Arsenal would have tried to sign Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid in 2014 had Arsene Wenger known he was available for transfer. Speaking ahead of the Gunners' Premier League game against Costa's Chelsea, Wenger was asked if he might have registered interested and, the Telegraph reports, he said: "Yes. I like him as a quality striker. I never thought he would leave Atletico Madrid at the time -- I was surprised."
- Pep Guardiola is set to offer Aleksandar Kolarov a new contract to extend his time with Manchester City, but he also wants to bring a new left-back to the club. According to the Mirror, the Serbia international, who is contracted to City until 2018, will begin negotiations shortly.
- Jesse Lingard is in line to earn a double-your-money four-year contract at Manchester United that will see him net £50,000-per-week. The Sun reckons 23-year-old Lingard has been in talks with the club for three weeks, but a deal has been agreed and Mourinho has given it his approval.
- Ronald Koeman says Everton could enter the transfer market in January to sign a replacement for Idrissa Gueye, who will represent Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations. The midfielder has made an excellent start to life at Goodison Park since joining from Aston Villa in the summer but the Liverpool Echo report he could miss games against Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Stoke City and Bournemouth as well as the Toffees' FA Cup third round tie.