ARSENAL have given Theo Walcott the clearest indication yet that he has no future at the Emirates. According to the Daily Mirror, the 23-year-old has been given the cold shoulder by Arsene Wenger as the Frenchman draws up new contracts for a raft of young players.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and Emmanuel Frimpong are all to receive "improved big money deals" to ensure they remain at the Emirates.
Why anyone would want to remain at the Emirates given the Gunners' form of late isn't clear, but while Oxlade-Chamberlain is to be given a five-year deal the Mirror says there has been no desire to restart negotiations with Walcott. Instead the paper says it seems "increasingly likely that Arsenal may look to sell the England winger in January".
Could banned Chelsea defender John Terry be about cash in his chips and move to Spain? The former England skipper has been offered the chance to put scandal behind him and start again on the shores of the Mediterranean in January, according to the Daily Mail.
The paper quotes Fifa agent Francois Gallardo, who claims Terry is on the verge of accepting an 18-month contract at the Mestalla, which could be extended for another season. Gallardo apparently said there were "several reasons" why 31-year-old Terry did not want to renew his contract at Chelsea and wanted to come to Spain.
The disgraced defender certainly has the time to think the offer over. He is currently serving a four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, and has been fined by both the FA and Chelsea, who are under pressure to strip him of the captaincy.
Another big name being linked with a move to pastures new is Wayne Rooney, who could be the subject of a big-money offer from mega-rich Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in the new year.
Sky Sports reports that Anzhi team director Roberto Carlos, the former Brazil full back, would be keen to lure the England striker away from Old Trafford. However, it would appear that the witness was being led slightly by the Sky reporter.
Asked if he would be interested in Rooney, Carlos replied: "Why not? He's one of the best players in the world and any team would be happy to have him in their squad." Perhaps it would have been more of a story if he had said "no".
Talksport reports that Real Madrid are "favourites" to sign Daniele De Rossi despite Manchester City's long-standing interest in the 29-year-old Italian international. De Rossi has spent all his career at Roma but in recent months rumours have strengthened to the effect he wants a fresh challenge late on in his career.
Though the Sky Blues have made all the running so far for De Rossi, Talksport claims that Real are primed to launch a concerted bid to prise the midfielder from Roma in January. It's alleged that De Rossi has fallen out with manager Zdenek Zeman this season and now Jose Mourinho is poised to bring him to the Bernabeu.
The Metro reports that Tottenham are about to see their chances of landing Joao Moutinho disappear down the Seine. Apparently the Porto playmaker is being targeted by Paris Saint-Germain and the French outfit stand a good chance of success.
Not only have they the cash to make a £30m offer for the Portuguese international, but he is attracted by the prospect of regular Champions League football - something PSG can offer (they are currently leading the French first division) while Tottenham have more of a Europa League look about them. According to the Metro, PSG will pay Moutinho £150,000-a-week in wages if he agrees to join them in January.
Still with Spurs and the Evening Standard says that manager Andre Villas-Boas has "warned" Emmanuel Adebayor that he won't be going anywhere in January whether he wants to or not.
Stories have surfaced in recent days suggesting the Togolese frontman is unhappy at not starting regularly for the Lilywhites since Villas-Boas took over in the summer and began using just one lone striker.
But if Adebayor is dreaming of a New Year move, he should think again, according to Villas-Boas. "I don't think the club will be willing to let anybody go in January," he said. "Every player wants to play and at the moment we're using one striker and [Jermain] Defoe is doing extremely well. Adebayor is in contention for games where we play two strikers."
Finally, caughtoffside.com reports that Manchester United are contemplating a move for Sunderland shot-stopper Simon Mignolet as David de Gea prepares to leaves Old Trafford for Real Madrid. The Spanish keeper arrived at Old Trafford last year but has failed to impress consistently. Now it appears the 24-year-old Mignolet is Alex Ferguson's preferred choice to fill the space between the sticks in the New Year. ·
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