TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester United are ready to offer £120m to sign 25-year-old winger Gareth Bale, already the world’s most expensive footballer, from Real Madrid. (AS)
Paris St Germain coach Laurent Blanc has run out of patience with striker Edinson Cavani, 27, paving the way for a £50m move to Arsenal in January. (Daily Express)
Manchester City are preparing a £25m bid for Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic, 28. (Daily Star)
French Ligue 1 side Nice want to sign Hatem Ben Arfa from Newcastle, after Hull City cut short a loan deal with the 27-year-old midfielder. (Daily Mail)
Per Cech’s agent has confirmed talks have taken place between the Chelsea goalkeeper, 32, and Real Madrid. (Daily Star)
Striker Jermain Defoe, 32, has flown back to London to resolve his future – and is eyeing a move to Queens Park Rangers. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United could face a battle to retain a string of their most highly-rated young players in 2015. (Daily Mail)
OTHER GOSSIP
Former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has said he would be willing to talk to Brighton about their managerial vacancy. (Talksport)
Former England striker Gary Lineker has backed Harry Kane, 21, to become one of the greatest forwards in Tottenham’s history. (Evening Standard)
Cardiff City boss Russell Slade has revealed why he let 19-year-old midfielder Mats Daehli leave the club, claiming the Norwegian’s “heart wasn’t in it”. (Wales Online)
Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones, 32, has told the dropped Simon Mignolet, 26, that he won’t give up the number one jersey at the club without a fight. (Daily Mirror)
Andy Carroll has told Chelsea that there will be no 19th-century football from West Ham United when the 25-year-old forward’s side face the league leaders at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. (Guardian)
Manchester City are set to confirm a trip to Abu Dhabi in January. (Manchester Evening News)
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
England midfielder James Milner shows he’s a good sport as he plays up to his ‘boring’ parody Twitter account on day 23 of Manchester City’s online advent calendar. (Manchester City FC, via YouTube)
And on the theme of Christmas fun and games, Grimsby Town have had a lot of fun creating a parody ‘advert’ featuring the club’s top scorer Lenell John-Lewis.
Arsenal and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez is a demon on the piano, it seems. In an Instagram posting by Arsenal team-mate Lukas Podolski, the 26-year-old is seen giving an impressive rendition of Richard Marx’s 1989 hit ‘Right Here Waiting’.
AND FINALLY…
Injured boxer Anthony Crolla has been lifted during his recovery by a telephone call from former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Crolla was struck with a concrete block while attempting to tackle burglars who broke into his neighbours’ home. (Manchester Evening News)
