Paper Talk
Ex-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is not keen on returning to Swansea to replace the sacked Garry Monk because he's got his mind set on the England job next summer.
Manager Louis van Gaal is facing growing resentment in the Manchester United dressing room about his tactics after taking Juan Mata off at Wolfsburg.
Ajax assistant Dennis Bergkamp and Rangers manager Mark Warburton are the top contenders for the Swansea manager's job following the sacking of Garry Monk.
Manchester United and Chelsea are set to fight it out for the signature of West Brom forward Saido Berahino in January.
Louis van Gaal could be axed if Manchester United don't secure a top-three finish in the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers has snubbed a move back to former club Swansea because he feels the time is not right to make a comeback.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and his players believed their dressing room at Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena was too warm on Tuesday night.
Former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu has labelled Jose Mourinho as a 'fake' and 'finished' as the champions' Premier League struggles continue.
Jurgen Klopp is set to complete his first signing as Liverpool manager with Germany defender Kevin Grosskreutz agreeing to join on a three-year deal. Grosskreutz joined Galatasaray in the summer but has been unable to play because of a registration issue.
Carlo Ancelotti could bring Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain with him if he becomes Manchester United's manager.
Arsenal are in the running to sign Boca Juniors striker Jonathan Calleri, who has previously been linked with Chelsea and Inter Milan.
Saido Berahino's hopes of a January move to Tottenham could be scuppered by West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace's decision to give counterpart Daniel Levy the cold shoulder.
Brendan Rodgers appears set to pass on the chance to take over as Swansea manager and could move to the Middle East for a lucrative £8m salary. Gus Poyet has emerged as favourite to take over from Garry Monk.
Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite says he turned down the chance to appoint Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as the club's manager in 2013 as he feared the Dutchman would face racist abuse from supporters.
Swansea are confident of moving quickly to replace Garry Monk as manager.
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling has revealed he watches the performances of Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo closely to "learn as much as I can".
There is not a single Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea player in the Premier League team of the season so far.
BBC
Former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, 42, does not want to return to Swansea following Garry Monk's sacking because he hopes to succeed Roy Hodgson as England manager next summer. (Times - subscription required)
Ex-Swansea defender Sam Ricketts believes Rodgers would be taking a "backward step" if he returned to Liberty Stadium. (Talksport)
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal, 64, could be sacked if his side do not finish in the top three of the Premier League this season. (Daily Express)
The United players are getting increasingly frustrated with Van Gaal's tactics and methods, and were bewildered after he took off Juan Mata, 27, for the inexperienced Nick Powell, 21, in their game against Wolfsburg. (Times - subscription required)
Liverpool have agreed personal terms with Galatasaray winger Kevin Grosskreutz, 27, who Reds boss Jurgen Klopp managed at Borussia Dortmund. (Takvim - in Turkish)
Premier League leaders Leicester City want to sign former Manchester City midfielder and Netherlands international Nigel de Jong, 31, from AC Milan. (Calciomercato.com)
West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 22, is again set to miss out on a move to Tottenham - because the Baggies are refusing to deal with the Londoners. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United have joined Tottenham in showing a strong interest in Fulham's 19-year-old forward Moussa Dembele. (London Evening Standard)
Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, 21, says he studies Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo closely to "learn as much as I can" from them. (Guardian)
Arsenal want to sign Deportivo La Coruna's Spanish winger Lucas Perez, 27. (El Ideal Gallego - in Spanish)
The Gunners have also enquired about 18-year-old Palmeiras forward Gabriel Jesus, who has been compared to Barcelona and Brazil's Neymar. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United believe the Premier League's £5.14bn broadcast deal has significantly reduced English clubs' hopes of winning the Champions League because TV companies are reluctant to move games to Friday nights to assist them. (Guardian)
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho "has been a great coach in the past but, as a person, he is fake", says former Blues striker Adrian Mutu, who briefly played under the Portuguese at Stamford Bridge in 2004. (Daily Mirror)
Striker Daniel Sturridge is "a luxury Liverpool cannot afford", according to former Reds midfielder Dietmar Hamann who played with the 26-year-old England international at Manchester City. (Talksport)
There are no Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea players in the Premier League team of the season so far. (Daily Mail)
Scotland midfielder Steven Naismith, 29, says he may have to leave Everton if he cannot force his way back into Roberto Martinez's team. (Liverpool Echo)
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is keen on signing Porto's French midfielder Giannelli Imbula, 23, with the future of Kenya international Victor Wanyama, 24, still undecided. (Daily Mirror)
Best of social media
Chelsea midfielder Ramires celebrated his side's progress in the Champions League by writing: "Well done, guys. That's the spirit. Come on Chelsea."
