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Paper Talk
Manchester United are preparing a £90m bid to bring Gareth Bale to Old Trafford in the summer.
Liverpool could make a shock bid for West Brom striker Saido Berahino.
Watford pair Valon Behrami and Alessandro Diamanti appear to be on their way out of the club.
Aston Villa bosses are due in New York on Monday for a crunch transfer summit with the crisis club's American owner Randy Lerner after they were held by Wycombe in the FA Cup.
Aston Villa duo Joleon Lescott and Brad Guzan allegedly swore at their own supporters after their 2-2 draw at Wycombe in the FA Cup.
Swansea's Jonjo Shelvey was involved in a post-match confrontation with a furious fan after they were dumped out of the FA Cup at Oxford.
The future of Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal could once again be in doubt, despite the Dutchman being privately backed at Christmas and told he wouldn't be sacked.
Chelsea have offered Shakhtar Donetsk star Alex Teixeira a contract at Stamford Bridge and would pay £30m to secure his services.
Liverpool have completed an £11m deal for Brazilian and Corinthians winger Alexandre Pato.
Everton will make a £21m offer for Dynamo Kiev winger Andriy Yarmolenko.
Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini says the negative reaction from supporters is understandable after they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Watford on Saturday.
Newcastle made a club record bid in the region of £18m over the summer for West Brom striker Saido Berahino and that offer remains 'on the table'.
Gareth Bale sent text messages to Real Madrid owner Florentino Perez and managing director Enrique Sanchez-Gonzalez in the aftermath of the club's 2-2 draw with Valencia last weekend to express his support for manager Rafa Benitez.
New Liverpool signing Marko Grujic nearly pulled the plug on his move to Merseyside because he is claustrophobic and was uncomfortable taking an MRI scan during his medical.
Championship strugglers Charlton are set to reappoint Jose Riga as boss after the shock FA Cup defeat to Colchester.
Aston Villa boss Remi Garde will be hoping for a cash boost this month to help reignite their quest to stay in the Premier League after holding talks with the board.
Luka Modric insists Real Madrid were right to sack Rafa Benitez for Zinedine Zidane.
Aston Villa chief executive Tom Fox is jetting into New York on Monday for crisis talks over the club's plight with owner Randy Lerner.
Stoke striker Peter Crouch is considering his options after struggling to cement his first-team spot this season.
Liverpool could make a £22.3m bid for Anderlecht midfielder Dennis Praet.
Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny is set to complete his £7.4 move to Arsenal by Tuesday.
BBC
Chelsea have tabled a £30m bid for Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Alex Teixeira, 26, who has scored 26 goals in 26 games this season. (Star)
The Blues are also eyeing a deal for AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca, 29, and are willing to meet the £30m asking price. (Gazzetta dello Sport via Express)
Everton will make a £21m offer for Dynamo Kiev winger Andriy Yarmolenko, 26, and they have completed the sale of Steven Naismith, 29, to Norwich. (Express)
Liverpool have sealed an £11m deal for Brazilian winger Alexandre Pato, 26, who currently plays for Corinthians. (Star)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told outgoing Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola he will need a squad of 35 players to cope with the fixture demands if he come to the Premier League. (Mirror)
Newcastle have renewed their £18m bid for unsettled West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 22. (Mail)
The Magpies have also made a move for 23-year-old Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. (Sky Sports)
Aston Villa duo Joleon Lescott, 33, and Brad Guzan, 31, allegedly swore at their own fans after drawing against Wycombe in the FA Cup. (Mirror)
Villa manager Remi Garde hopes to be handed a large transfer fund to turn around the club's season after talks with the board. (Sun)
Oxford United manager Michael Appleton has warned Newcastle off midfielder Kemar Roofe, 23, after he played a starring role in the FA Cup win over Swansea. (Mirror)
Stoke forward Peter Crouch, 34, has suggested he may have to leave the club after failing to start a Premier League match all season. (Telegraph)
Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink believes 19-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek can challenge for regular first-team action at Stamford Bridge. (Talksport)
Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny, 23, is set to complete a £7.4m move to Arsenal within the next 24 hours. (Independent)
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale says the sacking of manager Rafael Benitez was a "big disappointment", but that he is still happy at the club. (Guardian)
Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin believes the Gunners have enough strength in depth to compete for a league and cup double this season. (London Evening Standard)
Harry Redknapp has called for the Premier League to work more closely with the Football Association to help preserve the standing of the FA Cup. Redknapp, as a manager, won the cup with Portsmouth in 2008. (Telegraph)
Best of social media
A groom whose wedding speech went viral after he dedicated it to Mesut Ozil has received a personal invite to the Emirates from the Arsenal midfielder on Twitter - along with his new wife.
