Gossip column: Hernandez, Abate, Cech and Valdes

Liverpool have ditched plans to sign Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 32, who is now training with Manchester United.

(Liverpool Echo)  
The Reds are keeping tabs on AC Milan full-back Ignazio Abate, 27, as a potential replacement for Glen Johnson.

(Daily Mirror)  
Real Madrid are keen to complete the permanent signing of Javier Hernandez, 26, from Manchester United, but the Spanish giants want the Red Devils to lower their £17m asking price.

(Daily Express)  
Petr Cech, 32, is in line for shock move to Turkish side Besiktas after losing his first-team place at Stamford Bridge.

(Talksport)   OTHER GOSSIP
Luka Modric, 29, says he and his Real Madrid team-mates eased off in the second half of their Champions League win over Liverpool to save themselves for Saturday's El Clasico against Barcelona.

(Daily Mail)
Per Mertesacker, 30, blames the players' attitude in training for Arsenal's struggles in the Premier League and the Champions League.

(Daily Telegraph)  
Former Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer says the club risks slipping through the divisions like Wolves if they sack manager Alan Pardew.

(Chronicle)  
The Sun's back page
Stoke boss Mark Hughes fears Victor Moses, 23, could become a marked man with officials after Swansea counterpart Garry Monk accused the midfielder of diving.

(Daily Express)  
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet says Vito Mannone, 26, will keep his place for this weekend's clash against Arsenal despite the Italian goalkeeper conceding eight goals against Southampton

.
(Sunderland Echo)  
Poyet says he could have been sacked if he had overseen an 8-0 defeat in any other country.

(Daily Mail)  
Brendan Rodgers says £16m striker Mario Balotelli, 24, may never be good enough for Liverpool.

(Sun – subscription required)   BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Everton fans have been hailing Tony Hibbert as the new Cristiano Ronaldo, after the full-back's

'showboating”  
during Thursday's Europa League tie with Lille.
Erik Lamela's 'rabona' strike for Tottenham against Asteras Tripolis on Thursday is the not the first time the 22-year-old Argentine has

produced the party trick.
Mesut Ozil has been ruled out until the end of 2014 with a knee ligament injury

Derby County and England goalkeeper Jack Butland, 21, was not too impressed by Harry Kane's performance when the Tottenham striker replaced Hugo Lloris in goal after the Frenchman's red card against Asteras Tripolis. “I'm so glad @hkane28 knows how to hit the back of the net – fair play for giving it a go lad!” he

tweeted.  
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, 26, is
back in the gym  
as he looks to keep up his fitness levels following his knee ligament injury.

AND FINALLY
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown says so many players asked to swap shirts with Thierry Henry that the club threatened to make him pay for the ones he gave away.

(Daily Mail)