Following Arsenal's 3-0 win over Olympiakos to reach the Champions League last 16, Gunners forward Alexis Sanchez said: "So happy for the victory of the team, we are in the next stage."
Sanchez's Arsenal team-mate Jack Wilshere said: "What a performance. Breathtaking. Well done lads."
After former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard described Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey "as the best attacking midfielder in the Premier League", the Welshman responded: "Honoured to hear that from a legend like Gerrard."
Southampton defender Florin Gardos tweeted: "I am on the search for a nickname. Can anyone help? Much appreciated."
Former Cardiff and Wales defender Danny Gabbidon said Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins made the right decision to sack Garry Monk because "he had lost the dressing room".
And finally
Manchester United complained about the temperature of the dressing room at Wolfsburg during their Champions League exit on Tuesday. (Daily Mail)
Manchester City players including captain Vincent Kompany and midfielders Yaya Toure and Fabian Delph have read out a series of 'mean tweets' from fans in which they have been severely criticised . (Manchester City YouTube channel)
A 90-year-old Everton fan, who has been supporting the club since the mid-1930s, was invited to sit next to Toffees boss Roberto Martinez in the dugout during Monday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Goodison Park. (Liverpool Echo)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Lawrence Ostlere
So here’s the thing. Arsène Wenger has definitely decided to swoop for Atlético Madrid’s blonde bombshell and goalscoring sensation Antoine Griezmann. It is partly because he is rather talented and partly to stick it to José Mourinho who thinks the French forward might save Chelsea’s season.
But is this really happening, The Mill hear’s you ask. Really? Well let’s break this one down. Wenger once said the transfer window “is like a poker game”, and the legendary poker champ Daniel Negreanu always says that to succeed you must understand people’s tendencies – then you just figure out what they are most likely to do.
So: Wenger has a long-term career-threatening tendency to sign skilful flighty types; he tends to avoid all physical contact with Mr Mourinho; he tends to be French. All of this surely points to the indisputable fact that Arsenal must be signing a French flighty forward purely to peeve José. Then again, Wenger also has a tendency not to sign any outfield players at all, so who knows? The Mill was always more of a shuffleboardsman anyway.
Bayern Munich are also in the market for a bit of forward-pinching. Pep Guardiola, not satisfied with 43 goals from 15 Bundesliga games, is hoping to nab Southampton’s Sadio Mané from under Louis van Gaal’s nose, presumably when the Dutchman is stuck on a seven-hour flight away to FC Krasnodar.
Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp is close to a reunion with the Galatasaray and former Dortmund wide-man Kevin Grosskreutz. According to reports in Turkey, the 27-year-old has already agreed personal terms.
An Anfield suit has also decided Demarai Gray might turn out to be rather good. The 19-year-old Birmingham City winger-forward, who scored six goals for his hometown club last season, has a £3.75m January exit clause in his contract. With only Adam Lallana, Divock Origi, Daniel Sturridge, Christian Benteke, James Milner, Jordon Ibe, Danny Ings, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and possibly Grosskreutz standing between him and first team football, what can go wrong?
Talking of snaffling young talent, Alan Pardew took his brush and mattock for a dig around east London and unearthed a gem at non-league Tower Hamlets. The Crystal Palace boss offered the 18-year-old non-league sensation Randall Williams a one-week trial and was suitably impressed. Palace will sign up the former Tottenham academy player pronto before anyone else comes poaching.
Elsewhere, Leicester have ideas well below their station to sign kung fu’s Nigel de Jong, Manchester United like the look of the Fulham teenager Moussa Dembélé, while Brendan Rodgers is likely to snub any approach to return to Swansea, instead keeping his feet firmly on the floor and holding out for the England job.
ESPN
West Ham's Winston Reid suffers hamstring injury, says chairman's son
Winston Reid could have added to West Ham's injury woes after reportedly suffering a hamstring injury in training.
The Premier League club have yet to confirm the news but Jack Sullivan -- son of Hammers' joint-chairman David Sullivan -- tweeted on Wednesday evening that the defender sustained the problem in training and faces up to six weeks on the sidelines.
Very bad news... Reid Injured in training 4-6 weeks with hamstring. But some players will return faster than anticipated due to hard work
- Jack Sullivan (@jsullivanwhu) December 9, 2015
If New Zealand international Reid is indeed injured, he will join a growing list at Upton Park, with midfielder Manuel Lanzini ruled out for six weeks with a thigh injury and Diafra Sakho out for three months with a thigh problem of his own.
