Making news ... Marouane Fellaini, David De Gea and Radamel Falcao. Source: AAP
The world's biggest clubs are getting ready to unveil their wads of cash to wave at the game's star names, but that isn't the place to start our Rumour Mill for Tuesday.
The world of Paolo Di Canio
Italian Paolo Di Canio is doing little to dispel rumours that he's mad as a cut snake - claiming he'll dip into his own pocket to fund the wages of three players on loan at his League One club Swindon Town.
The future of loanees - Tottenham Hotspur's John Bostock, Norwich City's Chris Martin and Charlton Athletic's Danny Hollands - is up in the air after the club's chairman Sir William Patey told Di Canio he would not be given extra funds in January.
"I will put my own money in to keep them," said Di Canio.
"I will spend £20,000 ($A30k) or £30,000 ($A46k) and put my money in to keep them for as long as we can, because I care and I want to win. I'm sure with them we have more chance to win."
Back to the big boys
It's a whole other world at Manchester United where Sir Alex Ferguson is said to looking to dig into the pockets of the Glazers to bring Chelsea legend Frank Lampard to Old Trafford.
The Independent suggests Lampard is understood not to be averse to a switch to Old Trafford this summer and a move for the player is a genuine possibility in a summer when the Manchester United midfield will need reinforcing.
Sir Alex apparently has no issue giving a contract to a 50-year-old (or thereabouts) midfield warrior, having only two such players in Scholes and Giggs on the bench right now.
The Times says Chelsea have identified 25-year-old Marouane Fellaini as their preferred replacement for Frank Lampard, 34, and are planning to trigger a £22m ($A33m) buy-out clause in the Everton midfielder's contract at the end of the season.
Sir Alex also has his eyes on some Turkish delight, in the form of Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, with David de Gea having failed to make the job his own at Old Trafford. Turkish paper, Milliyet, claims a bid of £14m ($A21m) has been made.
Ukrainian side play off Chelsea and Manchester City
Chelsea, meanwhile, appear to have got themselves into a bidding war with Manchester City for Brazilian midfielder Taison, who is plying his trade at Metalist Kharkiv. An £11m ($A17m) deal had been agreed in principle between Chelsea and the Ukrainian club for the midfielder, says the Daily Mail, but Metalist are understood to have demanded more money after City made their own move for Taison.
Gunners, be wary!
Arsenal have been offered Napoli striker Eduardo Vargas on loan. The 23-year-old Chile international can't make the first team at Napoli. He was once dubbed the new Alexis Sanchez, but if Arsenal's recent purchases are any indication he just might be the next Marouane Chamakh.
Falcao holds court
Atletico Madrid forward Radamel Falcao, no stranger to the Rumour Mill, of course, has the internet a-twitter after an interview at the Ballon D'Or ceremony. Named in the FIFA team of the year, Falcao praised his Atletico teammates for a "great year" and says he could consider a move to Italy in the future. The Colombia forward has been linked with a switch to several clubs in Europe. The 26-year-old also refused to commit his future to Atletico adding: "I have got a contract here and only think about Atletico. Right now I am thinking only of the present. However, you can never say never, who knows what is in store for me? I do not exclude a future in Italy. I do have a favourite club, but I would prefer not to tell you."
Case for the defense
Liverpool and Newcastle United are, meanwhile, making eyes at £5m ($A8m) rated defender Nicolas Isimat-Mirin of French league side Valenciennes, says the Daily Star.
Newcastle could do with buying 10 defenders, and playing them all at once, such is their current defensive form, and matters aren't helped by uncertainty over the future of captain Fabricio Coloccini.
Newcastle have already boosted their back-line with the addition of another French international in Mathieu Debuchy. The 27-year-old right-back completed a drawn-out £5.5million ($A9m) move to St James’ Park last week having initially been tracked during the summer.
Eternal optimism in west London
Harry Redknapp has, surprise, surprise, found his personal charm less of a factor while trying to populate QPR's first team than it appeared when he was in charge of Tottenham.
The wheeler-dealer tried to sign Marseille striker Loic Remy when he was in charge at Tottenham and now believes he is the striker to save QPR.
But Newcastle already have a deal in place for Remy and it is understood the versatile French international - who can play wide or through the middle - is reluctant to go to QPR.
QPR have also made loan enquiries for Tottenham midfielders Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore but Harry's ex-boss Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has apparently knocked him back.
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