Football gossip: De Bruyne, Bonucci, Rooney, Griezmann, Aubameyang

Manchester City forward Kevin de Bruyne, 25, could be sidelined for a month by the hamstring injury he sustained in Saturday's win over Swansea. (Daily Mail)

De Bruyne will fly to Barcelona on Monday for more tests and to begin treatment but is certain to be out of action for at least three weeks. (Sun)


Kevin de Bruyne initially thought he had suffered a minor strain but the injury is a minor tear, although the player and City may have to wait until Wednesday for a full prognosis. (Guardian)

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is targeting Burnley's Michael Keane, 23, and Middlesbrough's Ben Gibson, 23, as he plans an overhaul of his backline. Defenders Gary Cahill, 30, and Branislav Ivanovic, 32, are expected to be phased out of the Blues team as Conte targets a new full-back and two new centre-halves. (Daily Mail)

Manchester City and Chelsea want to sign Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, 29, in January. (Daily Star)

However, Juve director Giuseppe Marotta says there has been no contact from City. (Mediaset Premium via Manchester Evening News)

Striker Wayne Rooney, 30, is prepared to accept he is no longer an automatic pick for Manchester United following manager Jose Mourinho's decision to drop him for Saturday's match against Leicester. (Daily Mirror)

Rooney will not quit United and will see out the two years of his existing contract at Old Trafford, with an option for a third. (Daily Express)

Manchester United boss Mourinho has had a private meeting with Rooney and told the club captain to sort his own form out before criticising any of his team-mates. (Sun)

Sunderland manager David Moyes says his side's Premier League survival prospects look bleak unless his squad is strengthened significantly in January. (Guardian)

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin, 25, could be sidelined for months rather than weeks by the knee injury he sustained against Chelsea on Saturday if he has suffered a recurrence of the medial ligament injury that kept him out for two months last season. (Daily Mail)

The Daily Mirror is one of several papers suggesting Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will be out for four weeks

Stoke City are considering bringing in former Hull boss Steve Bruce to replace Mark Hughes.(Daily Express)

Manchester United might have a better chance of signing 25-year-old Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann now he has left his agent. (Independent)

Former Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski says midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, 32, might leave Manchester United for Major League Soccer in the United States. (Bild - in German)

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs will meet Swansea's United States investors before their takeover at Liberty Stadium. The new owners also want to talk to former USA coach Bob Bradley.(Sun)

Nearly 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for hedge-fund owners Sisu to sell Coventry City. (Coventry Telegraph)

Premier League champions Leicester City are struggling to defend set-pieces because of a grappling crackdown, says full-back Danny Simpson. (Daily Telegraph)

Borussia Monchengladbach have no plans to sign Real Madrid forward Martin Odegaard, 17, on loan. (Sport1 - in German)

Best of social media

Bristol City's former West Ham midfielder Gary O'Neil is perplexed by the Hammers' recent poor fortunes. The east London club were beaten 3-0 at home by Southampton and remain 17th in the Premier League with three points.

And is this ex-Manchester United defender a good luck charm? Nemanja Vidic was at Old Trafford on Saturday to watch his former side beat Leicester 4-1.

Current Manchester United defender Chris Smalling greeted the former club centre-back

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba hits back after Arsenal forward Theo Walcott tweets his delight at beating Chelsea 3-0 on Saturday.

And finally

Newcastle United goalkeeper Matz Sels closed his Twitter account following criticism from some of the club's fans after the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. (Daily Mirror)