Victor Moses is still sweating on the results of a scan on his hamstring, while Dimitri Payet is out until February and Enner Valencia has been missing since suffering a knee injury in July, although he is closing in on a return.
HITC
West Ham yet to open talks for Rolando Mandragora, Genoa want at least £7.25m
Olly Dawes
According to Calcio Mercato, West Ham have yet to open talks with Genoa over a deal for midfielder Rolando Mandragora - and the Italian side want at least €10m (£7.25m) for their teenage sensation.
The Hammers made moves on Italian football over the summer, bringing Angelo Ogbonna and Pedro Obiang to Upton Park from Juventus and Sampdoria respectively.
That may now happen again, with Calcio Mercato reporting the club's interest in signing Genoa midfielder Rolando Mandragora.
The 18-year-old wonderkid emerged in the Genoa first team last season, but has been sent out on loan with Pescara this term to continue his development with more regular football.
Even at 18, Mandragora features regularly for the Italian Under-21 side, and is tipped to have a bright future ahead of him - prompting interest in his signature.
Calcio Mercato report that West Ham are pursuing Mandragora, but have yet to open negotiations with Genoa over a deal for the teenager.
It's also stated that president Enrico Preziosi wants a fee of at least €10m (£7.25m) for Mandragora, which West Ham may look to negotiate should Alex Song not pen a permanent deal at Upton Park upon the expiration of his loan deal at Upton Park.
Brighton high-flyer Solly March would be a terrific signing for West Ham United
Tom Thorogood
West Ham United have been linked with Brighton and Hove Albion’s Solly March.
According to a recent report in The Sun, West Ham United have been linked with a move for Brighton and Hove Albion’s talented winger Solly March in the January transfer window.
The Hammers had one of their best transfer windows in recent years in the summer, bringing in fabulous attacking players such as Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini.
However, their excellent star to the campaign has been halted somewhat by a number of injuries to key players – including Payet, who is joined by Enner Valencia and Diafra Sackho on the long-term absentee list.
Lanzini missed the Hammers’ recent 0-0 draw at Manchester United, whereas fellow loanee Victor Moses hobbled off in the first-half, leaving Slaven Bilic short on options.
It appears January additions may now be imperative for the club to continue their push for a European place, and a winger in particular should be high on their list of targets.
And right now, there aren’t many better outside the top fight than reported target Solly March.
The talented youngster was deemed rather lightweight last season and struggled to cope with the rough and tumble of Championship football. This season, however, is quite different.
The 21-year-old has three goals and one assist in 12 starts, while the Seagulls top the Championship table, having yet to taste defeat as they extend their unbeaten league run to 20 games including last season.
Solly has bags of potential, with his standout attribute being his ability to weave past opponents with relative ease and pick out his teammates with accurate passing.
West Ham have a shortage of wingers at the club, with Lanzini and Moses both only on loan while Michail Antonio possesses different types of attributes, as he adds a more physical presence.
Solly is very much a Bilic type of player, and considering his age, he has an abundance of potential to go on and become a regular winger for a top Premier League side.
West Ham join crowded race to sign Boca Juniors goal machine Jonathan Calleri
West Ham are the latest club to be linked with a move for Boca Juniors star Jonathan Calleri.
Olly Dawes
According to Calcio Mercato, West Ham have made contact with the representatives of Boca Juniors striker Jonathan Calleri.
The Hammers have been hit by a stunning run of injuries in the final third, with Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Victor Moses, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia all on the treatment table.
Fans now unsurprisingly want to see West Ham bring in a new striker in January, and reports suggest that the Upton Park hierarchy are at least exploring that possibility.
Calcio Mercato report that West Ham have contacted the representatives of Boca Juniors hero Jonathan Calleri, who is attracting plenty of interest from English clubs.
Stoke City were suggested to be leading the race for his signature over the summer according to The Mirror, whilst Argentine newspaper Ole published a shocking report earlier this season, suggesting that Championship club Brighton were pursuing a stunning deal to bring Calleri to the South Coast.
Earlier this week, Marca claimed that Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are pursuing the 22-year-old ahead of the January transfer window, with both clubs needing attacking reinforcements.
Now, it appears that West Ham have entered the race for Calleri's signature, and after racking up 21 goals and 11 assists in 53 games for Boca, it's no surprise that clubs are queueing up the Argentine hitman - and the Hammers may now be hoping to pip their rivals to his signature.
Try out this fledgling West Ham blog from a fellow WHOer
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