JAMIE Maclaren’s list of suitors got bigger — with a Premier League club in the mix for the soon-to-be off-contract A-League star

Plus Jose Mourinho issues a message to a wantaway forward, Leicester gets some much-needed transfer funds and the Premier League flop set for Chinese Super League riches.

It’s Rumour Mill.

MACLAREN LINKED WITH BIG MOVE

Jamie Maclaren’s contract saga keeps rumbling on. Less than a week after being linked with a marquee money move to Melbourne Victory, the Brisbane Roar striker has had his name linked to an EPL club.

Stoke City are said to be interested in the Socceroos newbie, with eyefootball.com reporting the Premier League mainstays have tabled a bid.

Jamie Maclaren celebrates Roar teammate Corey Brown’s goal. Source: AAP

With manager Mark Hughes said to be “desperate to bring in attacking talent” after struggling for striking options, Maclaren is said to be among the three players he has earmarked to solve Stoke’s woes.

However this appears to be news to both Maclaren and his agent.

“The article and the story is complete news to Jamie and I,” manager Paddy Dominguez told the World Game.

“I can only assume that if there is any credibility to the article it would be that Stoke have contacted Brisbane directly.”

Brisbane Roar, who are busy preparing for Friday night’s top of the table clash against Sydney FC, have refused to comment until there is an official offer made.

MOURINHO’S MESSAGE TO WANTAWAY FORWARD

ANTHONY Martial has struggled for game time at Manchester United this season.

The France international is keen to play more regular football, with Sevilla eyeing a loan deal for the 21-year-old, according to the Daily Mail.

But Jose Mourinho isn’t letting the striker leave on loan in January, instead demanding the Frenchman apply himself better to fight for a spot in his starting XI.

The Manchester United manager said supporters needed to be patient with Martial.

“I think Anthony is very, very young — people forget — and last season Manchester United played completely differently to how we do today,” Mourinho told SFR Sport.

“He was basically playing up front. The team had lots of passive ball possession, just waiting to put it into space for Anthony to go and score a goal.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, and Anthony Martial. Source: AP

“This season is more difficult. He needs a little bit of time to improve.”

Mourinho said the frustrated forward could learn from teammate Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who also had to bide his time before securing a starting spot.

“Every player is different. I had this season a situation that was more difficult than Anthony — Mkhitaryan,” Mourinho said.

“Mkhitaryan was completely open and completely understood the difference between me and other coaches he had.

“The difference between the demands of the Premier League and the Ukrainian league or even Bundesliga, complete different philosophy of play. And he worked a lot without playing, but he worked a lot to try to reach the level.”

It is less likely, however, that Mourinho will stand in Morgan Schneiderlin’s way. The former Southampton midfielder could be on his way to Juventus, reports Calciomercato.com.

MANCHESTER UNITED SET TO LOCK IN $125m BENFICA PAIR

MANCHESTER United’s move for Victor Lindelof has been one of the most-discussed and seemingly inevitable moves of the January transfer period.

Now the defender could see his Benfica teammate join him at Old Trafford.

Reports from Portugal suggest Jose Mourinho is also eyeing right-back Nelson Semedo.

The 23-year-old is unlikely to move in January, however a summer sale could well be on the cards for the talented defender.

A-LEAGUE ANGLE

Rhys Williams was once again absent for Perth Glory on Tuesday night at Melbourne City, which will not help quash speculation his time out west is over.

Indeed, when pressed by Fox Sports News whether Sydney FC would be interested in the former Socceroos utility, who had returned to Australia to much hype this season as he aimed to re-build his injury plagued career, Sky Blues boss Graham Arnold said: “Obviously the transfer window is coming up next week with the Asian clubs looking around for a lot of our A-League players and if that was to happen and Rhys was then available, he’s a top quality player and obviously he’s a player we’d look at”.

For this to happen, Glory would have to release their star signing from his current deal.

However, the potential interest from Sydney FC comes with Fox Sports News understanding that there are a few concerns at Allianz Stadium about Asian interest in defender Mathew Jurman.

Rhys Williams of the Glory looks on. Source: Getty Images

CHAMPIONS SET FOR JANUARY BOOST

TO SAY Leicester has suffered a championship hangover would be an understatement.

The Foxes are perilously close to a relegation battle at the turn of the New Year.

But Claudio Ranieri is set to receive £30 million worth of funds to improve his squad in the January transfer window, according to The Telegraph.

With the likes of Islam Slimani, Riyad Mahrez and Daniel Amartey unavailable in January due to the African Cup of Nations, Ranieri desperately needs some class to replace them.

Racing Genk’s 20-year-old defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is set to join in a £14 million move in the first week of January, with more potential signings to come.

