Gossip column: Costa, Redknapp, Rodgers, Valero, Vardy, Nolito

Harry Redknapp could take over at Newcastle United if the club sack manager Steve McClaren, but Brendan Rodgers is favourite to get the job. (Daily Mirror) 
Newcastle are not expected to sack Steve McClaren, but owner Mike Ashley will turn to his football board and PR guru Keith Bishop for answers after Magpies returned to the Premier League relegation zone. (Newcastle Chronicle) 
 
Arsenal are set to make an offer for Celta Vigo forward Nolito, but the 29-year-old would prefer a move to Barcelona. (Fichajes - in Spanish)  
Serie A sides AC Milan, Inter, Juventus and Bologna are all interested in Leicester City forward Andrej Kramaric, 24. (La Gazzetta dello Sport) 
Everton manager Roberto Martinez would not swap striker Romelu Lukaku, 22, for Leicester's Jamie Vardy, 28. (Daily Mail) 

The Daily Star leads on Chelsea striker Diego Costa's bib-throwing after not being brought on against Tottenham 

Barcelona do not have a clause allowing them to buy back winger Adama Traore, 19, who signed for Aston Villa for £7m in August. (Daily Mirror) 
West Ham and Chelsea are both targeting Genoa midfielder Rolando Mandragora, 18, who is on loan at Serie B side Pescara. (Calcio Mercato) 

 
Thierry Henry criticised former manager's Arsene Wenger's decision not to rest forward Alexis Sanchez, 26, before he went off with a hamstring injury in Arsenal's draw with Norwich. (Daily Mail) 
The odds on north London rivals Arsenal or Tottenham winning the Premier League title lengthened after both dropped points. (London Evening Standard) 
Manchester United are tracking Fiorentina's former West Brom midfielder Borja Valero, 30, and his 18-year-old team-mate Breel Embolo. (Blick - in Swiss) 
Watford forward Troy Deeney, 27, who scored against Aston Villa on Saturday, said he failed a trial at Villa Park as a youngster because he was "more interested in chasing girls". (Daily Express) 
Brighton's latest loan recruit Rajiv van La Parra, 24, has no idea why he has fallen out of favour at Wolves. (The Argus) 

Best of social media

One fan is proving a social media hit after a tweet  he posted about Jamie Vardy in 2012 was re-tweeted more than 16,000 times. (Sun) 

@SamTikaTika got his wish, social media fans remembered his tweet from January 2012

But Vardy posted on Twitter  that there is still work to be done after scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games. He said: "Thanks to everyone for all the congratulation messages! Over the moon to have achieved this, but there is still lots of work to be done!"
Norwich City defender Ryan Bennett said he did not mean to push Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez during their 1-1 draw on Sunday, tweeting:  "Genuinely was trying to stop, not push Sanchez, just to clear that up."
Crystal Palace's players enjoyed a Christmas party after Saturday's win over Newcastle, with winger Wilfried Zaha, 23, posting this picture  of the team in fancy dress on Instagram.

Wilfried Zaha posted this picture on his Instagram account

And finally

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish has been photographed partying again - but this time he was at a junior fan-club Christmas bash at Dudley Zoo after a change to the training schedule prevented his team-mates from attending. (Birmingham Mail) 
Jamie Vardy's record-breaking goalscoring run has caught the eye of Adrian Butchart, the man behind the Goal! films, who believes the Leicester striker's journey could be a Hollywood hit. (Sun)