Paper Talk: Mourinho confident two Tottenham contract rebels will stay

Jose Mourinho is confident of keeping two of Tottenham’s three contract rebels, while Liverpool are scouting a new goalkeeper – all in Tuesday’s papers.

 

TWO OUT OF THREE FOR JOSE

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly confident that two of his three contract rebels will sign new deals with the club.

The Portuguese tactician only recently replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs boss, and he’s made a strong start to life in north London with three successive wins.

Tottenham fans will now be looking ahead to the January transfer window to see if Mourinho is allowed the funds to improve his squad.

Indeed, a report in the Daily Telegraph claims that the former Man Utd boss is looking to bring in a back up to Harry Kane and a new defender in the new year.

But the report also adds that Mourinho is confident that defensive duo Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld will sign new contracts at the club.

That would be huge news for the club, given that both players can leave for nothing next summer and the cost of replacing them would not be cheap.

Tottenham’s other contract rebel Christian Eriksen will be leaving, however, after he made it clear that he would not be signing a new contract.

It remains to be seen how Mourinho might move in the transfer market to replace Eriksen, though so far he has managed without making the playmaker a key part of his first-team plans – especially with the return to form of Dele Alli.

 

 

AND THE REST

The Merseyside derby will be Marco Silva’s final shot to save his Everton career (Daily Mirror)

Kelechi Iheanacho says he is happy to play second fiddle to Jamie Vardy at Leicester (Daily Mirror)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says Liverpool’s belief has them heading towards a first Premier League title (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool have again sent scouts to watch Trabzonspor’s Turkish goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir (Daily Mirror)

Under-pressure Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate will be allowed more time to recover their form, with his side hovering above the Championship relegation zone (Daily Mirror)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has agreed a deal with AC Milan that will see him reject a return to the Premier League (Daily Telegraph)

Newcastle will only consider allowing Dwight Gayle to leave in January if they receive bids of more than £15m for the striker, following interest from Championship clubs (Daily Telegraph)

Derby have made the decision to not have a Christmas party this year after the drink-driving incident (The Sun)

Neil Warnock could make a shock return to management with Middlesbrough (The Sun)

Brescia chief Massimo Cellino has told Mario Balotelli that he is free to leave the Serie A club in the January transfer window (The Sun)

Mario Balotelli TEAMtalk

Jan Vertonghen admits Spurs’ players feel responsible for Mauricio Pochettino’s sacking (The Sun)

Macclesfield’s players are boycotting the club’s training sessions amid missed payments (The Sun)

Marco Silva will be sacked as Everton boss if his side fails to beat Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday (Daily Express)

 

Jose Mourinho plans to meet up with Manchester United staff he considers friends on his return to Old Trafford on Wednesday night (Daily Mail)

Watford are considering making a stop-gap appointment to see them through to the end of the season (Daily Mail)

Roma are planning an improved offer to buy Manchester United and England defender Chris Smalling, with the 30-year-old currently on loan at the Serie A club (Manchester Evening News)

Manuel Pellegrini has bought himself time after inspiring West Ham to their shock win at Chelsea (Daily Mail)

Aston Villa have been linked with a £10m January move for Millwall’s English winger Jed Wallace (Birmingham Mail)

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s squad will need regenerating next summer following the departures of Vincent Kompany and David Silva, but the Spaniard has ruled out signing new players in January (The Guardian)

Southampton, Newcastle and Rangers are interested in signing 17-year-old English defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who plays for League Two side Carlisle (Chronicle)