Sunday's Big Gossip

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LIVERPOOL TARGET YILMAZ
It's no secret that Liverpool are in desperate need of a new striker, and the latest name to be linked with the Reds is Galatasaray forward Burak Yilmaz.

The Turkey international joined Gala for only £5million in the summer - after apparently rejecting interest from Sunderland - and so far he's proved to be a bargain. Yilmaz is currently the top scorer in the Champions League with six goals in six matches and has 17 strikes in total this season.

According to The Sun, 'Kop spies' (we assume they mean scouts) will watch the 27-year-old in action on Sunday as Galatasaray take on Fenerbahce in the Kitalar Arasi Derbi. And if Yilmaz impresses, Liverpool could be ready to make a January move for the striker.

Meanwhile, The Mirror claim contract talks with Martin Kelly have reached gridlock after the defender rejected the club's offer of a new £35,000-a-week deal.


WILSHERE SET TO SIGN NEW CONTRACT
Good news at last Gooners: Jack Wilshere is ready to commit his future to Arsenal by signing a new five-year deal "in the next couple of weeks".

"I am talking to the club and I probably will be committing my future to the club in the next couple of weeks," said the midfielder.

"I know the team are going through a bad stage at the moment, but that is like any team.

"We can still realistically win everything we are in. I know we are a long way behind in the Premier League, but football changes quickly."

Perhaps not that quickly, Jack. You can read more on that story here.


ARSENAL PLAN JANUARY SHOPPING LIST
After reports this week that Arsene Wenger is being urged by the Arsenal board to spend a £50million war chest in January, the Sunday papers have come up with several new targets for the Gunners.

Top of the list, according to The Sun, is Parma midfielder Afriyie Acquah who, unsurprisingly, has been likened to Michael Essien. He's Ghanaian, he's a midfielder; they must be the same type of player.

Apparently Wenger is planning to send scouts to watch Acquah, who is on loan to Parma from Palermo, at next month's Africa Cup Of Nations, where the 20-year-old will hope to add to his two caps for the Black Stars.

Next on Wenger's special list is long-term target Moussa Sissoko, who is still at Toulouse after nigh on two years of assorted bulls**ttery linking him with a move elsewhere.

The Mirror claim the France international is an £8million target for the Gunners as they seek to add extra steel in midfield after deciding not to replace Alex Song in the summer.

Finally - and certainly more unlikely - The Metro suggest Stephan El Shaarawy is also in Wenger's sights after the Arsenal boss hinted at his interest in a recent interview with Eurosport.

"El Shaarawy is a very mobile, very technical young player. His philosophy fits perfectly with mine," said Wenger, before adding when quizzed on whether he could make a move for the AC Milan forward: "You never know. I just say I love the way he plays."

So there you have it, Arsenal are going to sign three players and everything will be great again.


OR WILL IT?
Dun Dun Duuuun.

Despite apparently making plans to sign several new players in January, Wenger could leave Arsenal to replace Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, according to The Sunday Express.

The paper report: 'Real Madrid have targeted Arsenal's under-fire boss Arsene Wenger as the man to replace Jose Mourinho if he leaves at the end of the season.

'Wenger had has the opportunity to manage Madrid before but has always turned them down. If Real come calling again Wenger could be tempted to take on a fresh challenge.'

A predictable story, but still more interesting than the sandwich the GC is currently eating.


HERNANDEZ TO QUIT UNITED?
Quick line from The Star on Sunday now, who claim Javier Hernandez is ready to quit Manchester United unless he gets more playing time.

Chicharito has largely been confined to a super-sub role this season, but is reportedly growing frustrated at his lack of first-team action.

If he does try to force an exit, Hernandez will have plenty of options, with Atletico Madrid, Fiorentina and Porto all keen on a January move for the striker.


AND THE REST
Chelsea are plotting a £12m move for Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao if Ashley Cole quits the club...Sergio Aguero could leave Manchester City and Barcelona striker David Villa is being lined up as a replacement...West Ham United are ready to offer Mohamed Diame a double-your-money contract to ward off interest from Arsenal...Norwich City manager Chris Hughton has joined the chase for Curtis Davies after Reading and Southampton were also linked with the Birmingham City defender...Manchester City have revived their interest in Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma after deciding against meeting the £24million asking price in the summer...Everton have put Wigan midfielder James McCarthy top of their shopping list to replace Marouane Fellaini, if the Belgium international leaves...Reading have joined the hunt for Swansea striker David Graham, with Norwich, Sunderland and West Ham also interested...Cardiff City are keen on signing Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre...

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce wants to sign Argentine centre-half Lisandro Lopez from Arsenal de Sarandi...Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway wants a January reunion with QPR striker DJ Campbell, although Bolton are also keen...Manchester City are in talks with River Plate about signing midfielder Ezequiel Cirigliano and also hope to snatch Wolfsburg's teenage winger Julian Brandt...Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has been told he cannot spend big in the January transfer window...Marseille striker Loic Remy will be a target for West Ham in the January transfer window...Newcastle forward Demba Ba wants to fulfil his dream of playing for Paris St Germain...Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has got his scouts compiling reports on Athletic Bilbao youngster Alvaro Pena...Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has held talks with Joe Cole's representatives about a deal for the Liverpool midfielder...

Mario Balotelli is taking Manchester City to a tribunal after disputing a fine of two weeks' wages...Chelsea have added Diego Simeone's name to the list of potential new managers if they fail to persuade Pep Guardiola to come to Stamford Bridge...Newcastle will renew their interest in Lille's Mathieu Debuchy and FC Twente's Douglas...Chelsea are lining up a £12million move for Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic to replace Frank Lampard...QPR and West Ham could move for Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh next month...Sir Alex Ferguson won't sign Theo Walcott or anyone else in January...Sir Alex Ferguson is backing David Moyes as the preferred choice for his successor at Old Trafford...Crystal Palace are set to snub Manchester United by rejecting any offers for Wilfried Zaha.