Jose Mourinho has left the door open for Juan Mata to quit Chelsea this month, despite insisting he doesn't want the Spaniard to leave. ...
Jose Mourinho has left the door open for Juan Mata to quit Chelsea this month, despite insisting he doesn't want the Spaniard to leave. [Metro]
Manchester United are considering a club record bid to sign Juventus' Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, 26. [Daily Mirror]
Arsenal are preparing a January bid for Manchester United's Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, 25. [Caughtoffside]
Manchester City are close to signing Nigerian starlet Chidi Nwakali The Golden Eaglets star will fly to Manchester from Lagos with his parents to hold talks with City chiefs on January 2. If a deal is completed, Nwakali will earn £300,000 a year in wages, fees and add-ons from the day he turns 18 on December 26. [Goal.com]
But the citizens could be beaten to the signing of 17-year-old Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho by Sporting Lisbon. [Talksport]
Meanwhile, West Ham have emerged as surprise contenders to sign £8m-rated Southampton striker Rickie Lambert, 31. [Mirror]
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, 31, could leave the club in the January transfer window, according to his agent. [London Evening Standard]
Liverpool are keen on signing FC Basel's 21-year-old Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah - but reports suggesting a £7m fee has been agreed are wide of the mark. [Liverpool Echo]
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has identified Everton centre-back John Heitinga, 30, as the solution to his defensive problems. The Netherlands international, who has not featured for the Toffees in the league this season, could sign this week. [Sky Sports]
Turkish side Besiktas have targeted out-of-favour Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott, 31, but the England centre-back wants to stay in England. [Daily Mail]
Tottenham have warned Italian giants Milan and Juventus that attacker Erik Lamela, 21, who signed in the summer from Roma for a club-record £30m, is not for sale. [Daily Mail]
Everton have placed a £25m price tag on left-back Leighton Baines, 29, in an attempt to ward off interest from Manchester United. [Goal.com]
Finally, former Liverpool striker Ian Rush claims forward Luis Suarez, 26, has a £120m get-out clause in his new deal. [The Sun]