Paper Talk: Liverpool want Williams; Bale and Ronaldo latest

Ian Watson

Inaki Williams: Spain forward wanted by Liverpool

Liverpool are said to be willing to pay almost £45million for Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams, while Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have yet to agree Real Madrid deals.

WILLIAMS WANTED BY LIVERPOOL

Liverpool are ready to pay the buyout clause in Inaki Williams’ Athletic Bilbao contract, according to reports.

The Sun repeats a story from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claiming the 22-year-old has risen to the top of Jurgen Klopp’s wanted list ahead of the January transfer window.

The Reds are said to be prepared to meet the full cost of releasing him from his current deal, which is 50million euros – £44.6million.

The Spain Under-21 international, who has already made his senior bow, has scored 10 goals in 52 games for Bilbao.

Gareth Bale: Faces team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday

REAL WORK TO DO OVER RONALDO AND BALE 

Cristiano Ronaldo is stalling on a new contract at Real Madrid because he is holding out for a longer deal.

The Mirror reports that the financial framework of a deal is in place, with the superstar set to earn £18.5million a year after tax, plus a range of add-ons.

But Ronaldo, who has often stated his desire to play into his forties, wants a five-year extension but club officials are said to be only willing to offer terms until 2020.

In other news that is no doubt likely to be labelled ‘a boost for Manchester United’, Gareth Bale is also said to be in no rush to sign a new deal at the Bernabeu.

Bale is in discussions with the Champions League winners and the Welshman is said to be happy where he is, but the 27-year-old is still some way off committing to a new contract that would see him earn £250,000 a week after tax and become the club’s second-highest earner.

Pablo Zabaleta: Believes Guardiola is one of greatest

AND THE REST

Inter Milan are interested in Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta and would like to get a deal done in January (The Sun)

Yannick Carrasco has signed a bumper new contract tying him down to Atletico Madrid until 2022 (The Sun)

Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck could return to action ahead of schedule (The Sun)

Everton are plotting a potential January move for Sporting Lisbon’s star defender Ruben Semedo (The Sun)

Sergio Aguero has been told by Pep Guardiola he can leave Manchester City when he wants to (Daily Mirror)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract extension at Real Madrid is still waiting to be finalised due to a row over its length (Daily Mirror)

Gareth Bale would like to stay at Real Madrid but is in no rush to sign a new deal as negotiations continue (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea scouts will run the rule over potential January transfer target Ben Gibson on Saturday when Middlesbrough travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal (Daily Mirror)

Ben Gibson, Middlesbrough

Peter Odemwingie is set to join Bolton Wanderers. The former West Brom forward is a free agent after being released by Stoke in the summer (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool defensive starlet Joe Gomez is a loan target for fellow Premier League side Bournemouth as well as Championship high-fliers Huddersfield (Daily Mirror)

Pep Guardiola has revealed Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany’s head is not right after two years of injury hell (Daily Mirror)

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has directed stinging criticism at English clubs as he claimed academies are “kidnapping” young foreign talent instead of promoting local youth. (Daily Mail)

Vincent Kompany is set to become the latest high-profile casualty of Pep Guardiola’s reign after the Manchester City captain was left out in Barcelona (Daily Mail)

Sunderland players will have their wages halved if they are relegated from the Premier League (Daily Mail)

Everton No 1 Maarten Stekelenburg says that a keeper’s ‘priority is to save balls not kick them (Daily Mail)

Arsenal are finally in a position to win the Premier League, says Arsene Wenger: “There’s more to come from our team… the confidence is there” (Daily Mail)

Tony Pulis has revealed that Saido Berahino will be offered a new deal, despite confirming the forward has been placed on a special weight-loss programme (Daily Telegraph)

Daniel Sturridge Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has shrugged off concerns about Daniel Sturridge’s goal drought and assured the Liverpool striker “even Gerd Muller had streaks like this” (Daily Telegraph)

Manchester giants United and City are set to go head-to-head in the race to snap up Monaco defender Fabinho (Daily Star)

Chelsea want to sign highly-rated defender Alessio Romagnoli in January – but Milan will snub their advances (Daily Star)

Jose Mourinho has admitted he has never been close to Roman Abramovich despite Chelsea’s owner twice appointing him and the Portuguese being the most successful manager in the club’s history (The Guardian)

Chelsea are close to agreeing a new contract with Dominic Solanke after the England Under-21 striker lowered his wage demands (The Times)

Former Celtic and Scotland keeper Rab Douglas has signed for Arbroath – at the grand old age of 44 (Daily Record)

Rangers ace Niko Kranjcar could be facing months on the sidelines with a knee injury (Daily Record)