Gossip column: Ronaldo, Carroll, Januzaj, Balotelli, Strootman

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

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will have to spend £60m if he is to secure Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, 24, in January. (Sunday Mirror)

Newcastle are interested in signing West Ham striker Andy Carroll during the January transfer window and bringing the 25-year-old back to the club where he started his career. (Sunday People)

West Ham are keen on tempting Jermain Defoe back to Upton Park and are ready to compete with QPR for the 31-year-old Toronto FC forward's signature. (Sunday Mirror)

Arsenal and Tottenham are set for a battle in the January transfer window with the north London rivals both weighing up a move for Basel defender Fabian Schar, 22. (Daily Star)

Van Gaal has denied claims from Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola that players from the German club did not want to move to Old Trafford during the summer. (Observer)

United are cautious over a move to sign former winger Cristiano Ronaldo, especially after the 29-year-old opted against a move to them last year and signed a new deal with current club Real Madrid instead. (Sunday Telegraph)

Fiorentina and Juventus have expressed an interest in signing Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj, 19, on loan in the new year. (Metro)

Adnan Januzaj could be set for a January loan move to Serie A

Everton manager Roberto Martinez is determined to keep midfielder James McCarthy at Goodison Park following widespread interest in the Republic of Ireland international. (Sky Sports)

Manchester United defender Rafael insists he wants to remain at the club for the rest of his career. (Sunday Express)

Greek midfielder Giorgos Karagounis is reported to be interested in a move back to Fulham following the departure of Felix Magath as manager. (Independent)

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is continuing to monitor the fitness of free agent and former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes as he warned current custodian Simon Mignolet to be more aggressive with his performances. (Daily Star)

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted he never considered dropping midfielder Mesut Ozil - who returned to goal-scoring form against Aston Villa on Saturday. (Talksport)

Former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp says the loss of Luis Suarez and the lack of a leader means his old club have "no chance" of winning the Premier League this season. (Sky Sports)

Malky Mackay has been linked with the vacant manager's job at Fulham after he was spotted at Craven Cottage on Saturday during the Championship match against Blackburn Rovers. (Mail on Sunday)

Manchester City keeper Joe Hart's current contract at the club runs until the end of next season and the 27-year-old says he has yet to be offered a new deal. (Sunday Telegraph)

Cardiff City caretaker managers Danny Gabbidon and Scott Young admit they are in the dark about their future despite the club approaching Leyton Orient's Russell Slade to be their new boss. (Western Mail)

Exiled Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez insists the club did not believe in him, prompting his season-long loan move to Real Madrid. (Sunday Mirror)

Lionel Messi's six-year-old nephew has taken his first steps towards playing for Barcelona after signing for a Catalan club for children. (Mail on Sunday)

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Mario Balotelli displays super-powers against West Ham United

A picture of Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli appearing to "levitate" went viral during the Reds' Premier League match with West Ham United. Before the final whistle sounded at Upton Park, it had inspired a series of memes on Twitter, including Mario in space and diving off an Olympic high board.

Chelsea captain John Terry took to Instagram to boast about a straight sets table tennis win against former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp, posting footage of the encounter.

AND FINALLY

Former England striker Emile Heskey has taken his quest to find a new club to previously unseen levels by proving on camera how he can hit a cow's backside with a musical instrument. (Metro)

Former Tottenham and Fulham striker Clint Dempsey showed off his rapping skills at the launch of the Fifa 15 video game. (Metro)