Gossip column: Cleverley, Cuadrado, Garay and Valdes

For a list of all the latest deals, check out the transfers page.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Saturday's Daily Mirror back page

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says the club have the option to sign Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, 25, on a permanent deal in January. (Guardian)

Chelsea and Manchester United target Juan Cuadrado, a 26-year-old winger, is just "details away" from signing a new deal with Fiorentina. (Daily Express)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal refuses to rule out the possibility of signing ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 32, a free agent who has been training with the Red Devils. (Daily Express)

Van Gaal has identified Zenit St Petersburg's Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay, 28, as the player to shore up Manchester United's struggling back four. (Daily Mirror)

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, 27, has dropped his wage demands to £80,000-a-week in order to ensure he seals his proposed transfer to Arsenal. (Metro)

OTHER GOSSIP

Saido Berahino may receive some help from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright

Tottenham midfielder Erik Lamela, 22, hopes his wonder 'rabona' goal against Asteras in the Europa League on Thursday can kick-start his career at White Hart Lane. (Daily Mail)

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says his reputation as a long-ball manager is an "excuse" created by managers he has beaten. (Daily Telegraph)

West Brom manager Alan Irvine may ask former Arsenal striker Ian Wright to help with the development of 21-year-old forward Saido Berahino. (Daily Mail)

Hull City manager Steve Bruce says he is glad he did not listen to the "horror stories" about Hatem Ben Arfa when he signed the 27-year-old French midfielder on loan from Newcastle. (Hull Daily Mail)

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, 33, who has yet to feature in the first team this season because of an ankle injury, gave manager Louis van Gaal a boost by playing 64 minutes of an Under-21 match against West Ham on Friday. (Manchester Evening News)

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet was unhappy at having to start the season with only six senior defenders in his squad. (Northern Echo)

Rio Ferdinand joined QPR on a free transfer in July after 12 years at Manchester United

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had ruled out bringing in a specialist defensive coach, and insists he will continue to give 24-year-old striker Mario Balotelli opportunities in the first team. (Guardian)

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand, 35, is considering retiring from football at the end of the season. (Independent)

Ferdinand has also hinted his next career move after playing will be a leap into management. (Sun - subscription required)

Crystal Palace have denied rumours of an imminent takeover by US billionaire Joshua Harris. (Daily Mirror)

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Charlie Austin - it could be you!

A couple of Premier League footballers spent Friday night watching their former clubs on their laptops. Arsenal's Lukas Podolski cheered on FC Koln's 1-0 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, but Hull City's David Meyler saw Cork City lose to Dundalk in their League of Ireland title decider.

Charlie Austin, 25, may be on Premier League wages, but the QPR striker still bought two tickets for Friday's Euromillions lottery.

Tim Howard posted a picture of a children's team in New Jersey wearing false beards in tribute to the 35-year-old Everton and United States goalkeeper. "Not a bad looking group!" he tweeted.

AND FINALLY

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero admits he knew enough swear words at the age of 10 to shout at Michael Owen when the England striker scored against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, but says he later idolised the former Liverpool striker. (Daily Mirror)

Torquay United mascot Gilbert the Gull has been accused of challenging some of the club's supporters to a fight. (Daily Mail)