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Remi Garde has   banned   his   Aston Villa   players from criticising each other in a bid to improve morale and confidence at the basement club. New French   boss Garde   is trying desperately to turn around the plight of the Premier League's bottom side, having joined their   relegation battle   in November. The former Arsenal midfielder and Lyon coach   banned squad members from speaking any language other than English   when he arrived. And now according to   MirrorSport he has told stars they must not have it out with each other in the dressing room on match-days as he feels it has affected unity and confidence. Villa are currently on a three-game unbeaten run in the top-flight, and   haven't lost in five in all competitions . They are also into the fourth round of the FA Cup, which sees them play at home to Quadruple-chasing Manchester City on Saturday. There are signs Villa’s players are finally all pulling ...

The Nigeria international has this month been linked with Premier League rivals Leicester, who are thought to have had rejected their £15.1million opening bid. CSKA are reportedly holding out for at least £18.9m for the pacey striker, who has 10 goals to his name this term. The Foxes are expected to up their bid before the January window expires, but now face competition from United for the 23-year-old's services. The Red Devils have scored the least amount of goals out of the top eight teams in the Premier League this season and Louis van Gaal is desperate to add more fire power to his front line. While Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has made no secret of his desire to sign a striker to boost his side's title bid after loaning out Andrej Kramaric to Fiorentina. The Italian said: "It's important to have two players for every position. Our strength is to play with high intensity. ‘’ It's not possible to play with that intensity for all the season. ...

West Ham and Norwich have asked about taking Davide Santon on loan from Inter Milan. The 25-year-old former Newcastle full back is available after making just nine Serie A appearances this season. The Hammers are keen to strengthen in defence after Carl Jenkinson suffered a serious knee injury during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Jenkinson's loan deal is expected to be terminated early as he returns to Arsenal for treatment. Canaries boss Alex Neil is also in the market for a versatile defender as he looks to lead the club to Premier League safety following the arrivals of Steven Naismith, Ivan Pinto and Timm Klose. Santon only joined Inter on a permanent deal last summer but he has struggled for playing time under Roberto Mancini since November.

Andros Townsend wants to prove a £12million bargain for Newcastle – and forget all his torment at Tottenham. The England winger   admits the big price-tag means he will have to be better than ever to match his   Newcastle transfer fee . But Townsend says he had to move on from   Tottenham   and play ­regularly – because it is almost two years since he completed 90 minutes in the Premier League. He said: “Of course, £12m is a lot of money, I know that. “But, if I can reach my potential and play to the ability I know I have, I am sure, as quickly as people are saying it is a lot of money, they will be saying it is a bargain. “If I put in a few good ­performances, it will look like money well spent.” Coach Mauricio ­Pochettino had banished Townsend to the U21s for the last two months. But he said: “I hold no grudges with the manager. He has a 35-man squad, 11 play, seven on the bench. He has no problem with me on a personal level. He made his ­decisio...

John Stones will be at centre of a £50m transfer scramble in the summer, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea all keen to sign him. Everton turned down the opportunity to sell their highly-rated centre half last summer, rejecting a £38million bid from Chelsea. But the interest in Stones has intensified since then, with Rafa Benitez having asked Real Madrid to sign him when he was manager at the club. Though Benitez has since been sacked, Real Madrid have maintained their interest and plan to move in the summer if an appeal against their FIFA transfer ban means that their embargo on signings is lifted. But Barcelona are now also monitoring Stones, though may baulk at the £50m price and Manchester City, who are planning for Pep Guardiola’s reign at the club, also want to sign the player and have already demonstrated their willingness to pay huge sums for top English talent. City have struggled in central defence with Vincent Kompany often injured w...

Didier Deschamps has emerged as a shock contender to be the next   Chelsea manager. The current France coach will lead the host nation into this summer’s Euros but his contract expires after the tournament. Blues owner   Roman Abramovich   is determined to appoint a new boss who can offer a long-term strategy. The Russian billionaire has been forced to bring in short-term replacements like Guus Hiddink, Rafa Benitez and Avram Grant in recent seasons. Abramovich wants no more quick-fix solutions and is consulting his trusted advisor Marina Granovskaia and technical director Michael Emenalo to find the right man. Deschamps, 47, is under consideration and has been joined on the short-list by Mark Hughes. Deschamps, who speaks good English, played for Chelsea for one season up to 2000. He had an illustrious playing career as part of the France team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. But it is his impact as a coach that makes him more attractive. ...

Manchester United are believed to be in talk with Real Madrid ace James Rodriguez.  Even though the Spanish giants are under the threat of a two window transfer ban it appears they could be prepared to sacrifice the unsettled 24-year-old Colombian international. Rodriguez fell out with former Bernabeu boss Rafa Benitez but relations with new manager Zinedine Zidane are said to already be strained. Zidane isn’t happy with the player’s attitude in training and wouldn’t be against Rodriguez leaving. Significantly super agent Jorge Mendes is looking after Rodriguez and   he has been in talks with a number of interested parties including  Manchester United . United enjoy a good working relationship with the Portuguese fixer and have discussed ways of trying to make the deal happen in this transfer window. Real Madrid who signed Rodriguez from Monaco in July 2014 for a fee of £63million would demand a similar package for United to be successful in their desi...

