A round-up of the latest football gossip from Wednesday's newspapers.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
- Chelsea are weighing up a January bid to try to hijack Liverpool and Arsenal's interest in Monaco star Thomas Lemar as the club consider ways of increasing head coach Antonio Conte's options.
- Manchester City are moving closer to securing Gabriel Jesus to a new, enhanced long-term contract.
- Mohamed Salah is likely to be the next Liverpool star rested after Jurgen Klopp revealed the Egyptian's controversial substitution against Everton was precautionary due to a 'little' hamstring issue.
- Alan Pardew is set for a transfer summit with West Bromwich Albion's hierarchy on Friday after confirming his interest in Danny Ings.
- Claude Puel has issued a firm defence of his record at Southampton and insisted his "boring" reputation is undeserved, ahead of his return to St Mary's.
SKY BET TRANSFER SPECIALS: Thomas Lemar's next club odds
THE SUN
- Chelsea are in pole position to bag Juventus defender Alex Sandro from under the noses of Manchester United.
- Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge will ponder a move abroad next month in a bid to save his World Cup hopes with Valencia and Real Betis keen.
- West Ham are prepared to offload teenager Reece Oxford in a permanent deal to Borussia Monchengladbach.
- Manchester City defender Danilo is wanted by old club Porto on loan for the remainder of the season.
- Manchester United starlet Scott McTominay is wanted by a host of Championship clubs on loan next month.
- Nigeria will be allowed to play in the World Cup next summer despite playing an ineligible player during qualifying - their 1-1 draw with Algeria was turned into a 3-0 defeat but did not affect their position.
DAILY MAIL
- Chelsea have been rebuffed in a £22m move for Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey.
- Rafa Benitez has set a deadline of Friday for Mike Ashley to tell him how much money he will have to spend in January.
THE GUARDIAN
- Sam Allardyce has cancelled Everton's Christmas party after telling his players their form this season is no cause for celebration.
DAILY EXPRESS
- Cristiano Ronaldo said he is excited at being reunited with Gareth Bale on the pitch, indicating that he wants him to stay at the Bernabeu.
DAILY MIRROR
- Mauricio Pochettino will keep his players focused on Brighton by picking a full-strength team for Wednesday's match.
- Jermain Defoe is set to go head to head with Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford on Wednesday - but does not regard him as a rival for a World Cup 2018 place.
- Tottenham and Everton have joined the list of clubs keeping tabs on Hamburg's teenage striker Jann-Fiete Arp.
DAILY STAR
- Wolves winger Ben Marshall is a target for Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday.
- Aston Villa, Fulham and Wolves all want Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban, who is currently on loan with Sunderland.