Liverpool have ditched plans to sign Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 32, who is now training with Manchester United. ( Liverpool Echo )
Valdes' arrival at Old Trafford in January on a permanent deal could signal the departure of Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard. ( Daily Express )
Liverpool are, however, keeping tabs on AC Milan full-back Ignazio Abate, 27, as a potential replacement for Glen Johnson. ( Daily Mirror )
Real Madrid are keen to complete the permanent signing of Javier Hernandez, 26, from Manchester United, but the Spanish giants want the Red Devils to lower their £17m asking price. ( Daily Express )
Petr Cech, 32, is in line for shock move to Turkish side Besiktas after losing his first-team place at Stamford Bridge. ( Talksport )
West Bromwich Albion are keeping an eye on £2m-rated Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie, 25, as a target in the January transfer window.
( Sun )
OTHER GOSSIP
Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben says there is "not even one per cent" of him thinking about a move back to England and a Premier League club. ( Daily Telegraph )
Luka Modric, 29, says he and his Real Madrid team-mates eased off in the second half of their Champions League win over Liverpool to save themselves for Saturday's El Clasico against Barcelona. ( Daily Mail )
Per Mertesacker, 30, blames the players' attitude in training for Arsenal's struggles in the Premier League and the Champions League. ( Daily Telegraph )
West Ham United striker Andy Carroll could be in line for a long-awaited return to action in just two weeks after tearing ankle ligaments in July. ( Daily Mirror )
However, Hammers manager Sam Allardyce is no nearer being handed a new contract at Upton Park despite his side's rise to the top four of the Premier League. ( Daily Star )
Former Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer says the club risks slipping through the divisions like Wolves if they sack manager Alan Pardew. ( Chronicle )
Stoke boss Mark Hughes fears Victor Moses, 23, could become a marked man with officials after Swansea counterpart Garry Monk accused the midfielder of diving. ( Daily Express )
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet says Vito Mannone, 26, will keep his place for this weekend's clash against Arsenal despite the Italian goalkeeper conceding eight goals against Southampton. ( Sunderland Echo )
Poyet says he could have been sacked if he had overseen an 8-0 defeat in any other country. ( Daily Mail )
Brendan Rodgers says £16m striker Mario Balotelli, 24, may never be good enough for Liverpool. ( Sun )
Frank Lampard will be able to extend his stay at Manchester City further when parent club New York City hold a pre-season training camp in England at the new Etihad Campus facility . ( Daily Mail )
Fulham owner Shahid Khan will fly in from America next week to appoint his new manager, with caretaker Kit Symons the leading contender. ( Daily Telegraph )
Nottingham Forest's bid for promotion could be hit by a transfer embargo by the Football League in connection with sanctions over Financial Fair Play.
( Times )
AND FINALLY
Erik Lamela, who scored a wonder goal on Thursday for Spurs, is no stranger to scoring a goal with a 'rabona' as a video of him playing for River Plate's youth team several years ago has revealed. ( Daily Mirror )
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown says so many players asked to swap shirts with Thierry Henry that the club threatened to make him pay for the ones he gave away. ( Daily Mail )