Amid all the speculation surrounding him, Alex Teixeira has come out and made a clear stance surrounding his future: he wants to leave. The Brazilian told   Globo  that he is set on making a move to the Premier League – ideally in this January window, but if that’s not possible, then in the summer. Teixeira explains to Globo that his main motivation in wanting the move to the Premier League is the Brazilian national team: he believes that playing for one of England’s big clubs will give him the exposure he needs. He also explained that he’s turned down a mammoth offer from China, such is his desire to move to England. “I would like to move in this transfer window and have told them [Shakhtar] that. They have received a very good offer and they are working on a solution. But if I don’t go now then I will leave in the summer. “After six years in Europe and with Shakhtar we are ready to move and I have spoken to my wife and daughter.” It is my desire to move to a ...

Alexandre Pato has dropped a massive hint with his latest Instagram activity, making Chelsea Football Club the 643rd account he’s following. Having been released by Corinthians last month, Pato is currently a free agent and eyeing a move back to Europe, ideally to the Premier League. It was all looking a bit bleak for The Duck at the start of the year, when he looked to be on the cusp of a move to the Chinese 2nd division, but he pulled out at the 11th hour. That provoked fresh interest from the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, and the Blues now look in pole position for the Brazilian striker, with talks believed to be underway. As if to ram the point home, Pato went right ahead and followed the club that looks increasingly like being his next destination. With just Diego Costa and Loic Remy available (Falcao is still out injured), Hiddink needs another striking option, and Pato looks a perfect fit.

Arsene Wenger is set to accept a two-year contract extension at Arsenal, according to reports. Wenger’s current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2017, with the Frenchman so far refusing to reveal his plans for the future. Pep Guardiola’s availability has sparked rumours that he could replace Wenger at the end of his tenure, but  according to the Sun , the most successful manager in Arsenal’s history is set to stick around for a little longer. It’s claimed that the 66-year-old is close to agreeing a two-year extension, which would keep him at the club until 2019. Arsenal’s newly-found title credentials are likely to have factored in Wenger’s seemingly imminent decision to stay, with the Gunners on track to win the league for the first time since 2004.

Lorient have publicly confirmed that they continue to negotiate with Sunderland, despite the move breaking down in bitter fashion earlier this month when a problem emerged during the discussions over personal terms. There has been talk in France about Kone now joining Sunderland in a loan move, with a view to a permanent switch next summer, rather than the £5million deal which was originally conceived. That could appeal to Kone, with the 26-year-old understood to have expressed doubts over the switch. But after Jan Kirchhoff's miserable debut at Spurs on Saturday, Sunderland arguably remain in need of central defensive reinforcements. Sam Allardyce is clearly also looking for attacking recruits after Sunderland made a surprise enquiry for Swansea winger Andre Ayew, who netted against the Black Cats last week. Ayew - who shares the same agent as Kone - is understood to be a genuine target for Allardyce after reports emerged late last week that the Ghanaia...

Fulham  manager   Slavisa Jokanovic   insists he has no desire to sell any of his best players during the transfer window, as   Tottenham step up their pursuit of French striker Mousssa Dembele. According to Standard Sport: Tottenham have been in discussions with Dembele’s representatives for some time, before opening talks with the West London club last week. The 19-year-old for nothing come the end of the season, though Fulham would expect to command a significant compensation fee should Dembele remain in England. As he is under 24, foreign clubs would have to pay a nominal compensation fee, while the system in this country would bring in a substantially bigger transfer fee. Manchester United, Monaco, Feyenoord, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli are all interested in the player, though   Spurs are considered favourites to sign him this month . Fulham are currently under a transfer embargo, meaning the Championship side cannot spend money to streng...

Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli took to Twitter to say that the deal will be announced tomorrow. The Toffees are reportedly poised to announce a deal worth an initial £3m for the wide man who is out of contract in the summer. Giulianelli tweeted: "Sam Byram has just passed medicals with Everton in the last hour. Signed a contract 3 years."Byram to Everton will be announced tomorrow." Leeds' Italian owner Massimo Cellino has tried and failed to get Byram to commit to a new contract at Elland Road. He has spoken of his frustration at Byram's reluctance to stay and admitted that he now just wants to sell the 22-year-old and move on. Last week he said: "We just want to sell Byram because he wants to leave. “It is better to lose him now. It is less painful for the club.” Leeds would have been due compensation if Bryam had left on a free in the summer as he graduated through their academy. But Everton look to have swept in and decided...

Leicester City have agreed a deal with FC Copenhagen for the transfer of Daniel Amartey, the Mercury understands. Sources in Denmark say the versatile 21-year-old is now set to hold talks over personal terms and undergo a medical after successful negotiations between City and Copenhagen. It is believed the fee is around £5 million and, as long as his medical and negotiations go well, and subject to Amartey receiving a work permit, he could be confirmed as a City player sometime this week. Amartey, who joined Copenhagen in 2014 as a central defender but was successfully converted into a defensive midfield player by former Wolvers boss Stale Solbakken, is widely considered one of the best midfield players in Danish football.

