Friday gossip: Hazard, Kane, Stones, Berahino, Pato

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Real Madrid are planning to spend £250m in January after they were given a transfer ban, with £80m-rated Chelsea attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, 25, their top target. The Belgium international is joined on the list by Manchester United keeper David de Gea, 25, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, 22, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, 27, and Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, 27. (Sun), external

Tottenham's England striker Harry Kane, 22, and Everton centre-back John Stones, 21, are also targets for Real Madrid. (Daily Star), external

Image source, Sun
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The lead story on Friday's back page of the Sun is Real Madrid's £250m January spending spree

But despite Real's intentions to spend big, the transfer ban will mean De Gea and Hazard stay at Manchester United and Chelsea respectively. (Independent) , external

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri wants to sign West Bromwich Albion's England Under-21 striker Saido Berahino. (Daily Mirror), external

However, Albion say the 22-year-old is not for sale and have warned Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United not to make any bids. (Telegraph), external

Chelsea are close to signing Brazil striker Alexandre Pato, 26, from Corinthians. (ESPN Brazil - in Portuguese), external

But the Blues will have to match Corinthians' £10m valuation of the Brazilian to enhance their striking options. (Telegraph), external

And Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has been told he must sell France striker Loic Remy, 29, before he can bring in Pato. (Daily Star), external

Chelsea believe their chances of recruiting top managerial target Diego Simeone, 45, have improved after the Argentine's current club Atletico Madrid were given a transfer ban. (Daily Mirror), external

West Ham United are hoping to beat Everton to a deal for Leeds' 22-year-old English right-back Sam Byram. (Daily Express), external

Newcastle are ready to make a £12m bid for Tottenham's England winger Andros Townsend, 24. (Sun), external

Marseille are close to re-signing Florian Thauvin, Newcastle United's unsettled France winger, 22, on loan for the rest of the season. (Times - subscription required), external

Liverpool and Tottenham are monitoring winger Yasin ben el-Mhanni, 20, who has impressed this season for Ryman Premier League side Lewes and has just started a trial at Crystal Palace. (Daily Mail), external

Manchester United are set to make their first signing of the transfer window in Italian centre-back Luca Ercolani, 16, from Serie D side Forli. (Daily Express), external

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, 19, could sign another new deal at Spurs at the end of the season as the club pursue a contract renewal policy to reward and retain their best players. (Times - subscription only) , external

Every window at Old Trafford is being covered in anti-shatter film to protect players and fans from a terror attack. (Daily Star), external

United are facing more turmoil among their backroom staff with the impending departure of the club's academy chief. Derek Langley is planning to leave the club at the end of the season because of disillusionment about the state of the academy. (Times - subscription only) , external

Best of BBC Radio 5 live

Real Madrid could be forced into a number of moves for players this month, including Everton defender John Stones, after being banned from registering any new players for the next two transfer windows, according to Spanish football journalist Pete Jenson. (Listen here)

Best of social media

Juventus' former Manchester United midfielder Pogba has teased United fans on Instagram by posting a photo of himself, external in the Red Devils' kit.

Image source, .
Image caption,

Pogba posted a picture on Instagram saying: "Throwback Thursday. My first tournament in Italy"

Bournemouth's record signing Tyrone Mings, who cost £8m from Ipswich, has tweeted, external a picture of his recovery from a knee injury. The full-back, 22, who was ruled out for the season in September, wrote "1 step closer" with an emoticon of a bulging bicep.

Southampton's Japanese defender Maya Yoshida tweeted, external his delight at goalkeeper Fraser Forster making his first start since March, after his recovery from a knee injury. "Glad to see our monster back last night," wrote the Japan international.

And finally

He has played in the Champions League and the World Cup and boasts three Premier League titles, but Joe Cole has revealed he is cleaning his own boots again after joining League One side Coventry City. (Coventry Telegraph), external

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce, 61, wants to hire a hypnotist to put his Sunderland players into a survival trance. (Daily Mail) , external