TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool's Italian striker Mario Balotelli, 24, could be heading back to Serie A with Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini eager to secure his return to the San Siro. (Daily Star Sunday) 

Mancini could also return to former club Manchester City to sign England midfielder James Milner, 28, whose contract talks with the Premier League champions have broken down. (Sun - subscription required) 

Colombia international Fredy Guarin, 28, could be going in the other direction with Liverpool considering a January loan deal for the Inter midfielder. (Sunday People) 

Chelsea have made a £30m bid for Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, 24, in an attempt to beat Manchester United to the signing of the Netherlands international in January.(Sunday Express) 

But United are set to pip neighbours Manchester City to the signature of Fiorentina's Colombian midfielder Juan Cuadrado, 26, next month.(Sport Mediaset - in Italian) 

Everton have joined Arsenal, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in the chase for Croatia international and Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, 22. (Sunday Mirror) 

Burnley striker Danny Ings, 22, who is set to be a free agent next summer, is attracting interest from Dutch champions Ajax. (Sunday People) 

Ings is also a target for a number of Premier League clubs, with Newcastle United leading the top-flight chase for the forward. (Daily Star Sunday) 

Newcastle United's 27-year-old French winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who is on loan at Hull City, has held talks about terminating his contract in January and is currently back in France. (L'Equipe - in French) 

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is keen to loan out Belgium winger Adnan Januzaj, 19, in January with Real Sociedad leading the chase. (Sunday Express) 

Manchester City and New York City FC are set to agree to extend the loan of 36-year-old Frank Lampard at the Etihad from the end of December until the end of March. (Sunday Mirror) 

MLS side New York Red Bulls want to make Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard their star signing and hope to take advantage of the 34-year-old's relationship with sporting director and former Reds manager Gerard Houllier. (Sunday Telegraph) 

Swansea City's Spanish forward Michu, 28, who is on loan at Napoli, could be set to return to the Premier League with Crystal Palace. (Mail on Sunday) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool captain Gerrard and defender Dejan Lovren, 25, were involved in a row after last month's game against Crystal Palace with both players blaming the other for the 3-1 defeat. (Sun on Sunday - subscription required) 

Former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes can take his new club Real Sociedad to the Champions League, according to the Spanish club's 27-year-old midfielder Esteban Granero. (Observer) 

Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, who has been sidelined since October with a knee injury, could be back sooner than expected after the 26-year-old Germany international was pictured going to training. (Mail on Sunday) 

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has attacked Van Gaal's management style and says the club have an identity crisis. (Telegraph) 

Meanwhile, Dutchman Van Gaal says only a lack of alternatives saved compatriot Robin van Persie, 31, from being dropped when the striker's form dipped earlier in the season.(Observer) 

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said his Champions League winners are "obliged to win" the Fifa Club World Cup, which begins in Morocco this weekend. (Marca) 

Police chiefs have announced unexpected plans to reduce security for Newcastle United and Sunderland supporters for December's Tyne-Wear derby. (Independent) 

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Arsenal's Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez, 25, set up two goals in Saturday's 4-1 win over Newcastle and celebrated bytweeting  a picture from inside the Emirates' dressing room of him and his team-mates getting ready for the club's Christmas party.

West Brom's hard-fought derby win against Aston Villa literally left its mark on at least one Baggies player, with goalkeeper Ben Foster tweeting an image  of a team-mate's foot with a huge lump on it and the hashtag #clawfeet.

Meanwhile, Baggies midfielder Craig Gardner, 28, netted the winner against former employers Villa, then the ex-Birmingham City player further twisted the knife when he tweeted:  "Heard the Blues were singing my name today, that puts the icing on the cake #kro"

Roma's Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, 27,tweeted  he was misquoted in reports suggesting that he "hated" former club Arsenal and posted the correct quotes stating his "love" for the Gunners, before adding: "Some media really need to hire someone to do the translations properly."

AND FINALLY

Bayern Munich's Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, 30, left team-mate Rafinha, 29, red faced when he pretended to high-five the Brazilian before leaving him hanging in front of 30,000 fans in Augsburg. (Metro) 

Manchester United manager Van Gaal let his ruthless image slip at the club's Christmas party by belting out a series of Frank Sinatra songs.(Sunday People)