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HOT FOOTBALL TRANSFER GOSSIP: Guardiola, Gray, Teixeira, Donnarumma

Stanley Accrington is here with a run-down of what news, rumours and pure nonsense are in today’s papers, with Pep Guardiola the centre of a metaphorical, we assusme, tug-of-war and a 16-year-old worth £119m.

Pep Guardiola practices his hand-grabbing technique as he imagines the riches that Manchester City will throw his way
Pep Guardiola practices his hand-grabbing technique as he imagines the riches that Manchester City will throw his way

First up, after yesterday’s news of Manchester City looking to secure Pep Guardiola as their manager for next season, the Daily Mail report that is Bayern Munich are prepared to fight for Guardiola amid reports the Spanish boss has agreed to join The Citizens next season. Not a massive surprise given his success in Bavaria. This one could run and run.

AC Milan's 16-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who should be trying and failing to talk his way into pubs and looking at girls from afar but not having the confidence to talk to them, is instead first choice at one of the world biggest clubs and is worth £119m, according to his agent Mino Raiola. Donnarumma is understood to have impressed Manchester United and Chelsea. At that price it would be a massive gamble considering he might get in a teenage grump and refuse to come out of his room on a matchday. Food for thought indeed.

In other Manchester United news, the Red Devils could resurrect a deal for Paris St-Germain forward Lucas Moura, 23, who they almost signed four years ago says French Sports bible L’Equipe. Moura has been side-lined by the signing of Angel di Maria from United and with Louis van Gaal looking for more pace, this deal actually makes a great deal of sense.

Across the city, Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis, 34, could leave the club in January, with Rosario Central interested in taking the veteran Argentine back to his homeland.

Chelsea, still looking to buy in-form players in bulk, are ready to make a £30m bid for Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Alex Teixeira, 25, who scored twice for the Ukrainians in the Champions League against Real Madrid this week say the Daily Express. Given Jose Mourinho yesterday stated he wasn’t likely to go into the transfer market this January we are not sure where this leaves Teixeira, yesterday’s targets Mousa Dembele and Harry Kane and the myriad of other reported targets.

Elsewhere, Everton and Aston Villa are monitoring £15m-rated Burnley striker Andre Gray, 24, who began the season at Brentford and has scored 11 goals this term. Villa need to replace Christian Benteke’s goals in an effort to stay up, and Gray certainly has an eye for goal. However what most at Villa will be hoping is that Gray is a nasty person. Apparently Aston Villa captain Micah Richards, 27, says his bottom-of-the-table team have "too many nice players" and are "too easy to play against" according to the Daily Telegraph. Expect Gray to roll up stroking a white cat and laughing manically.

 Kevin 'the boss of goss' Darling will be back on Monday