And finally
Liverpool's new signing Marko Grujic almost did not go through with the transfer - because he was so scared of getting in the MRI machine for his medical. (Mail)
Former Swansea forward Michu says he was more nervous making his debut for Spanish fourth-tier side Union Popular de Langreo this weekend than he was when he played at Old Trafford and Anfield in the Premier League. (Guardian)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Barry Glendenning
Seville-based sports daily Estadio Deportivo reports that their local club’s former striker Carlos Bacca could be on his way from AC Milan to Chelsea for £30m. No relation to topical Kashyyyk-born Wookiee Chewbacca, the 29-year-old has scored 10 goals in 26 appearances for the Rossoneri this season following his move from Sevilla, for whom he scored seven goals, including two in the final, in last year’s successful Europa League defence. Chelsea are also understood to have offered Shakhtar Donetsk £26m for their midfielder Alex Teixeira.
Fresh from his side’s FA Cup embarrassment at the hands of Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium yesterday, Jonjo Shelvey could leap from the frying pan into the fire by moving to Newcastle United for £10m. Having struggled to nail down a first team place at Swansea after an excellent start to the season, Shelvey is reported to be keen on a move from the Welsh strugglers and it doesn’t exactly sound as if his manager Alan Curtis will stand in his way.
“We all know his ability, everybody can see it,” said Curtis last week. “His last game he was disappointing and he is far better than that. I’ve tried to speak to him and his attitude has always been in question, but he just wants to play and he gets frustrated if he is not in the team.”
Following his red card against the Swans in September, Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami has not made a single start for Watford and could be headed for the Vicarage Road door marked “Do One”. Italian side Udinese, also owned by Watford sugar daddy Gino Pozzo, are interested in taking the 30-year-old on board. On loan at Watford from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, Alessandro Diamanti’s time at Vicarage Road also looks to be drawing to a close, with Udinese, Bologna and Livorno all being touted as likely destinations for the former West Ham striker.
Aston Villa suits Tom Fox, Paddy Riley and Hendrik Almstadt are on their way to the USA to plead with club owner Randy Lerner for funds to bring new faces to the Championship-bound side. Arsenal right-back Mathieu Debuchy is believed to feature prominently on their shopping list. Meanwhile at QPR, Brazilian midfielder Sandro will be bidding farewell to Loftus Road and returning home if Cruzeiro get their way.
Newcastle have joined Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the unseemly jostle to attract the attention of terminally unsettled West Brom striker Saido Berahino, while none too prolific former Hull City striker Dame N’Doye is being linked with a move from Turkish club Trabzonspor to Sunderland.
With Steven Naismith heading for Norwich City, Everton will replace their Scottish winger with his 26-year-old Dynamo Kiev counterpart Andriy Yarmolenko, who will set them back £21m. Across Stanley Park, Liverpool are believed to have wrapped up an £11m deal for Corinthians’ Brazilian striker Alexandre “The Duck” Pato.
And finally, back to Seville. Tottenham Hotspur are ready to cut their losses on Federico Fazio by selling the Argentinian defender back to Sevilla a little over a year after recruiting him from the La Liga side.
OS
Manager on Monday
Slaven Bilic heaped praise on striker Nikica Jelavic after his superb late strike took the Hammers through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The 30-year-old forward volleyed home Andy Carroll’s hooked pass with just six minutes remaining on his full home debut for the Hammers.
When questioned about his compatriot, Bilic enthused: “I am extremely glad, all the coaches and players are extremely happy for Jela.
“He is the one who is really respected and adored at the club because his work rate during every training session, his professionalism on and off the pitch is outstanding. His relationship with all the players is great.”
Bilic, who has worked with Jelavic previously during his time as the Croatian national coach, continued to praise the striker’s work-rate and commitment to the cause.
The manager continued: “His game is not only about scoring goals, he is very mobile, he gives his best.
Some strikers might worry about scoring his first goal, and it is important, but he never let it affect his confidence. It opened the lock for us, at home, in the FA Cup; it will raise his confidence of course.
“He hasn’t played a lot; he’s had a few chances but not many. So to score in a game like Saturday’s is extremely important.”
Metro
Arteta set for exit?
West Ham enter talks with Arsenal over move for midfield ace
George Bellshaw
West Ham are negotiating with Arsenal to seal the transfer of Mikel Arteta, according to reports.
The Hammers are looking to add to their squad and the Spaniard has emerged as a viable target.
The 33-year-old’s Arsenal deal is set to expire at the end of the season and the Gunners will not offer him a new contract, according to Fichajes.
West Ham are willing to sign him for free at the end of the season, but they are also talking to Arsenal about the possibility of signing him now.
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