Evening paper talks

Here is the latest gossip and football stories in Monday afternoon's regional newspapers.

LONDON EVENING STANDARD

Wolfsburg officials have travelled to London to negotiate the signing of Andre Schurrle - paving the way for Chelsea to step up their efforts to buy Juan Cuadrado or Douglas Costa.

Gabriel Paulista will have a medical in London today ahead of a £13.4million move to Arsenal.

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is planning to bring Blues talisman Yaya Toure to Inter Milan this summer.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted Paul Pogba could be sold after the midfielder further enhanced his reputation.

LIVERPOOL ECHO

Everton striker Samuel Eto'o will complete his move to Sampdoria on Monday.

Brendan Rodgers insists Mario Balotelli will be given the chance to salvage his Liverpool FC career.

NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE

Newcastle United have shot down strong claims in the Portuguese press that the club were set to mount a bid for Sporting Lisbon winger Andre Carrillo.

BIRMINGHAM MAIL

Chris Herd has completed a loan move to Wigan Athletic until the end of the season.

West Bromwich Albion will attempt to finalise their pursuit of Callum McManaman as Tony Pulis outlines his plans to sign at least four players this January.

Kenny Jackett dismissed rumours of a West Bromwich Albion move for Bakary Sako on a day when Wolves struggled without the Mali winger's invention.

THE SENTINEL

Mark Hughes has been spotted in Spain eyeing up talent in Barcelona's 'B' team. Two previous Stoke links - 19 year-olds Adama Traore and Sandro Ramirez - were thought to be the subject of the manager's interests.

Robert Huth has been linked with a loan move to Championship side Cardiff City.

THE DAILY ECHO

Nathaniel Clyne says contract negotiations will continue with Southampton over the coming months, amid speculation linking him with a £20million move to Manchester United.

HULL DAILY MAIL

Hull City are eager to sign a new striker in this transfer window, but won't risk long-term financial instability to sign top target Jordan Rhodes for £11million.

NEWHAM RECORDER

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed he will not make any decision on signing on loan defender Carl Jenkinson until the summer.

YORKSHIRE EVENING POST

Leeds United head coach Neil Redfearn has assured Brazilian Adryan that he is "absolutely certain" that the playmaker has a future at the club.

Leeds United defender Jason Pearce is the subject of interest from Championship rivals Wigan Athletic.

EVENING GAZETTE

Patrick Bamford would like to stay with Boro - if he can help the team win promotion.

WALES ONLINE

Cardiff City striker Adam Le Fondre will be the next man out of the exit door when he completes his loan move to Bolton Wanderers this week.

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade insists top-scorer Kenwyne Jones is staying at the club.

THE BOLTON NEWS

Bolton are close to completing a loan move for young Benfica midfielder Rochinha, manager Neil Lennon has revealed.

FA Cup hero Adam Bogdan walked off the pitch after keeping Liverpool at bay on Saturday and admitted: "Nights like this make me want to stay with Bolton."

WIGAN EVENING POST

Shaun Maloney's move from Wigan Athletic to MLS outfit Chicago Fire has been confirmed.

Callum McManaman looks set to become the latest Wigan Athletic FA Cup hero to leave the club in the January transfer window with West Brom his likely destination.

THE ARGUS

Brighton boss Chris Hughton is hoping he still has Chris O'Grady when the January transfer window closes.

THE STAR

Striker Gary Madine is unsure what the future holds for him as he approaches the end of a productive loan stint at Coventry City.

EVENING TIMES

Neil Lennon has admitted that he would be open to returning to Celtic as manager in the future.

Former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso insists he would love to return to Ibrox as boss - but only once the club's boardroom battle has been settled.

Premier league clubs can now buy cheaper...

Premier League clubs can land their European transfer targets for a reduced price in January due to a change in currency conversion rates.

The elections in Greece have contributed to a decline in the value of the euro, meaning clubs in Britain - which use the pound - can get more for their money.

On Monday, according to www.xe.com, £1 equated to 1.33 euros.

“We’re told by sources in Spain that Arsenal have agreed a fee for Gabriel of 18m euros,” said Sky Sports News reporter Bryan Swanson. “Had Arsenal paid that figure a couple of weeks ago, on January 7, it would have cost them £14.1m. Today, that same fee is worth £600,000 less: £13.5m.”

Similarly, Chelsea target Juan Cuadrado has a 35m euro buyout clause in his contract. Should the Blues wish to pay that on Monday to sign the striker from Fiorentina it would cost them £26.2m, compared to £26.9m last week. As a result, Chelsea could delay their bid until later this week or even Deadline Day, when the euro may have fallen even further.

The issue applies with players being transferred in the opposite direction, too – although European clubs may be put off by escalating fees.

Chelsea are believed to want more than £22.5m for World Cup winner Schurrle, who is a target for Wolfsburg. Three weeks ago that equated to 28.75m euros, this Monday it is 30.06m euros.

