Gossip column: Van Dijk, Goretzka, Kane, Sturridge, Ozil, Mahrez

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Football gossipImage source, @CallumWilson

Manchester City will compete with Liverpool for Southampton's Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk, 26, in the January transfer window. (Daily Mirror), external

City are also looking to bring in 22-year-old Schalke and Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, who is out of contract at the end of the season and has also caught the attention of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. (Daily Mirror), external

Tottenham's England striker Harry Kane, 24, says he plans to spend his entire career at Spurs. (London Evening Standard), external

Striker Daniel Sturridge, 28, is ready to leave Liverpool in order to find first-team football and regain his place in the England squad. (Daily Mirror), external

Barcelona are considering a January move for Arsenal and Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, 29, and could offer Portugal international Andre Gomes in part exchange. (Don Balon - in Spanish), external

Paris St-Germain captain Thiago Silva says he is in regular contact with Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho, 25, and hopes his Brazil team-mate will "work with us". (Telefoot via Sky Sports), external

Manchester City could move for Leicester's 26-year-old winger Riyad Mahrez after Argentina forward Lionel Messi objected to the Algeria international joining Barcelona. (Don Balon - in Spanish), external

Liverpool and Tottenham are watching Sheffield United's 20-year-old Wales midfielder David Brooks. (Daily Express), external

Bournemouth are preparing a January bid for Reading's 19-year-old full-back Omar Richards. (Sun), external

Switzerland forward Xherdan Shaqiri is worth "a hell of a lot more" than the £12m Stoke paid for him just over two years ago, manager Mark Hughes says. (Stoke Sentinel), external

Under-pressure West Brom boss Tony Pulis says he spoke with chairman John Williams after the 4-0 defeat against Chelsea, but told reporters: "You've got no business to know what me and chairman talked about." (Birmingham Mail), external

Puliscould be sacked as early as Monday as the Baggies' hierarchy are concerned at the detrimental atmosphere at The Hawthorns and the team's form. (Times - subscription required) , external

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Meanwhile...

Arsenal will pay Borussia Dortmund about £1.8m to capture 45-year-old scout Sven Mislintat - dubbed 'Diamond Eye' - as their head of recruitment. (Sport Bild via Sun), external

Real Madrid are likely to turn to Germany coach Joachim Low, 57, if they dismiss manager Zinedine Zidane. (Daily Express), external

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg says Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany, 31, should have been sent off for a foul on Leicester forward Jamie Vardy, 30, and Everton striker Oumar Niasse, 27, should be punished by the Football Association for "simulation" after winning a penalty against Crystal Palace. (Times - subscription required), external

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez says Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, 24, "has to be consistent for years like Stevie was for 10 or 15 years" to be compared to former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard. (Daily Star), external

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he rarely starts Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in the same team because they are too similar. (Independent), external

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 36, says that "if people knew the real injury, they would be in shock that I was even playing" following his return from what was described as a knee ligament injury sustained in April. (Guardian), external

Former Sweden international Ibrahimovic believes Manchester United can chase down rivals Manchester City to win the Premier League. (Daily Mail), external

Leicester's Andy King pays tribute to former Wales manager Chris Coleman - complete with green dragon emoji - following his appointment as Sunderland boss.

Image source, @10_kingy
Image caption,

Coleman and King reached the semi-finals with Wales at Euro 16

Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy, who suffered ligament damage against Crystal Palace in September and had surgery six weeks ago, posts a video of himself kicking a ball. After Zlatan Ibrahimovic's comment that "Lion's don't recover like humans", French defender Mendy quipped: "Sharks don't recover like humans." (Manchester Evening News), external

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is likely to have limited funds in the January transfer window under the current Mike Ashley regime. (Newcastle Chronicle), external

Brighton manager Chris Hughton says German midfielder Pascal Gross, one of the most energetic players in the Premier League according to statistics, can cope with the hectic schedule, with the Seagulls facing 11 matches in 43 days. (Argus), external

Stoke and England goalkeeper Jack Butland pays tribute to Watford's Heurelho Gomes after his superb double save in the 2-0 win over West Ham.

Image source, @JackButland_One
Image caption,

Only the fire emoji needed to convey Jack Butland's appreciation of the Heurelho Gomes double save

Best of Sunday's gossip

Manchester United are lining up a £136m double move for Real Madrid's Wales forward Gareth Bale, 28, and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann. (Sun on Sunday), external

But Real Madrid may pursue 26-year-old France forward Griezmann if Bale is sold. (Don Balon - in Spanish), external

And Bale's former club Tottenham could use a clause in the Welshman's contract that gives them the chance to match any offers Real receive from the Premier League. (Sunday Express), external

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone hinted after his side's goalless draw with Real Madrid that Griezmann could leave. (Mail on Sunday) , external

Crystal Palace and Netherlands left-back Patrick van Aanholt, 27, is a surprise target for Manchester City as manager Pep Guardiola seeks cover for the injured France international Benjamin Mendy, 23, in January. (Sun on Sunday), external