FRANK LAMPARD is edging ahead of Brendan Rodgers in the odds to become Newcastle's next manager.
While former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre is also in the running to replace Steve Bruce.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth star David Brooks has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
The Welsh international, 24, revealed on social media that he has Stage II Hodgkin Lymphoma but has vowed to fight the disease and come back to playing 'the sport I love'.
And we've the very latest on Raheem Sterling's future at Man City, where he has reportedly snubbed a new deal.
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- Dylan Terry
KOUN DO ATTITUDE
Manchester United have reignited their interest in Chelsea target Jules Kounde, according to reports.
The Red Devils considered a move for the 22-year-old Sevilla star this summer before they signed Raphael Varane from Real Madrid.
And they are weighing up a move for the centre-back again in January, according to Fichajes.
Varane is going to 'miss a few weeks' after picking up a groin injury and Harry Maguire is also out with a calf problem.
Kounde may not solve United's short term injury crisis but he would provide top class back up with Eric Bailly expected to leave.
However, United will face stiff competition from Chelsea who tried to sign the Frenchman in the summer.
- Dylan Terry
REAL RU CHASE
Antonio Rudiger is reportedly set to begin talks with Real Madrid in January as they plot a free transfer swoop for the Chelsea star.
The German international, 28, is free to begin contract talks with foreign clubs from January 1 when he enters the last six months of his deal.
Talks with Chelsea have stalled after the centre-back was reportedly disappointed with their opening offer.
And he is keen to keep his options open and will listen to offers from abroad in the new year.
Now Marca claims LaLiga giants Madrid are set to open talks with him over a move to the Bernabeu while AS also stating the same.
- Dylan Terry
COR BAR-LIMEY
Barcelona have agreed a new five-year contract with Pedri which includes a ONE BILLION euro release clause, according to reports.
The 18-year-old sensation will put pen to paper on the deal until 2026 which includes one of the highest release clauses of all time.
That is according to transfer guru Fabrizo Romano.
He tweeted on Wednesday: "Barcelona have reached total agreement with Pedri to extend his contract until June 2026, here we go!
"New deal to be signed in the next hours/days. Final clauses agreed and fixed too. EXCL: new release clause for Pedri will be €1B (one billion)."
His current deal expires at the end of this season.
- William Pugh
GOOD MORNING FOOTY FANS
Newcastle could be set to test Chelsea’s resolve with the club thought to be in contact with the agents of Timo Werner.
German newspaper Bild claims the Magpies are eyeing the Blues striker with the club’s new owners reportedly ready to splash the cash in January.
It is thought Amanda Staveley, who is a Newcastle board member, is looking to make use of her contacts in the sport with Werner sharing the same representatives as Switzerland defender Fabian Schar.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers is NOT interested in replacing Steve Bruce at Newcastle.
The Telegraph claims Rodgers is 100 per cent committed to Leicester despite links with the Toon following their £300million Saudi takeover.
Bruce is expected to be sacked this week by the new consortium.
Ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is the current favourite to take charge.
Finally, Phil Foden has agreed terms on a new six-year deal at Manchester City.
SunSport reported on Tuesday that the England ace hoped to finalise talks over his contract extension on his return from international duty.
And it is understood the paperwork will be signed and the agreement, keeping him at the Etihad until summer 2027, announced in the coming days.
City have rewarded Foden with a pay rise which will make him one of the best-paid young players in world football.
He had three years left on his current deal, which earned him £30,000 a week.
- Anthony Chapman
GETTING YOUR PHIL
Phil Foden has agreed terms on a new six-year deal at Manchester City.
SunSport reported on Tuesday that the England ace hoped to finalise talks over his contract extension on his return from international duty.
And it is understood the paperwork will be signed and the agreement, keeping him at the Etihad until summer 2027, announced in the coming days.
City have rewarded Foden with a pay rise which will make him one of the best-paid young players in world football.
He had three years left on his current deal, which earned him £30,000 a week.
