Gossip column: Pogba, Falcao, Van Persie, Lennon, Benteke – BBC Sport
For a list of all the latest deals, check out the
transfers page.
Manchester United have been secretly trying to sell 31-year-old striker Robin van Persie since January, according to his former team-mate Pierre van Hooijdonk.
(Daily Mirror)
Should Van Persie leave Old Trafford, Besiktas are hoping to tempt the Netherlands striker to Turkey.
(Sun – subscription required)
Meanwhile, Manchester United have rejected a £3.5m bid from Fenerbahce for winger Nani. The Portugal international, 28, spent last season on loan at Sporting Lisbon and is valued at £6m.
(Daily Star)
Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon, 44, is the early front-runner to take charge at Leicester City following Nigel Pearson’s dismissal.
(Guardian)
Monaco forward Radamel Falcao, 29, has completed the formalities of his move to Chelsea and will link up with his new club on their pre-season tour of North America, according to his family.
(Guardian)
Manchester City face an increasingly difficult battle to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, with Barcelona offering £56.7m for the 22-year-old. But City hope to take a step closer to recruiting 24-year-old forward Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg.
(Daily Mail)
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, 25, was ‘lied to’ by Arsene Wenger over his future at Arsenal and the signing of Petr Cech from Chelsea, according to former Poland keeper Jan Tomaszewski.
(Przeglad, via Independent)
Aston Villa are set to make a £6.5m move for Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye, which could prompt the departure of Fabian Delph, also 25, from the West Midlands club.
(Sun – subscription required)
Forward Thomas Muller, 25, says he “feels fine at Bayern Munich” after reports Manchester United had offered a package worth £120m in fees and wages for him.
(Daily Express)
Chelsea will make an improved £8m bid for 28-year-old Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
(Daily Telegraph)
Liverpool are on the verge of completing the signing of Aston Villa’s 24-year-old striker Christian Benteke.
(Talksport)
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is set to start negotiations with Atletico Madrid over the signing of 26-year-old defender Toby Alderweireld, who spent last season on loan at Southampton.
(London Evening Standard)
West Ham United have been told they will have to bid more than £20m for Dynamo Kiev’s 24-year-old defender Aleksandar Dragovic .
(Daily Telegraph)
The Hammers want Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson, 23, on loan for a second successive season and are expected to give a trial to 18-year-old AFC Wimbledon striker Daniel Agyei on Thursday.
(Daily Mail)
Sunderland hope to beat Newcastle United to the loan signing of Chelsea’s 22-year-old Netherlands midfielder Marco van Ginkel.
(Voetbal International)
Midfielder Abou Diaby, 29, is in talks with MLS side FC Dallas after being released by Arsenal.
(Daily Mirror)
Manchester City are going ahead with their summer spending plans despite uncertainty surrounding their financial fair play punishment.
(Manchester Evening News)
Steve McClaren is considering whether to give French midfielder Sylvain Marveaux a second chance at Newcastle after the 29-year-old’s return to pre-season training.
(Newcastle Chronicle)
Stoke are set to offer Switzerland international Xherdan Shaqiri, 23, a six-month deal after agreeing a £12m fee with Inter Milan for the midfielder.
(Times – subscription required)
Defender George Friend, 27, says he is happy at Middlesbrough despite interest from Premier League West Bromwich Albion.
(Northern Echo)
Leeds United’s new £3m striker Chris Wood, 23, sought assurances from owner Massimo Cellino and manager Uwe Rosler before joining the club, following last season’s turbulent events at Elland Road.
(Yorkshire Post)
Winger Tom Ince is set for talks over his future at relegated Hull City, with Derby County keen to agree a £6m deal for the 23-year-old.
(Hull Daily Mail)
Former Leicester defender Gerry Taggart, 44, is among the candidates to replace Brian Horton, who has left Doncaster Rovers after two years as Paul Dickov’s assistant manager.
(Sheffield Star)
Defender Greg Halford, 30, claims he left Nottingham Forest for “non-football reasons”.
(Nottingham Post)
Best of social media
Former Southampton defender Francis Benali had a dig at Liverpool’s transfer policy after the Reds signed Saints defender Nathaniel Clyne. Benali posted a picture of a garden chair on
Twitter
with a Saints badge stuck to it, joking that Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had just bid £8m for it.
Manchester City forward David Silva, 29,
tweeted
a picture of himself and Sevilla midfielder Vitolo on a fishing trip.
Goalkeeper Ben Amos, 25,
thanked Sir Alex Ferguson
after ending his 14-year association with Manchester United by joining Bolton Wanderers.
And finally
Charlton Athletic players have come up with an unusual way to reward fans in a bid to boost season ticket sales – by undertaking dares or forfeits for every 100 sold.
(London Evening Standard)
West Ham United will carry a live stream of Thursday’s Europa League qualifying round game with Andorra’s Lusitans – a 35,000 sell-out – on their website free of charge.
(whufc.com)
United States player-coach Abby Wambach, 35, has promised to give her socks to US radio personality Dan Patrick if her team win the Women’s World Cup.
(USA Today)