EPL UPDATE:

Pellegrini Keen To Keep Dzeko, Rodwell

*Dzeko

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed the possibility of Edin Dzeko or Jack Rodwell leaving the club January. Striker Dzeko has found himself down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium this season due to the form of first-choice front pair Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo.But with Aguero currently out with a calf injury Dzeko will have opportunities to shine and he took one such chance by scoring the winner in Saturday's hard-fought victory over Crystal Palace.

2014 will be a big one for Dzeko, a £27million signing from Wolfsburg in 2011, with Bosnia competing in the World Cup for the first time in the summer.
That has led to speculation he might seek more regular first-team football elsewhere but Pellegrini stresses he needs the 27-year-old as City seek silverware on multiple fronts.
Pellegrini said: "There was never any chance of Dzeko going in January. He is a very important player for the team.
"If you look at the last month I think Dzeko was one of the players that played the most minutes in December.
"He has continued to a very important player for us.
"Always a player wants to play every game but it is impossible with the amount of games that we have to play.
"I think he is happy here. He is an important striker and could have a lot of offers from other clubs but there is never a chance of him leaving."
Midfielder Rodwell has struggled to establish himself at City since his £12million move from Everton in August last year, mainly due to injuries.
Rodwell has suffered more of the niggling and recurring hamstring injuries that hampered his progress at Goodison Park.
It has been suggested that City could loan him out in a bid to try to get him more top-level action but Pellegrini is not interested.
He said: "I think all the players in the squad at the moment, it is because we need them. I need all the players."
Pellegrini is now considering whether he needs to strengthen his squad during January.
He insists it is not a priority but will not rule out additions.
The Chilean said: "For the moment, we are not talking about that but we are always analysing what we need and what we don't need.
"The possibility of the transfer window is there for every club. We will see what we are going to do in the next days."

Alonso joins Sunderland

Fiorentina defender Marcos Alonso will join Sunderland on loan for the rest of the season on January 1

The former Bolton full-back has completed a medical on Wearside and will officially join the Black Cats' squad when the winter transfer window opens.
Manager Gus Poyet said: "I can confirm Marcos is going to be with us for the rest of the season on loan from Fiorentina, which is something very important.
"I was looking for a player in that position on the left side and I hope he will help us and everybody will like him.
"I am delighted that everything is agreed."

*Not a killer

Wenger seeks 'special' player, not Suarez Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out another bid for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, but will strengthen his squad if a 'special' player becomes available.
The Gunners head into the New Year as leaders of the Premier League, with some of their title rivals tipped to spend heavily as they enter the second half of a fiercely contested title race.
Arsenal have stayed in the hunt, despite limited attacking options which have forced Olivier Giroud to shoulder much of the workload as a sole striker.
Wenger tried to add more firepower in the summer, but failed to lure Suarez from Liverpool and will not make another attempt to prise away the Uruguay international, who signed a new deal at Anfield this month.
But he is looking for another big-name player to bolster his side following the marquee signing of Mesut Ozil in the summer.
"We are as many clubs, certainly on alert," said the Frenchman. "If something special turns up, we will not turn it down.
"But we are not as well desperate because we have a big depth in our squad. We have shown that because our midfield for example at West Ham and at Newcastle was completely different. We changed three players and we still managed to have a very strong team."
When asked if he had given up hope of signing Suarez, Wenger said: "Yes of course. There won't be any approach, no."