MANCHESTER CITY have reportedly made contact with Karim Benzema's entourage over a huge January move.
Pep Guardiola's side are also said to be keen on luring Pedri from Barcelona, even though the Spain international has just signed a new deal.
One way to push the transfer through could be to offer Ferran Torres in return, with the winger said to be Barca's top target.
And Neymar is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines as he was forced onto crutches after suffering a horror injury for PSG at Saint-Etienne.
Get all the latest football news, updates and transfer gossip below…
- Joshua Mbu
BREAKING: RANGNICK UPDATE
Ralf Rangnick is due to be confirmed as interim Man Utd manager in the NEXT 24 hours, according to The Athletic.
The German is set to take charge of the team for the rest of the season and then be promoted into an ‘advisory’ role to allow a long-term manager to take over.
Rangnick’s first game in charge could be against league high flyers Arsenal at Old Trafford on December 2.
- Joshua Mbu
LIKE THE LUKA
Manchester City are reportedly plotting a swoop to bring Luka Modric back to the Premier League, writes GARY STONEHOUSE.
The veteran Croatian midfielder left Tottenham for Real Madrid back in 2012 but will become a free agent in June.
Modric, 36, is wanted by Newcastle United’s new Saudi owners but the star is ready to snub the riches on offer at St James’ Park.
According to SuperDeporte, Modric is now considering his options after talks over an extension at the Bernabeu stalled.
He is now believed to be heading to the USA – but not before a stop off in Manchester.
Modric is 'open to' following in Frank Lampard’s footsteps and have a spell at Man City before heading Stateside at New York City – a side within the Cityzens’ umbrella of clubs.
- Joshua Mbu
GUNNERS BID FOR TEENAGER
Arsenal have submitted a big for highly rated Romanian teenager Ianis Stoica, according to Team Talk.
The attacking midfielder has bagged six goals from 14 appearances in all competitions for Roș-albaștrii in Liga 1.
However, thee club’s owner, Gigi Becali, is a big fan of the Romania Under-21 ace, and he has no intention of selling one of his prized assets.
He said: “It is good that Arsenal are monitoring Ianis, but there is no point as he is not for sale.
“He could be in a year or two, but not yet. He is technically skilled, physically strong and very smart.
“To look at him, you’d think he is 23 years old – not 18.”
- Joshua Mbu
ALL GOING RON
Cristiano Ronaldo got a shock view of the future after the Manchester United superstar was axed for the draw at Chelsea, writes TRISTAN BARCLAY.
Furious Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel at full-time after being benched by caretaker Michael Carrick.
The Portuguese superstar struggled as a second-half sub, and incoming Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick claimed he was ‘too old’ FIVE YEARS AGO.
Rangnick, poised to sign an initial six-month deal as interim chief, demands intense pressing from his teams.
United legend Gary Neville claimed the German influenced the line-up for the draw at Stamford Bridge.
Carrick opted for three defensive midfielders — Fred, Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic.
Neville tweeted: “A lot of people having a go at Carrick for dropping Ronaldo and picking that MDF.
“I’ve a feeling the incoming boss picked that team as it’s a huge departure from midweek.”
- Joshua Mbu
SQUAD VALUE
Will any of the boys bring in some big names in January?
- Gary Stonehouse
OVERNIGHT ROUND-UP
Ralf Rangnick's imminent arrival as Manchester United manager has been confirmed by Red Devils' defender Eric Bailly.
Virtually Michael Carrick's final act as stand-in boss was the shock axing of Cristiano Ronaldo for yesterday's 1-1 Premier League draw at leaders Chelsea.
And afterwards Bailly told RMC Sport: “Yes, we’ve been told in the dressing room about the arrival of the new manager.”
Jadon Sancho hit United's fine breakaway opener before Jorginho's deserved penalty leveller for Chelsea.
But the Blues are still a point clear of Manchester City, who inflicted fourth-placed West Ham's second successive Prem defeat.
Midfielders Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandino struck before Manuel Lanzini denied Ederson a 100th clean sheet by netting with the last touch of the match.
Elsewhere, Jamie Vardy scored twice in Leicester's 4-2 win over Watford and Brentford striker Ivan Toney's spot-kick left Everton winless for seven games.
