Gossip: Vidal, Courtois, Mignolet, Mane, Keane, Ibrahimovic, Pogba, Schweinsteiger

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wants to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal, 29, and will make an initial offer of £34m. (Sun)

Meanwhile, 24-year-old goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will open talks over a new contract at Chelsea after Conte described the Belgium international as "one of the best in the world". (Guardian)

Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce says he turned down an offer to manage in the Chinese Super League. (Croydon Advertiser)

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has insisted that he is not a 'dodgy goalkeeper' after criticism of his performances. (Times - subscription required)

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has hit back at his critics in an interview in the Times newspaper

Everton are favourites to sign England defender Michael Keane, 23, from Burnley next summer. (Daily Mail)

Liverpool have hired a physiotherapist to shadow their striker Sadio Mane, 24, when he plays with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations next month. (Times - subscription required)

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 35, believes team-mate Paul Pogba, 23, tried too hard to justify his £89m transfer fee when he first moved to Old Trafford. (ESPN)

AC Milan want to sign Everton's 22-year-old Spanish midfielder Gerard Deulofeu on loan in January. (Sky Sports)

West Ham are considering a move for Basel's 25-year-old midfielder Taulant Xhaka, the older brother of Arsenal's Granit Xhaka. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, 34, will not leave the club in January because he can move for free in summer if the Black Cats are relegated. (Sun)

Former England manager Roy Hodgson has emerged as a candidate to replace under-pressure Norwich manager Alex Neil. (Daily Mail)

Benfica right-back Nelson Semedo, 23, has ruled out joining Manchester United in January. (Daily Express via Sport TV)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants midfielder Raheem Sterling, 22, to show his mental strength when he returns to Anfield on Saturday after being substituted at half-time in last season's fixture. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United have rejected West Brom's £13m bid for French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 27. (Manchester Evening News)

Former Swansea boss Bob Bradley has claimed the club's owners "lost their nerve" and "didn't have the strength" to stick with him, after their sacking of the 58-year-old after just 85 days in charge of the Welsh club. (Guardian via ESPN)

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says "everything is set for us to go and achieve great things" with his side second in the Premier League. (Daily Telegraph)

Sunderland boss David Moyes has spoken directly to club owner Ellis Short in a desperate bid to free up funds to spend in January. (Daily Mail)

The Daily Express back page focuses on the New Year's Eve 17:30 GMT Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has challenged winger Riyad Mahrez, 25, to follow the example of Lionel Messi, 29, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 31, by showing a desire to repeat the performances that earned him accolades in 2016.(ESPN)

Malaga want Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic to take over as their manager next summer. (Sky Sports)

Aston Villa are close to taking Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, 23, on loan until the end of the season. (Birmingham Mail)

• How many of the rumours that appear in the gossip column actually come to fruition? Which clubs have the most accurate rumours? And which sources are the most reliable? Find out here as we celebrate 15 years of the gossip column

Best of social media

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger tweeted a message to his wife, tennis player Ana Ivanovic, after she announced her retirement from the sport:

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam was quick to acknowledge the knighthood for tennis player and fellow Scot Andy Murray.

And finally...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says seeing Anfield's new Main Stand complete in September was "like looking at the eighth wonder of the world". (Liverpool Echo)

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino says Watford mascot Harry the Hornet would be brave to mock dive in front of his midfielder Dele Alli. (Daily Mirror)