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Monday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Chelsea are close to finalising an £8m deal for Serbia teenage midfielder Lazar Markovic. The 18-year-old has already been capped by his country and scored in a friendly against Chile last month. He has also hit six goals in 12 games for his club Partizan Belgrade this season.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admits midfielder James McCarthy's recent good form means the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international is bound to become a transfer target for other teams when the window reopens in three weeks.
Aston Villa, QPR and Norwich are set to fight it out to sign former Spurs striker Robbie Keane on loan. However the LA Galaxy striker, 32, has insisted he has no plans to move back to the Premier League during the MLS close season and wants to take a break to recover from knocks.
Thierry Henry is set to make his third Arsenal debut in the all-Premier League FA Cup clash against Swansea on 6 January. The Gunners are in advanced talks with New York Red Bulls over a loan spell for the 35-year-old striker that would start five days earlier.
Southampton manager Nigel Adkins will look to make another attempt next month to tempt Gary Hooper south of the border from Celtic. Adkins sold the 24-year-old striker to Celtic for £175,000 when he was manager of Scunthorpe two years ago.
OTHER GOSSIP
Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez claims he has already improved the Blues and they will start to put pressure on Manchester United and Manchester City in the title race after they play in this week's Club World Cup in Japan.
AND FINALLY
A German referee has apologised for making a crucial mistake during Borussia Dortmund's surprise 3-2 home defeat to Wolfsburg on Saturday. Wolfgang Stark sent off Marcel Schmelzer in the 35th minute and awarded the away side a penalty for an apparent handball on the line. However, when replays showed the ball had actually struck the defender's leg, Stark admitted to his mistake after the match.
