Gossip column: Smalling, Grujic, Lukaku, Berahino, Calleri

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Former Fifa referee Graham Poll says Manchester United's disallowed goal in their Champions League defeat by Wolfsburg would have stood last season. (Daily Mail)external-link

United captain Chris Smalling, 26, was blanked during the pre-match handshake in Wolfsburg on Tuesday. (Metro)external-link

Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic, 19, says he has received an approach from Liverpool but wants to delay a decision until the end of the Serbian Super League season. (Guardian)external-link

Daily Mail back page
The Daily Mail describe Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal as a "loser"

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is lining up a club-record £15m bid for Marseille's 22-year-old Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi. (Sun)external-link

Besiktas are trying to sign Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, 27, from Arsenal. (Fanatik in Turkishexternal-link via Daily Star)external-link

Birmingham City winger Demarai Gray could move in January with Leicester and Bournemouth interested in the 19-year-old who has a £3.75m release clause. (Daily Mirror)external-link

Defender Mathieu Debuchy, 30, has revealed he may have to leave Arsenal in January to gain a place in France's Euro 2016 squad. (RMC Radio in French external-linkvia Guardian)external-link

West Ham will refuse to spend big in January even after 22-year-old Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini became their latest player to be injured. (Daily Mirror)external-link

Chelsea target Jonathan Calleri, 22, could be set to leave Boca Juniors after the Argentine striker tweeted "thanks for everything and goodbye". (Metro)external-link

Midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, 28, is set to rejoin AC Milan in January after Schalke agreed to terminate his contract. (Goal.com)external-link

Everton and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 22, telephones or texts former Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba regularly and receives tips from the Ivorian. (Sun)external-link

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge says it was "unacceptable" that forward Roberto Firmino pulled out of a challenge during Sunday's loss at Newcastle.(Liverpool Echo)external-link

Tottenham are leading the race to sign Walsall's 18-year-old left-back Rico Henry. (Daily Express)external-link

West Brom's 22-year-old striker Saido Berahino, who wanted to leave the Baggies in August, has 'liked' a series of tweets criticising his club. (Daily Telegraph)external-link

Best of social media

Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu
Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu has been getting in the festive spirit

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was thrilled by his side's 4-2 Champions League win over Borussia Monchengladbach, which meant they topped their group. The Argentine tweeted "vamos"external-link and added: "As I always say: fight 'til the end. C'mon, City."

Everton and Spain winger Gerard Deulofeu, a Christmas tree, his natty slippers and a cute dog are "all ready for Christmas".external-link

Chelsea's on-loan striker Radamel Falcao says he is "very happy"external-link to be back in training and the Colombian is sure he will come "back strong". He last played in the 3-1 defeat by Liverpool on 31 October.

And finally

Two Croydon councillors have apologised after they were caught watching coverage of Crystal Palace's draw with Everton on Monday during a debate about the future of a local theatre. (Croydon Guardian)external-link

Singer Kanye West has helped design a concept football boot called the 'Yeezy Ace'. (Metro)external-link