Arsenal have raided Leicester's highly-rated recruitment team for Ben Wrigglesworth, the head of technical scouting who helped sign stars including Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante. Wrigglesworth will officially join Arsenal in the next few weeks and is currently on gardening leave. Wrigglesworth is the second member of Leicester's scouting team to leave in the past 12 months, following Rob Mackenzie who joined Tottenham Hotspur as head of player identification in February. Leicester's head of recruitment Steve Walsh has been credited for playing a huge role in the club's recent success, after unearthing Mahrez, Kante and England international Jamie Vardy. Walsh has also been linked with a move to the Emirates but it is understood he has a significant release clause in his contract of over £1million.   After joining Leicester with former manager Nigel Pearson, Walsh's reputation has soared but he is settled at the King Power Stadium and is already w...

The Spanish giants have made the 25-year-old Wales star one of their prime transfer targets for the summer. They updated their expanding dossier on the talented Gunner during Wednesday night’s exciting 3-3 draw at Liverpool. Now they believe Ramsey will join his Wales team-mate Gareth Bale in La Liga next season It’s the principality’s first major tournament since 1958 and includes a mouth watering clash against England. Barcelona know they will have to part with a fee in the region of between £50 million and £60 million but they are fully committed to that in the belief that Ramsey can help them continue the club’s amazing success. Barcelona are amongst the clutch of clubs who also want Everton’s John Stones but while there are plenty of negotiations ahead for that to happen the Ramsey deal is moving ever closer.

Swansea have already rejected  Sam Allardyce’s £11 million bid for the Ghana international striker. Big Sam believes that Ayew’s capture would enhance the Black Cats chances of avoiding the drop although Swansea are reluctant to sell to one of their relegation rivals. If they keep closing the door on the Wearsiders then Allardyce will switch his interest to Sporting Lisbon’s Islam Slimani who has been labelled the Algerian Alan Shearer. Slimani has already struck 17 goals this season and has attracted the interest of Manchester United. But Sunderland, anxious for more fire power, will make a bid for the 27-year-old if Swansea refuse to sell Ayew.

The Real Madrid director general has claimed that a number of Premier League clubs are under investigation by Fifa and could face similar transfer window bans to the one imposed on his club for   breaching rules on signing foreign players under the age of 18 . The claims have been made by Jose Angel Sanchez, repeated over a number of radio interviews given in Spain on Thursday night. His club have been banned by Fifa from trading in two transfer windows, this summer and January 2017, for breaking regulations on the cross-border transfer of at least 51 teenage players. Sanchez did not specify which Premier League clubs he believes are under investigation by Fifa but certainly the leading English clubs have all recruited from overseas academies to a greater or lesser degree over the last decade. A Fifa spokesman said he was unable to comment on specific investigations. Last week, the Fifa disciplinary committee   banned Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid for two windows...

QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has explained their decision to sell  Charlie Austin  to  Southampton . The 26-year-old, who has been out for a month with a hamstring problem, was out of contract in the summer and finalised a £4million move to St Mary's on Saturday. "Hopefully I'll get all of that money," Hasselbaink said. "Six weeks ago Charlie told me that he was going to stay until at least the end of the season. 'We were planning for Charlie being here. Yesterday he came to see me and said he had an opportunity to go to  Southampton  and he wanted to go. "What do you do? He had six months left, the club decided to sell him. The club is bigger than whoever. It will give an opportunity to someone else. Charlie wanted to go, he went, we move on."

Toulouse President Olivier Sandran says Wissam Ben Yedder is going no where this January transfer window. Ben Yedder is wanted and has been watched by Olympic Marsielle and Tottenham Hotspur scouts on different times. However, Sandran says Ben Yedder can leave in the summer. Toulouse FC is facimg a relegation fight in the meantime. 

Olivier Giroud has given new   Arsenal   signing Mohamed Elneny a ringing endorsement, claiming that his new teammate is "a complete player". Elneny   completed his move to the Emirates from Swiss side FC Basel on Thursday and has already made a good impression in training, according to the French striker. “I’ve trained with him and he’s a good player, very talented but first of all he is a good guy - I think he will settle well into the team,”   Giroud   said on the Arsenal website. “I think he’s basically a box-to-box midfielder, so he can attack and defend, run a lot and has good power and technique. He is quite a complete player. The Egyptian international could make his Gunners debut in Sunday's trip to Stoke and Giroud is backing him to quickly adapt to the Premier League “It always takes time to adapt to English football because there is a lot of intensity, it is very physical and even tactically [you must get used to it] - but I think Premier...

Liverpool   are weighing up a move for Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish sensation Inaki Williams this month. Jurgen Klopp is closely monitoring the 21-year-old forward as he considers   Bringing in more fire power in the January window. Kloop   has been left short of options due to Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings and Divock Origi’s injury problems while Christian Benteke has yet to convince since his £32m summer move to Anfield. Lightning-quick Spain under-21 starlet Williams, the fastest player in La Liga, has scored 10 goals in 21 games for Bilbao.