Burnley's home clash with Spurs was postponed due to a snow blizzard.
And Neymar departed on crutches after a horror injury in PSG's 3-1 triumph at St Etienne, which Lonel Messi lit up with three assists on Sergio Ramos' debut.
Off the pitch, Newcastle hope to beat Jose Mourinho's Roma to Hoffenheim's £4million-rated Austrian anchorman Florian Grillitsch.
- Ian Tuckey
KANE ENSURES THE SNOW MUST GO ON FOR YANK FAN
Harry Kane made sure a Tottenham fanatic’s epic journey did not go to waste after snow cancelled their game against Burnley.
The Spurs-mad supporter travelled all the way from Texas to Turf Moor to watch his team play – only for freezing weather to see the game postponed.
That threatened to leave the unlucky fan with nothing to show for his voyage across the pond.
But he had earlier tweeted details of his 31-hour journey as he homed in on Lancashire.
And that tweet was picked up by Spurs skipper Harry Kane, who had already arrived in Burnley for the scheduled 2pm kick-off.
Clearly inspired by the spirit of giving ahead of Christmas, the striker offered to host the fan at the club’s next home game.
Kane replied on Twitter: “Just been sent this tweet and absolutely gutted for you!
“For your commitment and to make up for the match being called off I’d like to invite you to a home game as my guest when you’re next in London.”
- Ian Tuckey
WOR FLOR
EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle want to beat Jose Mourinho’s Roma to sign Austrian star Florian Grillitsch in the window, writes ALAN NIXON.
The Toon are hoping to persuade versatile Grillitsch to choose them in January and add his class to Eddie Howe’s survival fight.
Hoffenheim’s Grillitsch can play defensive midfielder or even sweeper and is available to sign a pre-contract as he is a free agent next summer.
If Grillitsch fancies the challenge, Newcastle can then make an offer to buy him from the Germans for a bargain £3 or £4million.
The Toon have been chasing Grillitsch for months and he is one of the easier players for them to land right now – as prices are high in the domestic market when they take an interest.
Grillitsch also has Roma keen on him, but Newcastle have the money to tempt him their way – even if there are no guarantees that they stay up.
The talented Austrian will face Wales and possibly Scotland on the way to World Cup qualification and Grillitsch could be a Premier League player by then.
The Magpies are desperate for reinforcements when the window reopens to help them avoid a relegation dogfight.
- Ian Tuckey
BAILLY CONFIRMS RANGNICK COMING IN
Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has revealed Ralf Rangnick is arriving as interim boss.
Bailly told RMC Sport: “Yes, we’ve been told in the dressing room about the arrival of the new manager.”
- Ian Tuckey
GR-EIGHT TAMMY
Tammy Abraham made it eight goals for Roma this season as he scored the winner against Torino.
The former Chelsea striker was set up by ex-Arsenal playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the half hour mark.
Abraham brilliantly controlled Mkhitaryan's pass, turned and slotted past Torino keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
The win leaves Jose Mourinho's Roma fifth in the Serie A table, with Napoli ten points ahead in the lead.
Abraham, 24, signed for Mourinho this summer after leaving boyhood club Chelsea, who later signed Romelu Lukaku, 28, from Inter Milan.
He said: “I love AS Roma since day one. I feel home here at Roma, there’s nothing like scoring goals in this stadium, in front of our fans."
Despite Abraham's sole opener separating the sides, manager Mourinho said it should have been more.
He told DAZN: “It wasn’t easy for us to press them tonight because of how wide their defenders get, honestly I expected us to score more.
- Ian Tuckey
KEANE DISAGREES WITH ALL OF CARRICK’S INTERVIEW
Roy Keane disagreed ‘with everything’ Michael Carrick said in his post-match interview and claimed Manchester United are giving a ‘job for the boys’.
Carrick is currently filling in as temporary United boss following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
And he saw his side leave Stamford Bridge with a point after holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw.
Afterwards, Carrick told Sky Sports: “I’m disappointed actually when you’re in front in a game like this to have it taken away form you like it was is disappointing.
“I’m immensely proud of the players, the whole group, the staff all week in difficult situations trying to make the best of it.
“We can’t hide from the fact that it has been tough at times but we made the best of it and I’m immensely proud of how we have gone about it this week but it’s a little bit of a disappointing feeling.
