Gossip: Ancelotti, Lemar, Batshuayi, Mkhitaryan, Wilshere, Carrillo, Chiesa

Transfer news

Carlo Ancelotti will return to Stamford Bridge and be appointed Chelsea's new manager before the start of next season. (Daily Record)

Monaco winger Thomas Lemar, 22, is wanted by Chelsea, who are preparing a player-plus-cash deal involving striker Michy Batshuayi. (Daily Mirror)

Batshuayi, 24, hopes to leave Chelsea on loan next month to ease fears over losing his place in Belgium's World Cup squad. (London Evening Standard)

Armenia midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 28, was dropped by Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho after a row between the two men during a video analysis session at the club's training ground last month. (ESPN)

Manchester United boss Mourinho is open to making signings next month, despite not being a fan of the January window. (Daily Mail)

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah "is a player I rate a lot" following the Egyptian's national team coach, Hector Cuper, saying the Spanish club were going to make a move for the 25-year-old. (Sun)

Arsenal will hold contract talks with 25-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere before the end of the month. (London Evening Standard)

The Gunners could lose eight players next summer as boss Arsene Wenger braces himself for his biggest-ever squad shake-up. (Daily Mirror)

Crystal Palace are targeting £10m-rated Monaco forward Guido Carrillo, 26. (ESPN)

Liverpool and Tottenham have been warned 20-year-old Fiorentina winger Federico Chiesa will cost them at least £53m. (La Stampa, via Talksport)

West Brom will look to sign defender Ahmed Hegazi, 26, on a permanent deal when the transfer window opens. (Birmingham Mail)

Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic, 21, is wanted by Brighton and Aston Villa on loan in January. (Liverpool Echo)

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has been given the go-ahead to identify January transfer targets despite the ongoing uncertainty over the club's ownership. (ESPN)

The uncertainty of Leicester City striker Islam Slimani's future has alerted Stoke, Watford and West Brom as well as the 29-year-old's former club Sporting Lisbon. (Sun)

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has ruled out a January move for Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban, 29, who is currently on loan at Sunderland. (Birmingham Mail)

West Ham could sell Domingos Quina, 18, and Liverpool are strong contenders to sign the Portugal Under-20 international. (Daily Mail)

Meanwhile...

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he "never" tells his players to commit fouls in response to rival Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho saying his side were guilty of "tactical fouls". (Guardian)

Guardiola says Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker, 27, is "one of the best in the world" in his position at the moment but is aiming to make the England international even better. (Daily Express)

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson says not-so-boring James Milner is the "biggest joker" in the Reds' dressing room. (Liverpool Echo)

Argentina legend Diego Maradona says he told Real Madrid to sign Kylian Mbappe, 18, before Paris St-Germain did, but Los Blancos refused because of Cristiano Ronaldo. (AS, via Goal)

Crystal Palace are thinking of selling the naming rights to Selhurst Park to help fund a £100m renovation of their stadium. (Times - subscription required)

Newcastle United's players have cancelled their Christmas Party because of the side's poor run of form. (Times - subscription required)

Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele has found £1m of lost treasure in the cellar of a 700-year-old building in Antwerp. (London Evening Standard)

Meet the new Didier Drogba...

Best of Friday's gossip

Manchester United have made an enquiry about 29-year-old Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Willian. (Daily Mail)

United boss Jose Mourinho is also ready to offload 28-year-old Armenia midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the summer and wants to sign Arsenal and Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil, 29, as his replacement. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea could use Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi, 24, as part of a deal with Monaco for 22-year-old France winger Thomas Lemar, who is also a target for Liverpool and Arsenal. (Sun)

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has reassured France forward Antoine Griezmann he will eventually be allowed to leave the La Liga club. (Daily Mail via L'Equipe)