Gossip Column: Hull City leader wanted, Evans reiterates Byram wish, plus Mourinho and Van Gaal

Hull City's Curtis Davies is a wanted man.

Premier League side Bournemouth are thought to be interested in signing Curtis Davies from Hull City.

The Tigers defender, who scored for the club in the FA Cup final two seasons ago, would cost around £3m.

Leeds United manager Steve Evans remains confident that Sam Byram, who scored twice in the win at Wolves on Thursday, will sign a new deal with the club.

Byram is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs.

“He has to sign a contract,” said Evans.

“We can’t just sit there and say the player controls the football club. We love the kid to bits and I have said before that if he comes home with my daughter I will be quite proud!”

Barnsley central defender Kevin Long, back from a three-match ban on Saturday, looks set to extend his loan from Burnley but the future of others is up in the air.

Decisions must be taken in the new year on full-backs free agent Reece Wabara and Aidy White (Rotherham United), midfield man Ben Pearson (Manchester United), winger Lloyd Isgrove (Southampton), and strikers Ivan Toney (Newcastle) and Michael Smith (Swindon).

Rotherham United Academy prospect Darnelle Bailey-King has become the second youngster at the club this season to have earned a professional contract at AESSEAL New York Stadium, subject to FA ratification.

Darnelle joins fellow Academy attacker Kuda Muskwe in being rewarded with a two year senior contract with the Millers following an impressive season in both youth and reserve team fixtures so far this season.

Nationally, Chelsea have been in talks with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, 45, for the past month after targeting the Argentine as 52-year-old Jose Mourinho’s successor, according to the Sunday Express.

Mourinho is said to have rejected an approach from Roma so that he can take over at Old Trafford. (Independent on Sunday)

Chelsea are looking at a move for Liverpool striker Christian Benteke, with the 25-year-old having been drawn up on a list of priority signings by Jose Mourinho, according to the Sunday People.

Chelsea and Manchester City are keeping an eye on 28-year-old striker Karim Benzema’s situation at Real Madrid, with him indicating a willingness to leave the Bernabeu next month, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Also in the Mirror, England manager Roy Hodgson has told Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, 28, he should stay with the Premier League table toppers rather than move in the January transfer window.