Paper News and Gossip: Januzaj a Wanted Man, Bale Househunting

It’s not all about the Champions League this week, as we have quite a bit of transfer chatter to take in.

It’s over three months to the window opening again, but things are starting to heat up if the papers on Tuesday are anything to go by.

We’ve also got some injury news, along with a player who has been welcomed back into the fold after a spell in the wilderness.

All this and more feature in Tuesday’s edition of the Paper News and Gossip Review.

Adnan Januzaj in Manchester City's Sights

Hands up all those who saw this sort of thing coming? We're glad it is not just us who saw the 'clubs keeping tabs in Adnan Januzaj' story following his fine start to the season with Manchester United.

We felt it would be Real Madrid or Barcelona who would be the sides involved, so credit to John Edwards of the Mail who claims in an exclusive that Manchester City are ready to make a raid on their neighbours.

In his piece, Edwards writes:

"

The brilliant teenage midfield prospect has been involved in a contract wrangle with Manchester United that has dragged on nearly six months.

City have been alerted to the stand-off and are ready to launch a raid that would infuriate Old Trafford and overshadow even the furore over United’s failings in the summer transfer window.

"

Edwards says Januzaj is in the final year of his contract and wants both improved terms and assurances over his involvement in the first team.

Now, who can predict the next instalment of this saga? Yes, we think he'll sign a new deal as well.

Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Agger Worries for Liverpool

Liverpool lost their 100 percent record when drawing at Swansea on Monday, and they left the Liberty Stadium with injury concerns.

Philippe Coutinho is due to have a scan on the arm he injured during the 2-2 draw, while Daniel Agger did not make the game after picking up an injury in training.

Agger's injury is not even football related, as Dominic King of the Daily Mail writes that the Denmark international damaged his side while trying to avoid a falling weight in the gym.

In King's piece, he quotes Reds boss Brendan Rodgers: 

"

Philippe will have a wee scan. As for Daniel, It’s too early to say whether he will be fit for Saturday.

He had a real freak incident in the gym. Just before he was coming out to train, he overstretched trying to prevent a dumbbell falling on his foot. 

He has overstretched and yanked his side. We are waiting to see if that settles down over the next few days. If it doesn’t, we have got ample replacements. That is why we brought in extra players.

"

Gareth Bale Eyeing Mesut Ozil Pad

Gareth Bale has replaced Mesut Ozil at Real Madrid, and John Cross of the Mirror claims he could be about to make another move on the German's territory by buying his property in the Spanish capital.

According to Cross, Ozil has put his flat in the plush La Moraleja area on the market following his move to Arsenal. And in Cross' piece, he claims Bale has already had a look around the property.

Bale's lawyers, Cross says, are already in the process of thrashing out a deal. 

Should a deal be concluded, Bale will be in good company as his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo also lives in the area.

Arsenal Linked with Kyriakos Papadopoulos Bid

Arsenal could rival Liverpool for the signature of Greek defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos in the January transfer window, writes Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express.

The Schalke defender was strongly linked with Liverpool in the summer, but the Reds failed to push through a deal.

And with Brendan Rodgers boosting his Liverpool defensive options with the captures of Tiago Iloroi and Mamadou Sakho, Papadopoulos may have to look elsewhere for a Premier League move.

And Jefferson suggests that destination could be Arsenal, with the report claiming Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is ready to pay the £11 million asking price.

Arsenal Face Ciprian Marica Fight

Arsenal have been joined in the battle for Ciprian Marica by Fiorentina, writes the Mirror's Ed Malyon.

Clubs can still make signings if players are out of contract and Romanian forward Marica was linked with the Gunners last week.

However, Malyon claims that an injury to Fiorentina forward Mario Gomez has led to the Italian side expressing interest in Marica.

Bits and Pieces: Jones' Contract Offer and Cattermole Back in the Fold

Stoke City are preparing a contract offer to striker Kenwyne Jones to prevent him leaving on a free transfer next summer, writes John Percy of the Telegraph.

Paolo Di Canio has dangled an olive branch in front of Lee Cattermole and offered the midfielder a way back into the Sunderland fold following a “man-to-man” conversation, per Louise Taylor in the Guardian. 

Aston Villa may be without recent signing Jores Okore for the rest of the season after he was told he needs surgery on his knee, write the BBC.

Everton are facing up to the prospect of being without influential midfielder Steven Pienaar for the next month on account a hamstring injury, according to Dominic King of the Mail.

Former Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate has had a baby with the sister of Stewart Downing, writes the Mirror's Jeremy Armstrong.