WHO WANTS ALONSO?
Chelsea and Manchester United, according to the Daily Star (yes, we know). Both clubs are apparently 'set to step up the chase' for the Spanish international, whose contract at Real Madrid expires at the end of the season. Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out a swap deal in January for Andrea Pirlo but Alonso will be free to start negotiations with other clubs in the new year.
The Star claims that United 'lead the chase' to sign the former Liverpool midfielder but Jose Mourinho is apparently also keen to be reunited with the player he managed at Madrid. Quite why you would replace Frank Lampard with another 30-something remains to be seen.
Or will Alonso be a replacement for Ramires? The Daily Express claims that the Brazilian is on a list of potential buys for Barcelona if they fail to land Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke. Quite why they would fail to land Koke is not explained. Are we being too picky?
KRUL TO BE EXPENSIVE
After last night's claim in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle that Juventus are casting admiring glances at Toon goalkeeper Tim Krul comes The Sun with a potential price tag...of £20m. Wow. The Chronicle had said that Juventus have Krul on a list - along with Joe Hart - of potential successors to Gianluigi Buffon and they 'will be monitoring Krul's progress in the coming weeks and months'.
The good news for Newcastle is that Krul is committed to the club until 2017 and is in no rush to leave, saying recently: "I feel like a Geordie now and feel right at home." Newcastle are thought to be eyeing Kasper Schmeichel as potential back-up to Krul as his Leicester contract ends next summer.
HOW MUCH FOR BAINES?
Oh ouch. The claim in the Manchester Evening News is that Everton are demanding at least £20m for Leighton Baines, a left-back who will be 29 next month. Surely United won't pay that kind of money after bidding £10m and £12m in the summer? Especialy not with Patrice Evra in the kind of form that makes him the best left-back in the Premier League right now (according to the statistics at least).
AND THE REST
Dani Osvaldo, 27, is a target for Valencia and Atletico Madrid...Lazio's Nigerian midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, 20, is ready to snub interest from Everton and Fiorentina in January after admitting he could see himself playing for Liverpool...Swansea hope to pip Cardiff in the January transfer window to the signature of £8m-rated Blackpool striker Thomas Ince...Everton boss Roberto Martinez has identified Portuguese winger Diogo Viana as a potential January reinforcement.
