TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal have agreed a deal in principle to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32, who is currently playing second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Star) 

Lionel Messi's father Jorge says the prospect of his son leaving Barcelona is "not even on the table", after an interview the 27-year-old gave earlier this week prompted speculation about a move away.(Daily Mail) 

Bayern Munich winger and Liverpool target Xherdan Shaqiri, 23, could be forced to stay with the German champions until the end of the season as he is cup tied in the Champions League. (Inside Futbol) 

Jose Mourinho has ordered his scouts to keep tabs on Ipswich defender Tyrone Mings, 21, as a potential long-term replacement for John Terry at Chelsea. (Daily Mirror) 

Manchester United are preparing a move for AC Milan defender Adil Rami, 28. (Daily Star) 

Manchester City are willing to activate 26-year-old Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado's £28m release clause to beat rivals Manchester United to his signing. (Daily Express) 

Manchester United are planning to sell Angel Di Maria, 26, to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer to create funds for a sensational move for either Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, 25, or Cristiano Ronaldo, 29. (Daily Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Southampton will offer England international Nathaniel Clyne a new deal to fend off interest in the 23-year-old right-back from Liverpool. (Daily Telegraph) 

Borussia Dortmund centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 26, is to return to action just two weeks after suffering a broken leg with the German side to face Arsenal in the Champions League next Wednesday. (Daily Mirror) 

Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton has described Daniel Sturridge's latest injury setback as a "major blow" for the club - and has warned the Reds will struggle to improve their fortunes in the coming weeks.(Talksport) 

QPR manager Harry Redknapp says Chelsea are certainties to win the Premier League title. (Talksport) 

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure tweeted  a picture of himself after winning his 100th cap for the Ivory Coast in the 0-0 draw with Cameroon.

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton was in prosaic mood on Wednesday and his effort was re-tweeted or favourited over 650 times: "Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light,"tweeted Barton. 

AND FINALLY

Ivory Coast qualified for the African Cup of Nations with a 0-0 draw against Cameron but the match ended in chaos as police had to oversee a pitch invasion in which players such as AS Roma forward Gervinho were caught up. (Daily Mail)