Gossip column: Benzema, Messi, Barkley, Lallana, Pardew

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool are preparing a £40m January bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, 26. Daily Star 
Chelsea attempted an audacious move for Lionel Messi during the transfer window. The Blues were willing to pay £118m for the 27-year-old Barcelona forward. Daily Express 

Everton midfielder Ross Barkley is recovering from a knee injury

Everton manger Roberto Martinez has dismissed reports linking Manchester City with a move for 20-year-old playmaker Ross Barkley. The Times (subscription) 
Forward Andre Schurrle, 23, insists he is fully committed to Chelsea despite reported Atletico Madrid interest. Daily Mirror 

OTHER GOSSIP

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley says Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew will be sacked if he loses their Premier League game at Stoke City on Monday. Independent 

Saturday's front page of The i sports section

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, 26, says the Reds reduced him to tears when he was a boy - because he supported Everton. Daily Mirror 
Defenders Tom Thorpe, 21, and Paddy McNair, 19, have been included in Manchester United's squad to face West Ham United on Saturday as Louis van Gaal searches for a solution to his shortage of defenders. The Guardian 
Manager Alan Irvine says he has no intention of making Joleon Lescott West Bromwich Albion captain despite the defender's encouraging start to his career at The Hawthorns. Birmingham Mail 
Midfielder Stewart Downing, 30, says he is "loving life" at West Ham United and believes he would be good enough to get into the team at his former club Liverpool. The Telegraph 
Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle, 24, says he now has no excuses after admitting he was affected by his £4.5m transfer fee last summer. London Evening Standard 

Stewart Downing moved to West Ham from Liverpool in August 2013

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has reignited his feud with Manchester City counterpart Manuel Pellegrini by claiming he "killed" referee Mark Clattenburg. Daily Mail
Left-back Luke Shaw wants to make up for lost time as he prepares to make his Manchester United debut against West Ham. The 19-year-old is poised to make his first start after his £27m summer move from Southampton. The Sun (subscription) 

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli's pranks hit a new high when he inhaled helium and sang one of his new club's chants in this video on Instagram. 
Nottingham Forest chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi appears to have been putting the club's players through their paces on console game Fifa 15. He tweeted  a warning to Jamie Paterson, saying: "I will beat u. Ask your friend Henri Lansbury what happened [to] him."
Stoke City do not play until Monday, so midfielder Charlie Adam spent his Friday watching the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and even got to meet Europe's captain. Adam tweeted:  "Great day at the Ryder Cup, meeting Paul McGinley on the 1st tee."

Stoke City's Charlie Adam met Europe's Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley on Friday

AND FINALLY

Former England defender Gary Neville admits he is "garbage" at cooking after trying his hand at making a sausage roll during Manchester's Food and Drink Festival. Manchester Evening News 
A young football fan got an unexpected surprise from Swansea City's Jonjo Shelvey. Harry Jacobs, seven, wrote to Shelvey to ask him to visit his school. Instead, the midfielder arranged for Harry to be a matchday mascot before watching the game with his family from an executive box. Swansea City official website 
Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, 30, wants to open a private museum in his own home to showcase his trophies and medals when he hangs up his boots. NDTVSports