Gossip column: Hernandez, Mkhitaryan, Kluivert, Keita, Walcott, Alli

West Ham are ready to listen to offers of £17m for Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, 29, and could replace him with Krasnodar forward Fyodor Smolov. The 27-year-old Russia captain is said to be interested in a move to the club. (Mirror)

Manchester United would be willing to let Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 28, return to Borussia Dortmund this month if a deal can be agreed that suits all parties. The Armenian playmaker's current wages are thought to be a potential stumbling block. (Independent)

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has asked Ajax striker Justin Kluivert, 18, to stay with the Dutch club this month as he hopes to bring him to England in the summer. (Sport - in Spanish)

Liverpool plan to offer Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino, 26, a contract that would see him spend the rest of his career at the club. (Telegraph)

Tottenham are prepared to double the wages of England midfielder Dele Alli, 21, in order to ward off interest from Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain. (Mail)

Everton have joined the race to sign Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, 28. The Englishman is also wanted by his first club Southampton, with the Gunners set to ask for close to £30m. (Liverpool Echo)

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill was set to meet with Stoke City officials on Wednesday over the vacant managerial position, with assistant Roy Keane also expected to move if he takes the job. (Irish Independent)

Guangzhou Evergrande say they will not enter a bidding battle with fellow Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan for the services of 28-year-old Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. (ESPN)

Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan has said the club's 17-year-old English left-back Ryan Sessegnon will not be sold this month, amid interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. (Telegraph)

Manchester United will have to pay up to £27m to sign 22-year-old Belgian midfielder Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht in January. (Manchester Evening News)

Crystal Palace could complete the signing of Senegal striker Diafra Sakho, 28, from West Ham by the end of the week. (Mirror)

Huddersfield have agreed a £14m deal with Norwich to sign winger Alex Pritchard, 24. The Englishman left Tottenham for £8m in the summer of 2016. (Mail)

Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos has informed the club he wants to leave, with Liverpool reportedly interested in signing the 21-year-old Spaniard. (Diario Gol - in Spanish)

• Chelsea and Arsenal goalless after opening leg

• Read Wednesday's gossip

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says he will decide at the end of the season whether to sign on-loan Paris St-Germain striker Odsonne Edouard, 19, on a permanent deal. (Goal)

Hearts are set to sign Manchester United left-back Demetri Mitchell on loan. The 20-year-old English defender would be the Scottish side's first signing of the January transfer window. (Edinburgh Evening News)

Barcelona's Gerard Pique has warned Manchester United that fellow defender Samuel Umtiti will stay at the club for "many more years". The 24-year-old Frenchman has a £55m release clause in his contract. (Metro)

Meanwhile, the Catalan club are about to sign Palmeiras defender Yerry Mina. The 23-year-old Colombian will sign a five-and-a-half-year contract. (Radio Catalunya - in Spanish)

He is set to replace 33-year-old Barca and Argentina defender Javier Mascherano who is expected to join Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune. (Goal)

Germany and Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira, 30, says he is not keen to play in Major League Soccer and wants to stay in Turin when his contract expires in 2019. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Millwall have approached Aston Villa about signing 30-year-old defender Tommy Elphick on loan for the rest of the season. Villa manager Steve Bruce has refused to rule out the Englishman leaving the club this month. (Birmingham Mail)

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez is expected to reiterate his appeal to owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley to get player signings completed before his self-imposed deadline of 20 January. (Newcastle Chronicle)

Wolves plan to make the loan deal for Porto's 26-year-old French centre-half Willy Boly a permanent one should they win promotion this season. (Express & Star, Wolverhampton)

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is on Chelsea's shortlist to replace Antonio Conte, but Juventus have no intention of letting the Italian go. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)

Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino says the club is "no longer the same" without his "magical brother" Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian playmaker, who was the best man at Firmino's wedding last year, confirmed his £142m move to Barcelona on Monday.

Best of Wednesday's gossip

Real Madrid have made an approach to Eden Hazard's representatives as they plan a bid for the 27-year-old Chelsea and Belgium playmaker. (Radio Montecarlo, via Mail)

Manchester City are to open preliminary talks with England's Raheem Sterling, 23, regarding a new contract - and could make the winger one of the club's highest-paid players. (Guardian)

Manchester United are interested in Paris St-Germain's Lucas Moura but have not yet made a bid for the 25-year-old Brazil winger. (Sky Sports)

Manchester City have offered Arsenal £20m for striker Alexis Sanchez, 29, with the Chile forward understood to have agreed terms on a £250,000-a-week contract. (Guardian)

Gossip was compiled by Louise Gwilliam, Matt Davis and Craig Lowe