England midfielder James Milner, 29, is poised to become a free agent in the summer by not signing a new Manchester City contract. (Sun - subscription required) 

Sporting Lisbon defensive midfielder Bubacar Djalo, 18, is interesting Tottenham - one of a number of clubs looking at a player who has been called "the new Paul Pogba". (Daily Mirror) 

Real Madrid are considering a summer move for striker Radamel Falcao, 29, who may not remain at Manchester United when his season's loan from Monaco expires.(Daily Mail) 

United did not need to sign Falcao last summer, according to Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim. (Sun - subscription required) 

West Brom are planning to sign Wolves' Mali international winger Bakary Sako, 26, on a free transfer at the end of the season. (Daily Mirror) 

Scottish Premiership side Dundee have made a move to sign Falkirk's top scorer Rory Loy, 26, on a pre-contract agreement. (Daily Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Burnley winger Michael Kightly, 29, says his team-mate Ashley Barnes, 25, is not a dirty player despite the controversy that ended up with Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic being red-carded at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. (Daily Mirror) 

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has accused Chelsea of trying to influence referees at Stamford Bridge. (Times - subscription required) 

QPR captain Joey Barton, 32, could be sent on an anger management course after receiving the ninth red card of his career during Saturday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Hull. (Daily Telegraph) 

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has criticised Southampton for not mentioning their former players Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert - who moved to Anfield last summer - in Sunday's match programme when the sides met at St Mary's. (Liverpool Echo) 

Southampton and Liverpool should both have been awarded penalties during Sunday's Premier League match, according to former referee Graham Poll. (Daily Mail) 

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, 28, says teams like Stoke City can be "tougher" to play than Barcelona, who they face in the Champions League on Tuesday.(Daily Star) 

Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at Swansea on Saturday was a "blow" to their ambitions of returning to the Champions League, their captain Wayne Rooney, 29, has conceded. Rooney says United "need to hit back next week". (Daily Express) 

Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan, 31, says Saturday's 2-1 win at Aston Villa was the perfect response following a 4-1 FA Cup defeat at Championship side Blackburn seven days earlier.(Stoke Sentinel) 

Hartlepool manager Ronnie Moore deserves a statue in his honour if he keeps them in the Football League, according to the club's former striker Joe Allon, who also played for Newcastle and Chelsea. (Newcastle Chronicle) 

Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman has dismissed their chances of reaching this season's Championship play-offs. (Nottingham Post) 

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Liverpool fan Adam Woodyatt, better known as Ian Beale in BBC soap Eastenders, was astonished at the number of controversial incidents in the first half of Sunday's 2-0 win at Southampton, tweeting:  "Amount of incidents in first half, it would sound like Mourinho reading lottery numbers!!"

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool's captain, had just one word to describe Philippe Coutinho's spectacular goal at Southampton, posting on Instagram:  "Wow."

Norwich winger Elliott Bennett, meanwhile, was reminded  of a classic 1995 goal against Liverpool by a Leeds striker: "You can't beat a goal that goes in off the bar! Coutinho rolling back to the days of Tony Yeboah! Bar and in specialist."

Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne had the consolation of meeting an idol after his side's 2-0 defeat, tweeting:  "It was good to meet the legend Thierry Henry after the game."

Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden spent a part of Sunday evening telling jokes on Twitter, such as this one:  "Why can't you hear a pterodactyl go to the bathroom? Because the 'P' is silent."

AND FINALLY...

The template for Championship club Brentford's future has already been tested at Danish Superliga leaders Midtjylland - who are owned by the Championship club's chairman Matthew Benham.(Guardian) 

Swansea captain Ashley Williams, 30, say he was encouraged to play a physical game against Manchester United striker Robin van Persie on Saturday - by a mascot. (Daily Mirror) 

Wycombe Wanderers had to endure a 10-and-a-half-hour journey to Carlisle for Saturday's League Two match after their coach suffered a tyre blow-out on the motorway. (Bucks Free Press)