Monday’s news and transfer rumour gossip.
Liverpool have offered midfielder Steven Gerrard a new contract but the 34-year-old is in no rush to accept what would be a one-year deal with a pay-cut – (Daily Mirror)
Roma will match Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson’s £120,000-a-week wages to sign the 30-year-old, who says he will not go “crawling” to the Reds for a new deal with his current contract expiring next summer – (Daily Telegraph)
Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have been made aware that Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is prepared to listen to offers for his coveted French international Karim Benzema, 26 – (Daily Express)
Frank Lampard, 36, wants to delay his move to parent club New York City and extend his loan period at Manchester City beyond next month, with the midfielder keen to help Manuel Pellegrini’s side fight former club Chelsea for the Premier League title – (Daily Mail)
But Lampard says he has not spoken to the Manchester City hierarchy about staying on at the club – (Daily Star)
Manchester United will line up a move for Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris, 27, if their Spanish international stopper David De Gea, 24, decides to move to Real Madrid – (Daily Star)
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is lining up a January raid for Burnley striker Danny Ings, 22, who hails from Hampshire and was released by the Saints as a schoolboy – (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has challenged Brazilian midfielder Anderson, 26, who has not played for the first team since August, to get fit if he wants to save his Old Trafford career – (Manchester Evening News)
Chelsea are furious with the lack of first-team appearances winger Christian Atsu, 22, has received at Everton, and are threatening to recall him and send him to Sunderland – (Daily Express)
Liverpool full-back Glen Johnson, 30, says he will continue to give everything for the club – despite feeling he is not wanted at Anfield beyond this season – (Liverpool Echo)
Former Aston Villa assistant manager Roy Keane was involved in a training-ground row with club players 24 hours before his sudden exit from the club – (Daily Mail)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has expressed his concern about the busy Premier League festive period – (Guardian)
French newspaper L’Equipe dedicated a 100 page supplement to former France, Arsenal and Barcelona striker Thierry Henry ahead of what might have been the 37-year-old’s last professional match which saw New York Red Bulls lose in a MLS play-offs – (Metro)
Arsene Wenger has told his critics that if they are right to say he is “tactically useless” then he must also be a “genius” – (Daily Mirror)
Arsenal could be being without a specialist left-back against Southampton on Wednesday – (Daily Star)
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick believes the club’s poor early league form was down to a lack of consistency within the starting XI – (Daily Express)
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has not ruled out making new signings in the January transfer window – (Sky Sports)
Arsenal are ready to bid £15 million for Newcastle United’s Moussa Sissoko as they look to reinforce their injury-hit midfield – (Metro)
Man City have made a shock £17m swoop for Monaco left-back Layvin Kurzawa – (Daily Star)
Oldham Athletic are risking a public backlash after holding talks with convicted rapist Ched Evans – (Daily Express)
Manuel Pellegrini trimmed Chelsea’s lead in the title race with victory at Southampton then warned Jose Mourinho: We’re coming to get you – (Daily Mirror)
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi wants to join Chelsea in a £200million deal at the end of the season – (Metro)
Darren Bent insisted he had to leave Aston Villa after too many “slaps in the face” – (Sky Sports)
Sunderland defender Wes Brown has witnessed some titanic midfield displays in his time as a former team-mate of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes at Old Trafford and claims teammate Lee Cattermole is up there with the best of them- (Daily Star)
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will stick with his principles of nurturing youth with a £8million offer for Ipswich defender Tyrone Mings – (Daily Express)