Tuesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool have opened negotiations to sign Chelsea's £15m-rated striker Daniel Sturridge, 24, in January.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Jeffren began his career at Barcelona before moving to Sporting Lisbon in 2011

Liverpool could solve their problems up front with a move for Sporting Lisbon's 24-year-old Spaniard Jeffren on loan, with an option to buy.

Full story: Metro

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, 23, who can sign a pre-contract agreement in January with any overseas club, is open to a move abroad and is interesting several clubs on the continent.

Full story: the Guardian

However, Walcott has moved closer to signing a new Arsenal contract following a breakthrough in talks. Walcott is willing to lower his salary demands to £90,000-a-week, while the Gunners have indicated they will increase their contract offer from £75,000-a-week to £80,000-a-week.

Full story: Goal.com

Former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, 32, wants to return to Goodison Park on a short-term loan from the New York Red Bulls in January.

Full story: Liverpool Echo

Striker Fernando Torres, 28, wants to move back to his native Spain, as he faces being axed for Chelsea's crucial Champions League clash with Italian club Juventus.

Full story: Daily Mail

Manchester City are prepared to let midfielder Abdi Ibrahim leave the club for £750,000 in January. Fulham and Wigan are both interested in signing the Norwegian, 21.

Full story: the Sun

Mark Hughes wants to sign Genoa's Swedish defender Andreas Granqvist in a bid to save QPR's season. Granqvist, 27, looks set to leave Serie A in the January transfer window and boss Hughes wants his chairman Tony Fernandes to sanction a £4.5m bid.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner, 24, says he is unsure if he will return to Arsenal after his loan spell at Juventus ends in the summer.

Full story: SkySports

OTHER GOSSIP

Guardiola has taken a year out of football after leaving Barcelona in the summer

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will try to persuade former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, 41, to take charge at Stamford Bridge before the summer if he fires Roberto Di Matteo.

Full story: Daily Mail

But the under-fire Di Matteo has been backed by his players at Chelsea.

Full story: The Times (subscription only)

Italian Di Matteo is planning an £80m gamble against Juventus in their must-win Champions League tie on Tuesday evening. The Chelsea boss is set to drop record £50m signing Fernando Torres and may leave £32m playmaker Eden Hazard on the bench.

Full story: Daily Star

England manager Roy Hodgson has admitted for the first time that he is considering bringing in a psychologist to solve the national side's penalty shoot-out curse.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United avoided another 'Welcome to Hell' when they slipped through a side entrance after flare-wielding fans greeted them ahead of their Champions League clash with Galatasaray in Turkey.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

AND FINALLY

France striker Djibril Cisse, 31, offers an angry QPR fan the chance to confront him face-to-face at the club's training ground so they can sort out their differences.

Full story: Metro