- Anthony Chapman
LICENCE TO KYL
Real Madrid are confident of landing Paul Pogba on a free transfer next summer.
The Manchester United midfielder’s deal at Old Trafford is due to expire at the end of this season.
And reports in Spain say Real Madrid believe they can finally lure the 28-year-old to the Bernabeu after tracking him for several years.
They also hope to land his France international team-mate Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint Germain.
And they hope it would help to clinch a deal for the young forward if he knows he can play alongside Pogba.
- Anthony Chapman
WERNER IN TOON
Newcastle could be set to test Chelsea’s resolve with the club thought to be in contact with the agents of Timo Werner.
German newspaper Bild claims the Magpies are eyeing the Blues striker with the club’s new owners reportedly ready to splash the cash in January.
It is thought Amanda Staveley, who is a Newcastle board member, is looking to make use of her contacts in the sport with Werner sharing the same representatives as Switzerland defender Fabian Schar.
- Anthony Chapman
TO BE FRANK
Thomas Frank is flattered by reports linking him to Manchester United and Arsenal… but the Brentford boss insists he is happy in west London.
He said: “So, I understand that well, but… Arsenal and United. Wasn’t that how it was? I think I read that at some point.
“It’s very nice, but one thing is rumours, and the other is if they really wanted to contact me. Then we have to take it from there.
“I have a contract until 2023. I’m insanely happy at Brentford. It’s a club that means a lot to me and where I have had great times.
“I enjoy working with our director of football, owners, players, staff and fans.
“It’s the club who must come to me, but now we must see what the future brings. I know we have a mutual respect and a good relationship with each other on that.”
- Anthony Chapman
NEW DEVILS
Man Utd are being tipped to sign a new midfielder next summer.
But how would the Red Devils look with a fresh feel to the centre of the park?
Check out how United could line up next season below!
- Anthony Chapman
BREN NOT GONE
Brendan Rodgers is NOT interested in replacing Steve Bruce at Newcastle.
The Telegraph claims Rodgers is 100 per cent committed to Leicester despite links with the Toon following their £300million Saudi takeover.
Bruce is expected to be sacked this week by the new consortium.
Ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is the current favourite to take charge.
- Anthony Chapman
LANG SHOT
Arsenal are ready to make their interest in Noa Lang formal with a £25million bid, according to reports.
Voetbal claims Mikel Arteta is keen on snapping up the newly-capped Dutch international.
However, AC Milan are also interested.
And Arsenal could launch an offer in January.
- Anthony Chapman
POWER SERG
Sergio Romero has revealed the struggles he faced training alone as it became clear he had no future at Manchester United.
The new Venezia goalkeeper said: “It was a strange year for me, but I trained all year at Manchester United.
“Some days I was training by myself, because the squad was preparing for a game.
“I feel good, I worked in Argentina too and want to prove I’m the same Sergio who was at Sampdoria and then Manchester.”
- Jake Lambourne
FRENCH CONNECTION
Legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, 71, will play in a charity game on Thursday alongside French president Emmanuel Macron.
An XI made up of French football legends, sports stars and the president will take on medical staff from the Poissy Saint-Germain-en-Laye hospital to raise money for Les Pieces Jaunes.
All money raised from the match will go towards improving hospitalisation conditions for younger patients.
Wenger will partner French World Cup and Euro winner Marcel Desailly, 53, in the heart of the defence.
Wenger will also be making a return to management in January 2022.
The Frenchman will manage Saudi sides al-Hilal and al-Nasr when they take on French giants PSG in the Riyadh Season Cup.
- Jake Lambourne
BROOKS CONTINUED
"I want to thank everyone at the Football Association of Wales because without the swift attention of their medical team we may not have detected the illness.
"I'd also like to say thank you to AFC Bournemouth for all their support and assistance this past week.
"Although I appreciate that there will be media attention and interest, I would like to ask that my privacy is respected in the coming months and I will share updates on my progress when I am able to do so.
"In the meantime, thank you to everyone for their messages of support – it means so much and will continue to do so in the months ahead.
