Gossip: Van Dijk, Costa, Griezmann, Niguez, Pepe, Lindelof, Clement, Hart

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Gossip logoImage source, BBC Sport

Chelsea will bid £60m for Southampton's Netherlands international defender Virgil van Dijk, 25, who is also wanted by Manchester City. (Daily Express), external

The Blues' leading scorer Diego Costa, 28, subject of a rumoured £80m bid from Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian, says he is "very happy" at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Mirror), external

Image source, Daily Mirror

Manchester United have targeted France forward Antoine Griezmann, 25, and Spain midfielder Saul Niguez, 22. The Atletico Madrid duo have release clauses totalling £145m on contracts that were renewed last summer. (The Times - subscription required), external

United manager Jose Mourinho is also thought to want Real Madrid central defender Pepe, 33, but could face competition from clubs in the lucrative Chinese Super League. (Sun), external

However, Mourinho will not sign a striker this month, saying he trusts England forward Marcus Rashford, 18. (Sun), external

Benfica defender Victor Lindelof, 22, has also been linked with a £38m move to United, which could spell the end of Chris Smalling's time at the club. Everton and Arsenal may bid for England international Smalling, 27. (Daily Star), external

An announcement from Benfica about Lindelof, and what would be a club-record £40m sale for the Portuguese club, could be imminent. (A Bola, via Daily Star), external

Paul Clement is expected to be appointed Swansea manager on Tuesday and is understood to have been offered a two-and-a-half-year deal. It is unlikely he will take charge for Tuesday's game at Crystal Palace.(Daily Mail), external

Sunderland manager David Moyes is concerned he may not be able to attract enough quality players this month.(Daily Telegraph), external

Liverpool could turn their attention to RB Leipzig winger Emil Forsberg, 25, after Borussia Dortmund insisted their 18-year-old American attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic is not for sale. (Daily Mirror), external

Arsenal want Sevilla's French midfielder Steven N'Zonzi, 28, who is also a target for Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus. (Daily Express), external

Image source, Guardian

Manchester City's England goalkeeper Joe Hart, 29, is unlikely to make a permanent move to Torino because the Serie A side are unable to afford his high wages, club president Urbano Cairo has revealed. (La Stampa, via Daily Mail), external

Hart will not be a target for Liverpool in this transfer window or the next. (Sky Sports), external

But Liverpool are lining up a move for Benfica's £22m-rated Mexico international striker Raul Jimenez, 25. (Squawka), external

Liverpool want to sign 21-year-old Wembley-born winger Jacob Murphy from Norwich, then loan him back to the Canaries in a bid to beat Tottenham to his signature. (Daily Mirror), external

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, 29, could stay at Anfield beyond this month, despite interest from Inter Milan. The Reds are prepared to sell the Brazilian but the Italian club are thought to want a loan deal. (Liverpool Echo), external

Newcastle have made contact with Everton about signing midfielder Tom Cleverley, 27, on loan. (Newcastle Chronicle), external

Aberdeen will increase their efforts to keep Niall McGinn, 29, after the winger emerged as a target for Hearts. (Daily Record), external

Birmingham have ended their interest in Nottingham Forest captain Henri Lansbury. Former boss Gary Rowett had been preparing a bid for the 26-year-old but successor Gianfranco Zola will not be pursuing the midfielder. (Birmingham Mail), external

Brighton are expected to make 33-year-old striker Glenn Murray's loan from Bournemouth a permanent transfer in the January window.(Sky Sports), external

Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland, 23, may miss the entire season with an ankle injury.(Guardian), external

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And finally

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos appeared to irritate team-mate Marcelo by referring to Germany's 7-1 thrashing of hosts Brazil at the 2014 World Cup in his 'Happy 2017' message on social media. Kroos used the Brazil and Germany flags in place of the numbers 1 and 7. (Marca), external

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

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