Marco Reus snubs England, but Arsenal line up another 'starlet'

The Premier League won't be graced with the presence of Marco Reus following the Borussia Dortmund star's decision to snub England for Spain. That's the claim made by the Daily Star, the paper taking German rag Bild as its source.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea had all been tailing the German midfielder but the Star says the quartet of clubs "will be rocked by the news that Reus is making preparations to move to Spain".

It appears Reus has already started taking Spanish lessons in readiness for his move to La Liga, and the only question that remains is whether his destination will be Barcelona or Real Madrid. The Star reckons Real, with the paper saying that Reus's agent is expected in the Spanish capital anytime now to conclude the big-money move.

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Elsewhere, Talksport report that Arsenal – fresh from brushing aside Galatasaray 4-1 in Tuesday night's Champions League clash – are "keeping tabs" on Polish defensive midfielder Krystian Bielik.

Described as the obligatory 'starlet' on account of being sweet sixteen, the teenager is nonetheless a strapping 6ft 2in and has already broken into Legia Warsaw's first-team.

According to Polish broadcaster TVP Sport, Arsenal's scouts have been mightily impressed by what they've seen of Bielik and "have urged Arsene Wenger to secure his services".

A move to the Emirates could come as early as next month, says Talksport, even though the young playmaker has three years to run on his contract. Though Legia are keen to retain Bielik, it's believed Arsenal will get their man – or rather, boy – if they table a serious bid in next month's transfer window.

The Daily Express says that Liverpool's hopes of luring Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn to Anfield appear as dim as an Instagram post from Mario Balotelli.

The 21-year-old German gloveman was one of several keepers being eyed up by Reds' gaffer Brendan Rodgers as a replacement for bungling Belgian Simon Mignolet who along with his teammates was eliminated from the Champions League last night by Basel.

But in conversation with Cologne newspaper express.de, Horn stated: "I have said it more than once: I am in talks with FC Koln [about a new deal]. I want to sign on with my club."

Finally, the Mirror is one of several papers to carry the comments of Manchester United Louis van Gaal when asked if he'd be busy next month in the transfer market. One would have thought the Dutchman would be preparing to splash out given United's stuttering performances in the first half of the season, but not a bit of it.

"Do we have to buy players? No, we have more than enough," declared van Gaal. In recent weeks he's been linked with January moves for a host of players, among them Reus, Dortmund teammate Mats Hummels and Ron Vlaar of Aston Villa. But the Mirror says van Gaal "insists his back-line is strong enough" and will resist the temptation to dip into his transfer chest after Christmas.