"I look forward to seeing you all again and playing the sport I love very soon."
- Jake Lambourne
GET WELL SOON
Bournemouth star David Brooks has been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.
A statement from the 24-year-old read: "This is a very difficult message for me to write.
"I have been diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin Lymphoma and will begin a course of treatment next week.
"Although this has come as a shock to myself and my family, the prognosis is a positive one and I am confident that I will make a full recovery and be back playing as soon as possible.
"I'd like to show my appreciation to the doctors, nurses, consultants and staff who have been treating me for their professionalism, warmth and understanding during this period."
- Jake Lambourne
HEY ARNOLD
Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to return against Watford this weekend in a huge boost for Liverpool after missing the last two matches through injury.
Alexander-Arnold, 23, was absent for Liverpool's 5-1 demolition of Porto in the Champions League and their thrilling 2-2 draw with title rivals Manchester City before the international break.
The full-back was also unavailable for England's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary with the same groin issue, having also missed out on the Euros this summer.
The Liverpool academy product had been in good form so far this season, notching up three assists in his six appearances before his short spell on the sidelines.
Liverpool's versatile midfielder James Milner deputised at right-back in his absence, but had a tough game up against Man City's Phil Foden and arguably should have been sent off in the second half.
The Reds remain the only side unbeaten in the league and will take on the Hornets at Vicarage Road on Saturday in what will be new boss Claudio Ranieri's first game in charge.
- Jake Lambourne
ROM BLOW
Tammy Abraham is an injury doubt for Roma's game against Juventus after spraining his ankle on England duty.
The former Chelsea striker, 24, replaced Harry Kane for the final 15 minutes of the 1-1 draw with Hungary.
But he was forced off in the dying moments of the World Cup qualifier following a knock, with Ollie Watkins taking his place.
According to CalcioMercato, Abraham suffered a sprained ankle and could be ruled of for a couple of weeks.
Currently fourth in Serie A and already six points behind league-leaders Napoli, Roma take on Juventus on Sunday in a massive clash in the race for European places.
- Jake Lambourne
POWER SERG
Sergio Aguero scored in his return to action for Barcelona in a behind-closed-doors friendly – and could make debut on Sunday.
The Argentina striker, 33, proved his fitness by netting in a training ground friendly against third-tier side UE Cornella and could face Valencia at the weekend.
Aguero moved to the Nou Camp on a free transfer this summer after ten years at Manchester City, where he won fifteen trophies, including five league titles and ended as the club's all-time top scorer.
However, he suffered a calf injury in pre-season just before the start of Barca's LaLiga campaign, which has kept him out of action until now.
Aguero's return will come as a huge boost to under-fire manager Ronald Koeman, with his side failing to find the net in four of their last six games in all competitions.
The Catalan giants currently sit ninth in LaLiga, five points adrift of rivals Real and Atletico Madrid, after a poor start to the season in both the league and Champions League.
- Jake Lambourne
HIT THE TOON
Jonjo Shelvey has admitted he wanted to get out alongside Newcastle supporters 'with a beer' to celebrate the £300million Saudi takeover.
He told the Daily Mail: "Those scenes outside the stadium were incredible.I was going to have a drive down, I wanted to get out there with a beer myself!
"That reaction at the stadium is unique. The fans have suffered a lot in the past, so I think what we saw was a release of frustration and relief that the deal had finally happened.
"Credit to the fans, too, because they have helped push this deal through. It gives us all so much to look forward to.
"I went to watch Newcastle Blue Star on Friday night, my mate plays in goal. There were about 1,000 fans there, fully-grown men wearing Arab clothes, I couldn’t believe it.
"I got off at half-time because I couldn’t really watch the game in the end, but it was mad. They were so happy."
- Jake Lambourne
BRUCEY BONUS
Danny Murphy believes Newcastle should stick with Steve Bruce rather than sacking him after the club's takeover.
He told talkSPORT: "You’ve got to be careful not to try and run before you can walk. The situation Newcastle are in now is precarious.
