Football gossip: Messi, Hazard, Pogba, Sarri, Diaz, Pochettino, Icardi

Real Madrid are interested in Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Brahim Diaz, 19. (Marca)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has denied trying to persuade Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 31, to join the Blues. (Manchester Evening News)

Argentina forward Mauro Icardi, 25, is set to sign a new contract with Inter Milan despite interest from a number of European clubs, including Chelsea. (Calcio Mercato - in Italian)

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says the Blues will not sign players during the January transfer window. (Independent)

Chelsea want to take advantage of the uncertainty at Real Madrid by opening contract talks with Belgium forward Eden Hazard. The 27-year-old could also be given the captaincy if he stays at the Premier League side. (Telegraph)

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says he wants to stay at the club for the rest of his career. (Football.London)

Pochettino says he does not believe he is the reason his star players are committing to the club. (Sky Sports)

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is not focusing on re-signing Manchester United and France midfielder Paul Pogba, 25. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United want to sign Fiorentina's Italy winger Federico Chiesa, 21. (Calcio Mercato - Italian)

Musician Sir Elton John - a Watford fan - sent a text to executive chairman Scott Duxbury last month urging him to sign Burnley and England goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 32. (Daily Mirror)

Gracia is "very close" to signing a new deal to extend his tenure as Watford manager. (Watford Observer)

Lyon rejected a £44.8m bid from Manchester City for France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, 21, in the summer. (RMC Sport - via City Watch)

Everton could make a decision on the long-term futures of France defender Kurt Zouma, 24, and Portugal midfielder Andre Gomes, 25, in January. (Read Everton)

Arsenal and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, 27, could sign for any club in Europe, according to his national team boss Ryan Giggs. (Sky Sports)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is not interested in signing Arsenal's Armenia playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, both 29, despite having worked with them at Borussia Dortmund. (Liverpool Echo)