“We came here to win a game. We were positive in our mindset and attitude so we are a bit disappointed I can’t lie.”
- Ian Tuckey
NEYMAR ON CRUTCHES
Neymar was spotted using crutches after Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 clash with St Etienne on Sunday.
The striker was stretchered off the pitch in the closing stages of PSG's 3-1 win at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium following a nasty tackle from Yvann Macon.
Macon's poor tackle trapped Neymar's left ankle and left him writing in agony.
Thankfully for the former Barcelona man, his injury didn't require a trip to the hospital.
But he did have to make use of a protective boot as well as crutches as he made his way to the team bus.
French champions PSG are currently unsure of the severity of Neymar's latest injury.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino said: "We will have to see this tomorrow but from the images.
"I hope that it's not a big deal and that he will be back with the squad quickly.
"But the action is not good."
- Ian Tuckey
PEP RULES OUT BOSSING RIVAL PREM CLUB
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has all but ruled out ever managing another English club.
Champs City are just a point off the top after beating West Ham today before Manchester United held leaders Chelsea 1-1.
And Guardiola said: "In England being here, always I will be Man City manager – and if they ever want me back, I will come back to City.
"I don’t think I will train another club in England apart from this one."
- Ian Tuckey
RESULT: CHELSEA 1 MAN UTD 1
The Red Devils clung on for a point – but Antonio Rudiger smashed a golden chance high for the Blues seconds from the end of stoppage time.
Jadon Sancho bagged United's smooth breakaway opener on 50 minutes before Jorginho's penalty leveller,
For all the reaction from Stamford Bridge click on our match blog HERE.
- Ian Tuckey
NEYMAR HORROR INJURY
PSG superstar Neymar has suffered a horror injury against St Etienne at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, writes KOSTAS LIANOS.
The star forward appeared to have badly sprained his ankle when his left foot bent in half once it touched the ground following a tackle by Yvann Macon five minutes before full-time.
The Brazil international was in absolute agony as he screamed in pain and appeared to be crying as well.
The 29-year-old was taken off on a stretcher and PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino was forced to replace him with Junior Dina Ebimbe.
Nothing is known about the former Barcelona star’s condition at the moment but it did look like a nasty injury.
- Ian Tuckey
MESSI'S TRIPLE ASSIST
Sergio Ramos finally made his Paris Saint-Germain debut – but saw his thunder stolen by an inspired Lionel Messi.
The former LaLiga sparring partners were both in action for the French giants in a 3-1 win at St Etienne.
It was former Real Madrid skipper Ramos' long-awaited first competitive outing for the club after a muscle injury sidelined him for the start of the season.
The Spain defender, 35, joined the Ligue 1 side in the summer on a free from Real, and weeks later Argentina legend Messi arrived from Barcelona as a free agent.
Both started in a star-studded PSG line-up at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard stadium and Ramos made a solid start – but it was Messi who stole the show by setting up all of their three goals.
The hosts had taken a 23rd-minute lead in snowy conditions with a goal from Denis Bouanga but they were up against it when they had Timothee Kolodziejczak sent off on the stroke of half-time for a trip on Kylian Mbappe.
Messi took control after that with a free-kick from that Kolodziejczak foul which was headed in by Marquinhos to make it 1-1.
They took the lead 11 minutes from time when Messi found Angel Di Maria and he curled a shot into the far corner.
And they sealed the win in stoppage time when Messi crossed for Marquinhos to head in his second goal.
The victory extended PSG's Ligue 1 lead to 14 points but it was marred by an injury to Neymar.
The Brazil superstar was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury after a tackle from Yvann Macon five minutes from time.
- Ian Tuckey
THERE'S SNOW STOPPING SEAN
IT was snow holds barred for Sean Dyche's hardman reputation.
The grinning Burnley manager wore just a shirt and tie on the snowy Turf Moor pitch as a blizzard forced off the clash with Tottenham.
The Clarets hoped to sleigh struggling Spurs and rise above the drop zone.
But although ref Peter Bankes asked for the snow to be swept away, he eventually postponed Sunday's match after speaking to Dyche and Tottenham chief Antonio Conte.
