Wednesdays Football Headlines

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Transfer News & Gossip (Wednesday January 6th)

DAILY MAIL

Manchester United are ready to bid £75m for Gareth Bale this month following Rafa Benitez's Real Madrid sacking.
Chelsea are ready to lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Zenit midfielder Axel Witsel. The Premier League champions held talks with the 26-year-old last summer.
Chelsea will offer Patrick Bamford a first-team chance, despite his unsuccessful Crystal Palace loan spell.
Francesco Totti's wife has hinted that the Roma forward is considering hanging up his boots after his latest injury setback. The 39-year-old has not played for three months due to a thigh injury.
Bournemouth will rival Sunderland for QPR defender Steven Caulker, who is currently on loan at Southampton.
Leeds, QPR and Derby all want to sign Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish on loan.

DAILY MIRROR

Gareth Bale is a target for Chelsea as well as United, and Zinedine Zidane's interest in Eden Hazard could swing things the way of the Blues.
Crystal Palace and Manchester United will fight it out for the services of Fulham starlet Moussa Dembele.
Chelsea flop Radamel Falcao is being chased by MLS side Columbus Crew.
West Ham's and France's "artist" Dimitri Payet has been backed for a Euro 2016 spot by France legend Frank Leboeuf.
Manchester United have rejected an approach from AC Milan for Marouane Fellaini.
Aston Villa have already started to prepare for life in the Championship by ordering scouts to look at players with experience outside the top flight.
Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi says Pep Guardiola will be a success as a coach in the Premier League.
Crystal Palace have made a move for £10m Fiorentina striker Khouma Babacar.

THE SUN

Manchester United must move for Pep Guardiola now to keep him out of Manchester City's hands.
United have been told they can have Lazio's Felipe Anderson if they stump up £36m.
Loic Remy has been told he will probably stay at Chelsea. Newcastle, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have all been linked with moves to sign the French striker during January's transfer window.
Tottenham and Everton look like losing out to Roma in the race for Fulham striker Moussa Dembele.
Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman is ready to sign Manchester United's Nick Powell after a five-year battle for the midfielder.

THE EXPRESS

Pep Guardiola is heading for Manchester City and wants Lionel Messi to join him there.
Emmanuel Adebayor is set to return to the Premier League as he considers offers from Watford and Crystal Palace.
Current Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, who announced on Tuesday he was leaving for new challenges in the Premier League, almost became the Wigan manager in 2005.

DAILT STAR

Manchester United have agreed to let Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdes leave for nothing. The former Barcelona No 1 joined United last year on a free transfer but has fallen out with manager Louis van Gaal.
Patrick Bamford is set to snub interest in his services during the January transfer window and stay at Chelsea for the rest of the season and fight for his place.
Ronald Koeman has stepped up his interest in Feyenoord midfielder Tonny Vilhena while insisting Victor Wanyama will stay at Southampton.
Eden Hazard's Chelsea future has been cast into doubt, with Real Madrid ready to make a £100m summer move.

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Zidane: Bale key for Real ... (January 5th 2016)

New Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he understands Gareth Bale’s disappointment following the exit of Rafael Benitez, but says he remains a key player for the club.

Zidane was appointed at the Bernabeu following the dismissal of Benitez on Monday evening, becoming the 11th coach hired by Real president Florentino Perez and the club's 13th this century.

It is understood Bale is upset with the departure of Benitez but, at his first press conference since being appointed, Zidane claimed the "phenomenal" Welshman is a fundamental player in Real Madrid's future and said he will stick with the front three of Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

"Gareth was disappointed with the sacking of Rafa because he was an important coach for him but I will treat him the same way Rafa did," Zidane said. "He is an important player and a key player for the squad.

"He's phenomenal and we're going to give him all the care and support he needs."