TRANSFER GOSSIP
Liverpool are hoping to land Real Madrid's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 33, on a six-month loan deal.(Daily Mail)
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is a £20m target for Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants set to make a move for the Serbian international at the end of the season.(The Sun)
Vidic could cost Real Madrid £30m, with United interested in replacing him with Everton's Jack Rodwell, 18, and Porto's Bruno Alves. (The Times)
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could line up a January move for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris - but he will have to pay Lyon £20m for the France international.(Daily Mirror)
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed he is an admirer of Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy but the Frenchman doubts the Eastlands outfit would sell the Welshman as they do not need the money. (The Independent)
However, Wenger will step up his bid to sign 15-year-old QPR striker Raheem Sterling. (Daily Mirror)
Palermo defender Simon Kjaer has rejected a £12m move to Manchester City - although Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini has denied he is interested in signing the Dane.(Daily Mirror)
West Ham United's sporting director Gianluca Nani insists they are not interested in signing Fiorentina's Romanian striker Adrian Mutu.(The Independent)
Everton will face competition from Arsenal and Manchester United to sign 17-year-old Belgian winger Maxime Lestienne. The Excelsior Mouscron star has been offered a trial after being recommended by Toffees midfielder Marouane Fellaini.(The Sun)
Birmingham City are preparing a £3.5m deal to turn goalkeeper Joe Hart's loan move from Manchester City into a permanent one.(Daily Mirror)
Meanwhile, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is also planning a £2m move for Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy.(The Sun)
Burnley are close to signing Algeria captain Yazid Mansouri for £1m from French club Lorient. The 31-year-old midfielder will spend most of January at the African Cup of Nations.(Daily Mail)
Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell wants to sign Greg Halford on loan after the versatile wide man fell out of favour with Wolves manager Mick McCarthy.(Daily Mirror)
Wolves are weighing up a £1.5m bid for Derby County winger Kris Commons. (Daily Mail)
Newcastle will offer Leeds £1.25m for striker Jermaine Beckford, who can leave on a free transfer in the summer.(The Sun)
Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is planning to offer Celtic £6m for centre-back Stephen McManus, midfielder Barry Robson and Australian striker Scott McDonald.(The Sun)
Meanwhile striker Scott McDonald insists he would be happy to finish his career at Celtic, despite reports linking him with a move to England. (The Herald)
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies is lining up a £750,000 move for Swansea's Spanish midfielder Andrea Orlandi. (Daily Star)
Sochaux chief Alexandre Lacombe has confirmed he is planning a January swoop to bring Rangers striker Kris Boyd to the French outfit. (The Mail)
OTHER GOSSIP
Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack expects to agree a new two-year contract extension to take him to June 2012 - and beyond his 35th birthday.(The Telegraph)
Chelsea have put youth talent scout Gary Worthington on gardening leave - in a bid to stop him moving to rivals Manchester City. (Daily Mirror)
London-based financial company Intermarket will submit a bid to take control of West Ham United on Monday.(The Telegraph)
Former Stockport and Motherwell boss Jim Gannon is in the frame to replace Alan Irvine as Preston North End boss. (The Times)
Alternatively, Preston may opt for former Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson.(Daily Mail)
AND FINALLY
West Ham right-back Julien Faubert has revealed Tottenham fans and players have been "taking the mickey" out of him in the street. Faubert, who was in the West Ham side beaten 2-0 by Spurs on Monday, lives in an area where many Tottenham fans and players reside. (The Sun)
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