“In the final week of this window it is worth keeping an eye on the exchange rate,” added Swanson. “The value of the euro is dropping by the day.” 

Mourinho to keep squad

Jose Mourinho is refusing to rule out movement in the transfer window insisting he will only do business if a 'phenomenal offer' comes in for one of his players.

Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah have been linked with moves, but the Chelsea boss is keen for them to stay and has included the duo in the squad for this weekend's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Bradford.

"The club doesn't move. We don't move. Our desire is to keep the same squad," said the Portuguese.

"The window is open but what I can say. I like them, I need them and I trust them. We are happy with the players, we are happy with the work we did in the summer to prepare for the season, and it reflects the trust we have in the group.

"We don't want to be involved in the transfer window. If we have to be it's because somebody pushed us, with some offer for one of our players.

'Nothing should happen'

"Sometimes we have needs, like we had in the past transfer windows where we sold some players. The reality is normally nothing should happen in the next two weeks and we should go to February with the same squad.”

"The question is not to have a good offer (for the players), the question is to have a phenomenal offer and a player to be super keen of accepting the challenge because we don't want to sell our players."

Speaking about Schurrle, who has been linked with a move to Wolfsburg, he added: “He’s selected for Saturday, he played against Swansea last week, wasn’t selected for Liverpool (in midweek) and he’s in for the cup.”

And he said the same applied to Egyptian winger Salah who will also be involved with the cup squad this weekend.

“The reality is nothing should happen in the next two weeks and we should reach February with the same squad," he said.

“And we don’t have anyone in place should someone leave,” he added, reacting to a question that Fiorentina's Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado has been spoken of as a potential target.

"He is a player at Fiorentina and I shouldn't make any comments about players from other clubs. You speak about Cuadrado, you can speak about 10, 20 or 30 players and you ask me if I know them.

"If I don't know them I am in trouble because my son knows them, so I have to know them... it's my job to know them all.

"You can come at me with another name and I would have to say I know him... I know them all, but Cuadrado fits well in Fiorentina's squad and Colombia's squad, not in Chelsea's squad."

Daily paper talks

The top football stories, gossip and transfer rumours in Saturday morning's national newspapers.

THE SUN

The agent of Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has suggested there is a possbility the Spaniard could be off to Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Swansea are ready to keep Bafetimbi Gomis satisfied by offering the Frenchman a new contract.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Cristiano Ronaldo opted to move to Manchester United because Arsenal were unable to afford the Portuguese superstar owing to the huge costs behind constructing the Emirates stadium, says agent Jorge Mendes in a new biography.

DAILY MIRROR

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted player power forced him to change his football philosophy ahead of the stunning 2-0 win against Manchester City last weekend.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher will decide next week which team has won the race for his signature with West Ham, West Brom and Spanish club Valencia all in the queue for the Scot.

DAILY RECORD

Mike Ashley looks set to increase his power push at Rangers by handing the club another emergency loan to cover next week's wage bill.

DAILY EXPRESS

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is busy learning Spanish and is believed to be favouring a move to Real Madrid which will be a big blow to Manchester United and Chelsea who are keen on bringing the Frenchman back to the Premier League. 

DAILY STAR

Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City target Sergio Ramos looks set to sign a new contract at Real Madrid with words by his boss Carlo Ancelotti suggesting his defender is not going anywhere. 

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is stepping up efforts to keep hold of his remaining senior stars to avoid another summer of transition following Steven Gerrard's announcement he is heading to the United States. 

GUARDIAN

West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison is weighing up offers from overseas clubs with his contract expiring at the end of the season.

DAILY MAIL

Teenage winger Jack Grealish has been fined by Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert for tweeting a message: "Can't wait to be happy playing football again," next to a picture of himself smiling when on loan at Notts County last season.

Pogba stays put for now

Paul Pogba’s agent says the midfielder will be staying at Juventus this month but he has not ruled out a move in the summer for the France international.

The 21-year-old left Manchester United for Juventus in the summer of 2012 after failing to establish himself in the first team under Sir Alex Ferguson.

His career has since blossomed in Italy and there have been reports that United manager Louis van Gaal is preparing a massive bid to bring him back to Old Trafford, while Chelsea and Real Madrid have also been linked with an approach.

However, his agent Mino Raiola insists Pogba will not be going anywhere at the moment, although it may be a different matter at the end of the season when he could have the pick of the world’s leading clubs.

Raiola told Sky Sports News HQ: “Paul renewed his contract in Italy. There is a five-year deal with Juventus and what June and July brings, we will see in June and July.

“He will stay here this window in Italy and after that it’s also up to Juventus and up to himself to see what are the possibilities and what are the things to do.

“I have been in football long enough to say that I cannot foresee the future. Today Paul Pogba is the most expensive player if he would be on the market – that’s the risk, that’s normal; there are only a few clubs that can afford him.

