Remi Garde is expected to become the next manager of Aston Villa.

Kevin MacDonald is the caretaker manager and preparing the team for Monday’s trip to Tottenham. 

He said: “Obviously, the hierarchy think he is the man for the job. I’ve been told I need to prepare the team for Monday. Whether Remi has been given the position and is maybe in the stand to watch, I don’t know, that is going to be an ongoing thing.

“He was a decent footballer at Arsenal, they don’t have many bad players over the years, and he has got a good pedigree as a coach. If, at the end of the season, Aston Villa are still in the Premier League then it’s a good appointment. Arsène Wenger came in and never had any Premier League experience.”

Garde is on a sabbatical from Lyon.

Roberto Martinez has declined to comment on reports that Everton would sell Romelu Lukaku if they received the right offer.

Mino Raiola reportedly told a French radio station they had been given the manager’s blessing amid rumors of interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

“I’m not here to try to do the job of an agent," said Martinez. "I’m not going to entertain any sort of rumors and speculation. I have to do that during the transfer window, against my wishes, so as you can understand I’m quite happy now not to go into any comments.”

Lukaku is the most expensive signing in the history of Everton.

Cristiano Ronaldo's close friend, Semedo, believes he'll return to the Premier League.

"He is very happy at Real Madrid [but] he loves English football, he loves English people, and deep down I think he will come back to England because it doesn't look like he wants to finish his career without getting back to England," said Semedo.

"He said he would wish Real Madrid is in England, but that is not possible. I believe he will end his career in English football again."

Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009.

Ramires has signed a contract extension with Chelsea through the 18-19 season.

Ramires joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2010 and he has since made 241 appearances for the Blues.

Ramires told the club's official website: "I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea.

"My family and I are very happy here in London and in the past five years the club has lifted every major trophy. I hope to be an important part of many more successes in the next four years."

Cameron Brannagan has signed a long-term contract with Liverpool and figures to be part of Jurgen Klopp's plans.

“Great young guy, I like his style," Klopp said of Brannagan.

“For his age, has everything you need for a midfield player.”

Brannagan had an impressive performance in the Capital One Cup against Bournemouth.

Arsenal are again targeting Gonzalo Higuain with reports indicating he's their top priority during the January transfer window, according to Tutto Mercato Web.

Higuain has a €94 million release clause at Napoli.

Higuain has eight goals and two assists in 10 matches.

Angel di Maria never wanted to leave Real Madrid for Manchester United.

Di Maria wrote an open letter following his move to United in 2014 saying that "many lies [were] circulated" by Madrid officials regarding his alleged contract demands, and that it was "never his wish" to leave the Bernabeu.

Di Maria was sold to Paris Saint-Germain this past summer.

Asked whether he stood by his farewell letter to Madrid, Di Maria told Marca: "It wasn't about hard feelings, I wrote it to clarify all the things being said about me that were complete lies. If I went to the Bernabeu today and they booed me, it would be for everything that was said about me then.

"It was always my intention to stay, never to go. I don't know much about what went on there behind closed doors -- that's stuff the agents deal with.

"I left Madrid the way I left but what I took with me was the fantastic moment of that final applause at the Bernabeu, and I feel OK with that."

Mino Raiola, agent for Paul Pogba, claims Juventus rejected offers coming from Germany, Spain and England worth €85 million ($92 million) during the summer.

Pogba has been linked with clubs such as Barcelona and Chelsea.

Pogba is under contract with Juventus until June 2019.

"I don't know what will happen between Juventus and Barcelona in the future regarding Pogba," Raiola told RMC.

"Juventus received three offers worth €85 million from England, Spain and Germany last summer, but they turned all three of them down.

"I believe Juventus value him at €100 million.

"Are Bayern Munich an option? Pep Guardiola is a great coach. That would not cause any problems."

Zinedine Zidane insists both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will remain at Real Madrid and are not for sale.

Both players have been linked to moves to Manchester United at various points.

"No, he [Ronaldo] is not for sale, it wouldn't make sense," Zidane said.

"Big players are what people want to read about, so that is why they are written about, but why would Real Madrid have any intention of selling the best player in the world?

"Cristiano Ronaldo has been the best player in the world for the past few years, and he knows he is the best.

"It doesn't mean that he doesn't work hard, or that he doesn't want to improve and get better, but he has that confidence where he knows how good he is.

"I was not the most prolific goalscorer, but I knew how good I was. I knew that I could read the game and see things one or two seconds quicker than everybody else."

Bale has had a mixed start to his career with Madrid.

"Of course clubs are going to want Gareth, he is one of the best in the world, but I am not sure how much clearer we can be," maintained Zidane, who is currently the manager of Real Madrid's reserve side.

"Gareth has made it clear, his agent has made it clear, we have made it clear, his future is at Real Madrid. We sign the best players in the world, we don't sell them."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer and his agent isn't ruling out any destinations.

Ibrahimovic has most recently been linked to David Beckham's proposed MLS franchise in Miami.

Ibrahimovic has a good relationship with Beckham after they were teammates with PSG.

Beckham's ownership group is seeking to create an MLS franchise in Miami in time for the 2017 season.

"Zlatan could sign everywhere because he is free [at the end of the season] but we haven't decided yet," Raiola told L'Equipe. "We have offers from several clubs and we are free to decide."

When asked specifically about Miami, Ibrahimovic's agent, Mino Raiola, said that "everything is possible."