season, earning a recall to the England squad. While at Middlesbrough, Downing had a brief loan spell at the Black Cats, scoring three goals in seven games back in 2003.
So far this season Downing has scored twice as well as contributing six assists, most recently he set up James Tomkins' winner against West Bromwich Albion and Andy Carroll's second goal against Newcastle United, both from corners.
Sunderland
Having just signed a four-and-a-half year contract Connor Wickham will be looking to repay Gus Poyet's faith in him. The 21-year-old striker is a real talent and has scored 12 goals in a Red and White shirt. The Hammers' defence will need to keep him quiet if they are to get the victory.
Tickets
Tickets are available on the day of the game. Adult and Concession tickets will be available for cash sales only from the Black Cat House and Ticket Office from 11am.
Adults can gain entry through away turnstile 74 at the Stadium of Light from 1.30pm onwards.
Any Duplicate tickets, requested via the Club, will be available to collect from the Main Reception area of Black Cat House, from 11am.
Travel
For all travel information of how to get to the Stadium of Light, click here.
Weather
Saturday afternoon is set to be sunny day but cold as temperature at kick off is forecast to be a chilly 2C (36F) with temperatures dropping throughout the match.
Last meeting
Sunderland 1-2 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Monday 31 March 2014
Andy Carroll powered the Hammers into an early lead and midfielder Mohamed Diame doubled it five minutes into the second half.
Substitute Adam Johnson gave Sunderland, who had earlier seen strong penalty appeals turned down, hope when he pulled a goal back with 25 minutes remaining. Adrian had to pull off a double save to deny Ki Sung-yueng and Connor Wickham to secure the three points.
Sunderland: Mannone, Bardsley, Brown, O'Shea (Gardner 60), Vergini, Alonso, Ki Sung-Yong (Scocco 79), Bridcutt, Cattermole (A. Johnson 53), Wickham, Borini
Subs not used: Ustari, Cuellar, Colback, Altidore
West Ham United: Adrian, Reid, McCartney (Armero 45), Tomkins, Demel, Nolan (Nocerino 84), Taylor, Noble, Diame (R.Johnson 79), Downing, Carroll
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Jarvis, J Cole, C Cole
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