Saturday’s news and transfer rumour gossip.
Chelsea and Manchester United target Juan Cuadrado, a 26-year-old winger, is just “details away” from signing a new deal with Fiorentina – (Daily Express)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal refuses to rule out the possibility of signing ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 32, a free agent who has been training with the Red Devils – (Daily Express)
Van Gaal has identified Zenit St Petersburg’s Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay, 28, as the player to shore up Manchester United’s struggling back four – (Daily Mirror)
Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, 27, has dropped his wage demands to £80,000-a-week in order to ensure he seals his proposed transfer to Arsenal – (Metro)
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says the club have the option to sign Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, 25, on a permanent deal in January – (Guardian)
Tottenham midfielder Erik Lamela, 22, hopes his wonder ‘rabona’ goal against Asteras in the Europa League on Thursday can kick-start his career at White Hart Lane – (Daily Mail)
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says his reputation as a long-ball manager is an “excuse” created by managers he has beaten – (Daily Telegraph)
West Brom manager Alan Irvine may ask former Arsenal striker Ian Wright to help with the development of 21-year-old forward Saido Berahino – (Daily Mail)
Hull City manager Steve Bruce says he is glad he did not listen to the “horror stories” about Hatem Ben Arfa when he signed the 27-year-old French midfielder on loan from Newcastle – (Hull Daily Mail)
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, 33, who has yet to feature in the first team this season because of an ankle injury, gave manager Louis van Gaal a boost by playing 64 minutes of an Under-21 match against West Ham on Friday – (Manchester Evening News)
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had ruled out bringing in a specialist defensive coach, and insists he will continue to give 24-year-old striker Mario Balotelli opportunities in the first team – (Guardian)
Former England captain Rio Ferdinand, 35, is considering retiring from football at the end of the season – (Independent)
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet was unhappy at having to start the season with only six senior defenders in his squad – (Northern Echo)
Crystal Palace have denied rumours of an imminent takeover by US billionaire Joshua Harris – (Daily Mirror)
Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero admits he knew enough swear words at the age of 10 to shout at Michael Owen when the England striker scored against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, but says he later idolised the former Liverpool striker – (Daily Mirror)
Chelsea are set to open talks with Barcelona over a £20million deal to sign centre back Gerard Pique – (Metro)
Roberto Martinez has dismissed Arsene Wenger’s claim that Kieran Gibbs is the best left-back in England by repeating the Arsenal boss’ “prettiest wife” jibe – (Daily Mirror)
Diego Costa could still face Manchester United on Sunday despite being hospitalised this week with a mystery virus – (Daily Star)
Gareth Bale will miss Saturday’s El Clasico – but he is set to face Lionel Messi in a mouth-watering international fixture between Wales and Argentina next March – (Daily Express)
Paul Pogba has extended his contract at Juventus until 2019, the club has confirmed – (Goal.com)
Manuel Pellegrini is confident Joe Hart will sign a new contract at Manchester City – (Sky Sports)
Luis Suarez has admitted he is seeing a therapist to overcome his issues with biting – (Metro)
Alex Song has called for January’s Africa Cup of Nations to be scrapped because of the Ebola virus – (Daily Mirror)
Lee Cattermole has warned Arsenal they’ll be facing wounded animals at the Stadium of Light tomorrow afternoon – (Daily Star)
Celtic centre-back Virgil van Dijk has dropped his biggest hint yet that he wants a move to Arsenal – (Daily Express)