Arsene Wenger Refuses to End Chase for Real Madrid Striker Alvaro Morata: Nightly Soccer Report

Despite Real Madrid insisting that there will be no mid-season departures either on loan or as permanent signings, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is not giving up on his chase to capture the signing of striker Alvaro Morata, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

At the same time, there are rumors that Arsenal are interested in signing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa, but the club wants to wait until the summer to review offers. Plus, Costa wants to break into the Spanish World Cup team, and his chances of doing so would be greater at Atleti, where he would get more playing time than at Arsenal given the circumstances of Olivier Giroud being the regular striker for the Gunners.

Morata is seen as a likely target due to the fact that he’s not getting as much first team football as he would like at Real Madrid.

The next transfer window opens on January 1 and closes on January 31. The window in Spain is from January 1 to February 2.

Here are today’s world soccer news headlines:

Premier League

• Arsène Wenger refuses to end chase for Real Madrid striker Álvaro Morata — The Telegraph
• Ray Wilkins appointed assistant head coach at Fulham — Fulham FC
• David Moyes considers £20m bid for Southampton full-back Luke Shaw — The Telegraph
• Sunderland sign Fiorentina left-back Marcos Alonso on loan — Sky Sports
• Christmas history says Sunderland 95% doomed but Baggies escape gives hope — Sporting Intelligence
• Steven Fletcher will score the goals to keep Sunderland in the Premier League, insists Gus Poyet — The Mail
• Manuel Pellegrini says he doesn’t need to spend in January to win the Premier League — The Mirror
• Samir Nasri apologises for making ‘quenelle’ gesture — ESPN FC
• Frank Lampard injury: Updates on Chelsea star’s leg and return — Bleacher Report
• Everton can make top four if they are more ruthless, says Romelu Lukaku — The Guardian
• Joe Hart fit to face Swansea despite needing five stitches under his left eye — The Independent
• Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini: Edin Dzeko will not be sold in January — The Guardian
• EU demands details on Liberty Stadium finance deal with Swansea Council — Evening Post
• Sam Allardyce continues search for striker as Southampton put £8m price on Rickie Lambert — Telegraph
• Mark Hughes will not contest FA charge — Sky Sports
• The false nine is an accepted role but with different interpretations — The Guardian
• Key striker Daniel Sturridge returns to Liverpool training following injury lay-off — 101GG
• Swansea eye loan deal for Inter Milan’s Uruguayan star Alvaro Pereira — The Mirror
• Fulham to bid for West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison — The Telegraph
• David Moyes says Robin van Persie is back in training — The Independent
• Brendan Rodgers refuses to discuss Cristian Tello, Catalan press says he isn’t heading to Liverpool — 101GG
• Michael Essien set for Blues exit in January with Olympiakos leading chase for midfielder — The Mirror
• Gary Neville: We have to act now to stop the grass-roots of our game withering — The Mail
• Tottenham furious after Paulinho ruled out for a month following another Charlie Adam tackle — The Mirror
• Sam Allardyce short of bodies and excuses in battle to keep West Ham up — The Guardian

Football League

• Newport defender may have to play in goal against Oxford — BBC Sport

Ligue Un

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic urges Barcelona star Lionel Messi to join PSG — Sky Sports

The Nightly Soccer Report is tomorrow’s news today. It’s often tomorrow morning’s worldwide newspaper headlines that are published the night before. We do all the work for you, combing the Internet and aggregating the news for you. Read The Nightly Soccer Report on World Soccer Talk every night before bed, so you can stay on top of all the news that matters.