Winger Marc Albrighton said he would welcome any new recruits.

“If the club are looking to do [new signings] then we welcome them,” he said.

“If the club think they are the right players to help the team then I am sure they will improve the team. We have got to welcome them and get them into the Leicester philosophy.

“If people are talking on the outside about relegation battles that is up to them. As players we are the only ones who can turn this around and to do that we have to be focused on moving forwards.

“There is a long way to go in the season. We are only halfway but we need to have a better second half to the season than the first half.”

CHINESE POWERHOUSE TARGETS BARCELONA STAR

BARCELONA midfielder Arda Turan has hit form in a big way this season, scoring 10 goals in all competitions.

Now Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande are planning to launch an audacious €50 million bid for the Turkish star, according to Fanatik.

While it seems likely Barcelona will reject the offer, the money on offer would certainly be something worth thinking about.

Turan is about to turn 30 and given his inconsistency at times, Barcelona could well consider offloading him to China in the future.

FC Barcelona's Arda Turan. Source: AP

THE PREMIER LEAGUE FLOP SET FOR CHINESE RICHES

THE money on offer in the Chinese Super League has lured many a quality player away from Europe.

But now a player who completely flopped in England is set for a huge payday.

Fiorentina’s Nikola Kalinic, who scored just seven goals in 44 league games for Blackburn, is being targeted by newly promoted CSL side Tianjin Quanjian, who are willing to pay £43m for his services.

Corriere dello Sport reported the Chinese club are prepared to trigger a substantial release clause in Kalinic’s recently-penned contract with the Serie A club.

Fiorentina's Croazian forward Nikola Kalinic. Source: AFP

CONTE LOOKS TO BUILD ON MIDFIELD RICHES with ‘NEXT YAYA’

CHELSEA are flying high at the top of the Premier League.

But that doesn’t mean Antonio Conte has stopped looking for ways to keep improving an extremely talented squad.

France Football reported the Blues have lodged a €25m bid for Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessié, dubbed by some as a ‘Yaya Toure’ clone.

The 20-year-old has recorded six goals and two assists in 16 Serie A matches so far this season.

Atalanta are remarkably sitting sixth in the competition, just three points off a Champions League spot, with Kessié playing a key role in their rise.

Juventus and Manchester Unitd are also believed to be interested in the box-to-box midfielder.

GIROUD CLOSE TO SIGNING NEW DEAL

OLIVIER Giroud has largely been forced to contribute to Arsenal’s title push from off the bench this season but that doesn’t mean he’s planning on leaving any time soon.

Alexis Sanchez’s sublime form from the central striker’s position has left Giroud as a supersub at times this year, a situation the Frenchman conceded was frustrating.

In his first start for the season, Giroud scored the winning goal against Wes Bromwich Albion, in a reward for his efforts.

“I came back a bit late from the Euros and it was nice for my body because I could rest but not good for me because the team was doing well and another striker was doing well up front,” he said.

“This season has been difficult because also I was injured for a month and a half so it hasn’t been easy.

“I don’t want to talk too much about me but it was a big day for me, but a turning point for the team because if we didn’t win we would have been in trouble.”

While he denied a new contract had been signed, Giroud indicated a fresh deal with the Gunners wasn’t far off.

“It is all about keeping the focus high, always keep working hard at training,” Giroud said.

“I was speaking with the boss, we had a couple of discussions together and he explained to me why I hadn’t played too much until here.

“But football is an everlasting new beginning, as I used to say, and you always have to keep focused and wait for your time.

“People have been saying I have signed a new contract. It is not true but maybe soon.”

SIMEONE TO STAY AT ATLETICO MADRID — AFP

DIEGO Simeone will remain at Atletico Madrid next season, according to the club’s chief executive officer Miguel Angel Gil Marin.

Simeone, 46, signed a contract extension in 2015 that originally tied him to the club until June 2020, an unusually long deal by Spanish standards.

But in September he reduced the deal to 2018 after talks with Atletico, sparking speculation that he may leave.

Asked about Simeone’s future, Gil Marin said he will stay at Atletico “this season and the next for sure.” “He has been with us for five years and it would be reasonable if he stayed with us many more because we are delighted,” he added during an interview with private television La Sexta.

Atletico Madrid's Argentinian coach Diego Simeone. Source: AFP

“We continue to grow, both him and the club, and what would be most intelligent for both parts would be to continue.” Simeone, a former Atletico midfielder, has led the club to a host of trophies since becoming coach in 2011, including the domestic title in 2014 and two Champions League finals, in 2014 and 2016.

But the club’s form has stuttered this season and Atletico find themselves in sixth in La Liga with 28 points.

Atletico are not in league action again until January 7 as La Liga takes a winter break over the new year.