Real star wants EPL return and other red-hot gossip

(06-10-2010) Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra is keen on a return to England in January. This has alerted a number of EPL clubs, most notably Manchester United and Tottenham. The French international has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu this season under new manager Jose Mourinho. Diarra joined Real from Portsmouth two years ago and has also played for Arsenal and Chelsea in his career. Elsewhere, Juventus want to capitalise on Liverpool's financial problems by sealing a cut-price £10m deal for midfielder Alberto Aquilani in January; Chelsea are facing a fight to keep Gael Kakuta at Stamford Bridge with Bayern Munich preparing to swoop for the 19-year-old striker; Liverpool are ready to sell winger Ryan Babel in order to fund a move for talented Valencia midfielder Juan Mata; and Japan striker Keisuke Honda could be available in the January transfer window with Arsenal his likeliest suitors.