EPL: Top transfer news and rumours on December 20

London, Dec 20: Liverpool secure Sterling but not Sturridge, Carroll want Newcastle return, West Ham, QPR, Wigan want former Chelsea striker, Wigan eye Manchester United striker on loan, Chelsea set to spend £100 million next month, all the transfer news and rumours from the Barclays Premier League on Dec 20.

• Liverpool have secured young winger Raheem Sterling's signature for a new five-year contract but a possible transfer of Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge could be blown away due to the agents fee.

• Andy Carroll has expressed his desire to return back to Newcastle United. The Liverpool striker, on loan to West Ham United, could be involved in a cash plus player swap deal with Demba Ba heading to Anfield. Carroll, who joined Liverpool for £35 million in Jan 2011, failed to make any impact for the Reds and manager Brendan Rodgers has not included him in his future plans.
  

• Meanwhile, the Hammers, Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic will compete to sign £3.3m forward Salomon Kalou from Lille. The former Chelsea star joined the French side this season.

• Liverpool and Arsenal have been alerted after Belgian side Anderlecth are ready to offload midfielder Lucas Biglia next month. The highly-rated Argentinean has been a long-term target for the Premier League rivals.

• Newcastle will face competition from West Ham United for the signature Marseille striker Loic Remy.

• Liverpool and Everton are frontrunners to sign Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland in January. Southampton and West Ham are also interested in the £6m-rated England stopper.

• Arsenal could miss long-term target Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after reports from Germany hint that the Dutch striker could sign a new deal with Schalke.

• Wigan are eyeing an emergency loan move for Manchester United's Chilean striker Angelo Hernandez.

• Despite interests from Barcelona and cash-rich Anzhi Makhachkala, QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt has pledged his future with the London club. The Morocco international has attracted teams like Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

• Liverpool and Arsenal will have to pay £5 million for Derby County midfielder Will Hughes.

• Chelsea are planning to spend nearly £100 million in January with potential targets Radamel Falcao, Marouane Fellaini and Joao Moutinho.

• Mario Balotelli has dropped his appeal against Manchester City in order to save his career at the club. The Italian had taken City to a tribunal in a bid to overturn a fine of £340,000 imposed on him for inappropriate behaviour.

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