Dyche's dramatic appearance, however, earned him new plaudits on social media – and even comparisons to a famous horror movie scene.
One fan posted: "Something about this reminded me of Jack Nicholson from The Shining. Sean Dyche take a bow."
Another said: "Sean Dyche is the hardest bloke in football. I'm surprised he's not topless."
And one accolade suggested if the ex-defender can't actually move mountains then he does at least have some super-human connection with nature.
It read: "Sean Dyche doesn't feel the snow. The snow feels Sean Dyche."
- Ian Tuckey
MAN CITY 2 WEST HAM 1
City went back up to second as midfielders Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho inflicted the fourth-placed Hammers' second successive Prem loss.
Skipper Gundogan turned home Riyad Mahrez's deflected shot on 33 minutes amid a first-half snow blizzard.
And anchorman Fernandinho drilled his first top-flight goal for three years in the 90th minute, just after coming on.
Manuel Lanzini replied for below-par West Ham with the final kick of the game four minutes into stoppage time.
- Ian Tuckey
THE HAND OF FOD
Phil Foden is one of the ‘most delightful football players’.
Ex-Hammers midfielder Jack Collison has tipped the Man City midfielder to go on and become one of the best players in world football.
Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at its launch of the 5-A-Side Bet on Man City v West Ham, Collison said: “But then on the other team you’ve got Phil Foden, who I think is one of the most delightful football players this country has seen for a long, long time.
“That England team is exciting, but Phil Foden really is at the forefront.
“I actually think he’s got the capabilities and the powers to go on and become on of the best players in the world.
“He’s already won so much at such a young age, it’s great to see him playing such a big part of Pep Guardiola’s teams/ Even as much as we know Pep loves to tinker with his line-ups, Phil Foden will always be there or thereabout in his starting line-ups for the big games.”
- Joshua Mbu
CHELSEA XI
As expected, Thomas Tuchel has been forced into making changes from the side who dealt with Juventus last Tuesday, but eyebrows will be raised as to why certain members of the side have been left on the bench.
The ever-present back three of Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger remain the same.
N’Golo Kante’s knee hasn’t recovered in time so in steps Ruben Loftus Cheek to replace the French World Cup winner.
With no Ben Chilwell available, it gives the chance for Spanish international Marcos Alonso to show what he can do down that left channel.
But the surprise comes in the forward positions. Both Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount will start this match from the bench which means that the only change is Timo Werner coming in for Christian Pulisic leaving Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi to keep their spots.
(3-4-3): 16 Mendy; 14 Chalobah, 6 Thiago Silva, 2 Rudiger; 24 James, 5 Jorginho, 12 Loftus-Cheek, 3 Alonso; 22 Ziyech, 11 Werner, 20 Hudson-Odoi.
- Joshua Mbu
RONALDO BENCHED
Cristiano Ronaldo has been BENCHED for Man Utd's game against Chelsea.
Rashford will start up front for the Red Devils, with Bruno Fernandes captaining the side.
Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof start in the middle of the defence.
1 De Gea; 29 Wan-Bissaka, 2 Lindelof, 3 Bailly, 27 Telles; 17 Fred, 31 Matic, 39 McTominay; 18 Fernandes (c), 25 Sancho, 10 Rashford.
- Joshua Mbu
LEICESTER CITY 4-2 WATFORD
Ademola Lookman gets himself a goal and it could be hard for Watford to find a way back.
- Joshua Mbu
SECOND HALF
All of the 2PM kick-offs are back underway for the second half.
- Joshua Mbu
INJURY BLOW
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has suffered a horror injury against St Etienne at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, writes KOSTAS LIANOS.
The star forward appeared to have badly sprained his ankle when his left foot bent in half once it touched the ground following a tackle by Yvann Macon five minutes before full-time.
The Brazil international was in absolute agony as he screamed in pain and appeared to be crying as well.
The 29-year-old was taken off on a stretcher and PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino was forced to replace him with Junior Dina Ebimbe.
Nothing is known about the former Barcelona star's condition at the moment but it did look like a nasty injury.
- Joshua Mbu
LEICESTER CITY 3-1 WATFORD
Jamie Vardy has restored Leicester's lead at the King Power.
And shortly after his first, Vardy grabs a second – there's a chance of bagging a hat-trick against his old boss.
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