Gossip column: Pedro, Mourinho, Neymar, Rooney, Lukaku

Chelsea forward Pedro, 28, has told friends he regrets moving to the club from Spanish giants Barcelona in the summer and would be happy to return to the Nou Camp club. (Fichajes  via Daily Express) 

The Daily Telegraph has an exclusive interview with Michel Platini

Manchester United's hope of signing Barcelona forward Neymar will be thwarted by the Spanish club offering the Brazilian a £500,000-a-week deal and making the 23-year-old the third highest player in the world behind team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo. (Sun - subscription required) 
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku's agent, Mino Raiola, claims Toffees manager Roberto Martinez says the 22-year-old Belgium international can leave if a "good offer" comes in for him. He has been linked with Paris St-Germain. (Radio Monte Carlo via Daily Mail) 

Chelsea striker Loic Remy, 28, has urged the club not to sack manager Jose Mourinho, despite the Stamford Bridge side's struggles so far this season. (London Evening Standard) 
Former Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini says Mourinho deserves time to turn around the champions' fortunes. (Talksport) 
Arsenal and Manchester United will have to pay at least £29m if they want Bayer Leverkusen's 21-year-old Turkish attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, who has also been linked with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. (Daily Express)  
Anderlecht youngster Aaron Leya Iseka, 18, is set to be Arsenal's number one target for the January transfer window. (TuttoMercatoWeb via Daily Star) 
Former Chelsea playmaker Gianfranco Zola, currently manager of Qatari club Al Arabi, is interested in signing central defender John Terry, 34, from his old club but says no contact has been made. (London Evening Standard) 
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has been impressed by Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega this season and, having seen him in action in a Champions League group game between the two sides, is set to make a move for the 27-year-old Argentine. (Sun - subscription required) 
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 30, should think about dropping into a deeper role if he wants to prolong his career, according to ex-Barcelona midfielder Xavi, 35. (FourFourTwo) 

The Independent highlights Man Utd's cup exit

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen says Rooney's impact is being "restricted" by the tactics of the club's manager Louis van Gaal. (Talksport) 
Aston Villa winger Adama Traore, 19, will see his wages rise from the £40,000 a week he currently gets to around £75,000 a week when he makes a certain number of appearances for the struggling club. (Daily Telegraph) 
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier claims he had to get rid of a drinking culture in his time at the club, and says the Anfield side's current troubles are down to the signing of too many players. (Secret Footballer) 
Four of Fifa's biggest sponsors have refused to rule out ending their association with world football's governing body unless it commits to an independent reform process. (Daily Telegraph) 
Devante Cole - the 20-year-old son of former Manchester United striker Andy Cole - says he left Manchester City because the club do not give young English players a fair chance. (Daily Mail) 

Best of social media

Linda Pizzuti Henry, the wife of Liverpool's principal owner John W Henry, was happy to see the Reds beat Bournemouth in the League Cup for their first win under manager Jurgen Klopp.

And finally

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho just can't catch a break at the moment as he lost a bet with a West Ham mascot because of his side's 2-1 defeat by the Hammers last week. (Metro)