Gossip column: Mourinho, Pato, Simeone, Townsend, Ronaldo

Liverpool have reached an agreement in principle to sign Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato, 26, from Corinthians. (Tutto Mercato Web via London Evening Standard) 
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also wants to bring Italian £14m-rated Empoli midfielder Riccardo Saponara, 23, to Anfield in January. (Tuttosport via Metro) 
Chelsea are on alert with Argentine Diego Simeone, 45, set to quit Atletico Madrid in the summer. (Sunday People) 

Chelsea's current plight dominates most of Sunday's back pages, including the Mail on Sunday's

Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Real Madrid is in doubt once again after the 30-year-old forward told Laurent Blanc that he would 'love' to play under him at Paris St-Germain . (Le Parisien, via Mail on Sunday) 

 
Tottenham's Andros Townsend, 24, is ready to demand a transfer in January with Leicester, Swansea, Aston Villa and West Brom interested in the England international. (Sunday Mirror) 
Manchester United will try and beat Arsenal to the signing of Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, 21, in January. (Metro) 
Jose Mourinho, 52, is interested in replacing Louis van Gaal as Manchester United boss next summer. (Express) 
Van Gaal, 64, believes Paul Scholes is partly responsible for Manchester United fans chanting 'attack, attack, attack' in recent games. (Manchester Evening News) 
Mourinho appeared to break FA rules by communicating with Chelsea assistants Steve Holland and Rui Faria during the defeat to Stoke. (Mail on Sunday) 
Arsene Wenger, 66, believes his time at Arsenal could make a Hollywood film. (the Sun) 
Kit Symons, 44, is set to be sacked by Fulham in the next 48 hours, becoming the third Championship manager in a week to lose his job. (The Telegraph) 
Rangers manager Mark Warburton, 53, is flattered to be linked with QPR but insists he is at Ibrox for the long term. (Scotsman) 

Best of social media

David De Gea, 25, took to Twitter to speak of his delight at celebrating his birthday with a fifth successive clean sheet

Stoke's American defender Geoff Cameron clearly enjoyed his tussle with Diego Costa on Saturday, tweeting this picture and comment after he had come off the substitutes' bench

And finally

Viitorul boss and ex-Romania forward Gheorghe Hagi, 50, has added to his legendary status in the game by stopping his own player from faking injury and wasting time. (Metro)