“They’ve got a manager in charge at the moment who has been there and done it in the lower echelons of the Premier League and dealt with that scenario before – even at Newcastle.
“Is there somebody out there who they can bring in who is going to be more equipped than Steve Bruce? That is ultimately the question.
“You can talk about the pleasing of the fans and the masses. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you quickly get Bruce out and get someone in to do it better.
“I think they will get rid because that’s what the fans want and they are trying to keep everybody happy at the moment with the takeover.
“Who do they get in? There is no obvious candidate to come in for a relegation battle.
"There is a different conversation if you are asking me are there managers out there who are capable of working with new players, spending money and competing."
- Jake Lambourne
THEO BLOW
France ace Theo Hernandez has tested positive for coronavirus after returning to AC Milan from international duty.
The Serie A giants have confirmed that player returned a positive test from home.
Milan have also said the relevant health authorities have been informed, and the player is 'doing well'.
Hernandez is the latest French international to test positive for the virus.
The left-back will have to isolate for ten days, meaning he will most likely miss Milan's Serie A fixture against Verona, and possibly their Champions League game against Porto.
Team-mate Adrien Rabiot tested positive just days before the Nations League final against Spain.
- Jake Lambourne
ON THE PAUL
Real Madrid are reportedly still keen to sign Paul Pogba and could land him for free, with the Manchester United midfielder's contract expiring in the summer.
Pogba, 28, has been a top transfer target at Real Madrid for years and according to reports, they will attempt to prise him away from Old Trafford again at the end of the season.
According to AS, Los Blancos have been impressed with Pogba's performances for France in the Nations League finals, which has persuaded them to step up their pursuit.
But Man Utd are desperate to convince Pogba to sign a new deal and will reportedly offer the Frenchman up to £400k-per-week in an effort to get him to stay.
This would make him the second highest paid player in the Prem, behind teammate Cristiano Ronaldo on 480k-per-week and ahead of Kevin De Bruyne on £385k-per-week.
The Red Devils refused to sell Pogba last summer, knowing that they risk losing him for free if they are unable to convince him to sign a new deal.
- Jake Lambourne
FIFA PROBE
FIFA has launched a probe into the violence by Hungarian fans that marred Wednesday’s Wembley World Cup qualifier.
Police were forced back down a stairway by a mob of visiting supporters after one of them was arrested for racially abusing a steward.
Even though the officers had batons, they were unable to impose order as they came under sustained assault.
Eventually the situation was calmed down but the scenes came on the back of incidents involving Hungarian fans in last month’s game with England in Budapest and during Euro 2020.
In a statement from Zurich, world chiefs said: “Fifa is currently analysing reports of last night’s qualifier matches in order to determine the most appropriate action.
“Fifa strongly condemns the incidents at England v Hungary and Albanian v Poland and would like to state its position remains firm and resolute in rejecting any form of violence as well as any form of discrimination or abuse.
“Fifa has a very clear zero-tolerance stance against such abhorrent behaviour in football.”
- Jake Lambourne
KOL ON ME
Fenerbahce will reportedly reignite their interest in Arsenal left-back Sead Kolasinac in January.
The Bosnian had been expected to leave in the summer, but the Turkish side failed to agree a deal with the Gunners.
But according to news outlet Yeni Asir, Kolasinac WILL make the move to link up with former team-mate Mesut Ozil in Istanbul.
They state that Fenerbahce do not want to wait until the summer for when the defender’s contract will expire.
- Jake Lambourne
GREAT DANES
Denmark have qualified for the 2022 Qatar World Cup with a 100 per cent win record, without conceding a goal and with two games to spare.
The Euro 2020 semi-finalists secured their place in next year's winter World Cup last night with a 1-0 win over Austria.
Flying wing-back Joakim Maehle scored the only goal of the game to seal the three points.
Denmark are sitting comfy at the top of Group F on 24 points, 27 goals scored and NONE conceded.
And there's just two group games to go, with Scotland – who sit second – seven points behind making it mathematically impossible to catch Denmark.
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