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Liverpool plan 8 million pound January raid for Espanyol keeper Kiko

January will be here before you know it! To tide us over until then, here's today's batch of rumours and gossip.

Liverpool's keeper search continues

After cooling their interest on Monday in ex-Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes, Liverpool have turned their eyes to Espanyol's 28-year-old custodian Kiko Casilla.

Metro say that Liverpool are preparing an 8 million pound January bid for the Spaniard, who admitted this week that that his club will most likely sell him if the right offer comes in.

"I've not had a call from anyone at Liverpool yet," said Kiko.

"Espanyol are like most Spanish clubs -- they need money -- and if my departure happens, it's because Espanyol needs the money.

"When the bids happen, if it happens, we will value it and decide what happens."

Regardless of whether the move materialises or not, the pressure on Simon Mignolet continues to grow...

Manchester clubs set to battle for Pep

Just days after it was revealed that Pep Guardiola would one day like to follow in Sir Alex Ferguson's footsteps and manange Manchester United, The Daily Star have reported that Manchester City intend to lure him to the blue half of the city first.

Guardiola has close ties with City's CEO Ferran Soriano and director of football, Txiki Begiristain -- both of whom he worked with during his record breaking reign at Barcelona.

It's believed that, although he turned down a move to the Etihad 18 months ago, the Bayern Munich manager remains the City board's favourite to replace Manuel Pellegrini should their woes in European competition fail to improve.

Carroll's exile to end

The on-again, off-again saga that is Andy Carroll's relationship with Newcastle may just be on again!

After weeks of conjecture, The Daily Star say that Carroll's West Ham career is officially over and that the Hammers are willing to let the English international head back to the Toon for just a fraction of the 15 million pounds that they paid for him.

Another excellent showing by new strikers Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia in Saturday's 3-1 win over Burnley means that Sam Allardyce can no longer justify the five-star wages for injury prone Carroll, who is yet to play a Premier League game this season.

Ings may walk away from Turf Moor

Speaking of Burnley, star striker Danny Ings is apparently stalling on signing a new deal with the club and may leave in the summer reports The Mail on Sunday.

Ings wants to keep his options open and reassess his future at the end of the season, but with Newcastle, Aston Villa and Stoke all keen on the 22-year-old striker, Burnley may have to up their wage offer to keep the 10-million-pound rated player at the club.