Gossip column: Yobo, Lugano, Diarra, Pulis, Sherwood, Messi

For a list of all the deadline-day deals, check out the transfers page.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Daily Star's back page

Arsenal are looking at the free-transfer market in a bid to ease their defensive problems. Former Everton defender Joseph Yobo, 34, and ex-West Brom centre-back Diego Lugano, 33, are among the players they have discussed. (Daily Mail)

The Gunners are also plotting to re-sign their former midfielder Lassana Diarra, 29, who is a free agent after leaving Lokomotiv Moscow. (Daily Express)

Chelsea and Liverpool are both keen to sign 18-year-old German midfielder Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen. (Daily Mirror)

Juventus have cooled their interest in Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, 26, and will instead compete with Arsenal and Liverpool to sign 27-year-old Barcelona playmaker Pedro. (Daily Express)

Ipswich are set to sign free agent Jack Collison, 25, after the midfielder was released by West Ham. (Sun - subscription required)

Barnsley are considering a loan deal for Fulham striker Marcello Trotta, 21. (Daily Star)

Southampton striker Emmanuel Mayuka, 23, is poised to drop down a division to join Wolves on loan. (Talksport)

OTHER GOSSIP

Tony Pulis, 56, is ready to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Cardiff City - if the 41-year-old Norwegian is sacked as manager. (Times - subscription required)

Tony Pulis quit as Crystal Palace manager just before the start of the season

Paul Hartley, the 37-year-old Dundee manager, has emerged as the surprise front-runner to replace Solskjaer. (Guardian)

Former Tottenham coach Tim Sherwood, 45, is a contender to become Lokomotiv Moscow manager. (Sun - subscription required)

Goalkeeper Joe Hart, 27, says Manchester City must bounce back from their defeat against Bayern Munich by beating Chelsea on Sunday. (Daily Telegraph)

Midfielder Mikel Arteta, 32, has told his Arsenal team-mates they can forget about winning the Champions League if they play like they did against Borussia Dortmund again. (Independent)

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says left-back Danny Rose, 24, has been left out of his squad to play Partizan Belgrade for football reasons, and not because he was subjected to racial abuse in Serbia, while playing for England Under-21s two years ago. (Sky Sports)

Mario Balotelli scored on his Champions League debut for Liverpool

Sturm Graz coach Darko Milanic, 46, is the front-runner for the vacant manager's job at Leeds United. (Daily Mirror)

One of Cardiff, Glasgow and Dublin is likely to find out it has been unsuccessful in its bid to host Euro 2020 games when the venues are announced on Friday. (Daily Mail)

West Ham assistant boss Neil McDonald, 48, has turned down the chance to become Carlisle manager for a second time. (Cumberland News & Star)

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Mario Balotelli needs time to adapt at Anfield, but says the 24-year-old striker showed on the club's Champions League return that he is willing to meet the demands required. (Guardian)

Rodgers says Balotelli has been taking lessons in the history of the club's great strikers including Luis Suarez, 27, who was sold to Barcelona in the summer. (Liverpool Echo)

THE BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Lionel Messi's playing licence from when he joined the club aged 13

Barcelona celebrated the 14th anniversary of Argentina forward Lionel Messi's arrival by tweeting a picture of his original playing licence, when he was aged 13.

Liverpool owner John W Henry showed his sense of humour on Twitter after posting a link to an article about the "God particle". After being inundated with messages from Reds fans asking him about a move for Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus, 25, he added: "Oh and sign Reus!"

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge confirmed on Twitter that he had returned to light training following his recent thigh injury. "Pushing myself to my limit right now for real. Closer to fitness each day!!" the 25-year-old tweeted.

AND FINALLY

Manchester United stars Radamel Falcao, Juan Mata and Marcos Rojo have been taught a lesson in football freestyling - by a mysterious Samurai. (Metro)