“Let’s say that I am aware of the interest that there is around Paul, obviously, and without naming them, everybody that knows a little bit about football knows that there are only eight clubs that can afford him. That’s the eight clubs that will get into the scramble or the battle to have him.”

Raiola also insists Pogba would have no problem resuming his career at Old Trafford even though he did not leave the club on the best of terms.

He said: “Paul has always said he is not angry with Manchester United – you need to move on. So there is no personal grudge against Manchester United. On the contrary, he holds Manchester United very dear and has very nice memories.”

Chelsea boss tells us what to expect in this transfer window.

Jose Mourinho says he is not expecting any of his squad to leave Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window.

And the Chelsea manager admits it looks very unlikely whether he will be adding to his side before the market closes on February 2.

Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah have been linked with moves, although Mourinho says both are in the squad for this weekend’s FA Cup fourth round visit of Bradford and expects them to remain with the Premier League leaders for the rest of the campaign.

When asked whether Chelsea will be involved over the next 10 days, he said: "The club doesn't move. We don't move. Our desire is to keep the same squad.

"The window is open but what I can say. I like them, I need them and I trust them. We are happy with the players, we are happy with the work we did in the summer to prepare for the season, and it reflects the trust we have in the group.

"We don't want to be involved in the transfer window. If we have to be it's because somebody pushed us, with some offer for one of our players.

'Nothing should happen'

"Sometimes we have needs, like we had in the past transfer windows where we sold some players. The reality is normally nothing should happen in the next two weeks and we should go to February with the same squad.”

Speaking about Schurrle, who has been linked with a move to Wolfsburg, he added: “He’s selected for Saturday, he played against Swansea last week, wasn’t selected for Liverpool (in midweek) and he’s in for the cup.”

And he said the same applied to Egyptian winger Salah who will also be involved with the cup squad this weekend.

“The reality is nothing should happen in the next two weeks and we should reach February with the same squad," he said.

“And we don’t have any one in place should someone leave,” he added, reacting to a question that Fiorentina's Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado has been spoken of as a potential target.

"I shouldn't make any comments about players from other clubs. You speak about Cuadrado, you can speak about 10, 20 players.

"It's my job to know them all. I think he fits well in Fiorentina's squad and Colombia's squad, not in Chelsea's squad."

Van GAAL GETTING TWITCHY

So it's Manchester United and Cambridge who kick off this weekend's FA Cup drama tonight. United boss Louis van Gaal seems excited about his team's Cup exploits, despite admitting to feeling edgy on the touchline about his tactics and 4-4-2 systems.

"We have won more with 4-4-2 in a diamond, but when you analyse the game then we have twitched on the bench. I have twitched because we were out of balance. All the matches when we play 4-4-2 like against West Ham United (when 10-man United scraped a 2-1 win) it was always twitching and I don't like it. But we have had a fantastic run of results except Southampton at home. Up to now I am pleased and we are going in the right way."

Morning paper talks

DAILY MAIL

David de Gea’s Manchester United future has been thrown into serious doubt after his agent failed to rule out a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

Louis van Gaal has dismissed criticism of his tactics and says Manchester United's traditional 4-4-2 formation leaves him nervous.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants work permits for foreign footballers to be scrapped - the Frenchman revealed he missed out on bringing Angel di Maria to the club.

QPR have been offered Corinthians striker Alexandre Pato - the 25-year-old, who previously played for Italian giants AC Milan, could make the move to west London in this transfer window. 

DAILY MIRROR

Brendan Rodgers says he believes Liverpool can challenge for the Premier League title next season.

QPR make a shock move for Alexandre Pato as Harry Redknapp looks to land former Brazilian wonderkid.

Liverpool eye the transfer of Jay Rodriguez from Southampton if doctors give his comeback the green-light this week.

Tottenham players love Emmanuel Adebayor even if boo-boys fans don't says Andros Townsend.

Swansea boss Garry Monk is eyeing a move for Rubin Kazan midfielder Yann M'Vila.

Hull want to beat Leicester to the signing of £2m Lokomotiv Moscow striker Dame N'Doye.

THE SUN

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has risked a huge row by calling for borders to be thrown open to all foreign players.

Spurs defender Andros Townsend has backed Emmanuel Adebayor to revive his Tottenham career.

Chelsea are working on a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa.

Real Madrid have beaten Arsenal to the signing of Cruzeiro midfielder Lucas Silva.

Ben Watson is ready to leave Wigan in order to sign for Watford on loan.

Bolton are set to sign Cardiff forward Adam Le Fondre on loan for the season.

DAILY STAR

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has backed Jordan Henderson after the midfielder's tunnel bust-up with Chelsea star Diego Costa.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis says the clock is ticking on any big-money bid to land £20m rated Saido Berahino.

DAILY EXPRESS

Chelsea will only allow Mohamed Salah to leave for Roma this month as part of a permanent deal worth more than £11m.

Liverpool are to make a renewed effort to keep Glen Johnson.