Aston Villa’s unwanted Christmas present, Liverpool and Arsenal in scuffle, and Rabiot shoots his shot

‘Tis the season for opening inexplicably random gifts from elderly loved ones, trying to make heads or tails of what said present is, and then exerting every scrappy morsel of dramatic flair and thespianism to muster a smile that belies the puzzlement within. No matter how many receipts you have to covertly employ this Christmas, however, at least you can take solace in the consolation that your great aunt is unlikely to wrap up a 6’6” Dane and leave him under your tree. If she does, call the relevant authorities.

According to Football Insider, Leicester City are set to offer Aston Villa the opportunity to sign Jannik Vestergaard, a man who saunters around the Premier League like a Viking Cousin Lurch, this winter. Whether Unai Emery actually wants him is, of course, another matter entirely, but that shouldn’t stop the Foxes from trying to pass him off as a desirable commodity, much like your mam dumping an unwanted bubble bath set that she’s had in the cupboard since last Christmas on to one of her unsuspecting friends.

By contrast, this year’s must-have prezzie appears to be Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah. The USA international impressed at the World Cup before he and his compatriots were ousted by Louis van Gaal and his stocking full of satsumas - so much so that he is said to be attracting interest from a number of top Premier League clubs.

Liverpool and Chelsea have both made contact with his representatives, according to 90min, while Arsenal, where he was once an academy prospect, are also said to be willing to scrimmage for him like a rabid punter in a Boxing Day sale. In response, Valencia are understood to have opened talks over a new contract because, well, you just would, wouldn’t you?

And finally, lock up your shampoos and conditioners because France midfielder and professional mummy’s boy Adrien Rabiot has reiterated his desire to play in England one day. As quoted by the Evening Standard, he said: “I have always said that I’d like to play in England in my career. Will it happen at the end of my career in Juventus? I don’t know. But yeah I still have that desire. I’d like to evolve in the Premier League.

“I haven’t got a Premier League team in mind right now. I haven’t chosen a team or anything. It’s a general thing, it’s the championship, it’s the level of play that’s going on, that’s what attracts me most. I think it corresponds to my qualities.”

I’m old enough to remember when Manchester United fans nearly rioted at the prospect of signing Rabiot just a few short months ago, but hey, you’ve got to admire his self-belief.