Gossip column: Di Maria, Gonzalez, Lavezzi, Holtby, Mexes

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

Daily Mail
The Daily Mail back page

Manchester United are preparing a £100m package to bring Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria, 26, to Old Trafford, which would cover the Argentina international's £50m transfer fee and wages. (Daily Mail)external-link

United have been given a boost in their bid for Di Maria as Real boss Carlo Ancelotti says he doesn't know if the player has a future at the Bernabeu. (Metro)external-link

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman wants to make Lazio midfielder Alvaro Gonzalez, 29, his eighth signing of the summer and is preparing an £8m offer for the Uruguay international. (Daily Mirror)external-link

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique says he is still in the market for new signings despite spending £115m on five players, including £75m on 27-year-old Luis Suarez this summer. (Marca) external-link

Tottenham are willing to listen to offers for Lewis Holtby, who they signed from Schalke for £1.5m in January 2013, as QPR and Crystal Palace line up moves for the 23-year-old midfielder. (Daily Mail)external-link

Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says West Ham midfielder Jack Collison, 25, is currently training at the club but would not be drawn on whether a deal is being lined up. (Sky Sports)external-link

Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are on alert after Paris St-Germain's contract talks with their 29-year-old Argentine winger Ezequiel Lavezzi broke down. (Daily Star)external-link

Manchester United have reignited their interest in Roma's Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman, 28, with Juventus confident they will hold onto 27-year-old Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal.(Daily Express)external-link

The Old Trafford club are eyeing up a move for AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes, 32, as a cheaper alternative to Roma's £24m-rated centre-back Mehdi Benatia, 27, according to Corriere dello Sport. (Football Italia)external-link

United have joined Tottenham in the hunt for Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin, 28, after Chelsea cooled on their interest in the Colombian international. (TalkSport)external-link

Celtic are closing in on the one-year loan signing of winger Mubarak Wakaso, 24, from Rubin Kazan. (Daily Record)external-link

Andros Townsend
Townsend made 33 appearances for Tottenham last season scoring two goals

Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano, 29, is eager to secure a move to West Ham United following a training ground bust-up with coach Marcelo Bielsa.(Sky Sports)external-link

Napoli appear to have beaten Swansea City to the signature of Dutch midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, 26, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at the Liberty Stadium from Villarreal. (La Gazzetta - in Italian)external-link

Sunderland are interested in taking Napoli striker Eduardo Vargas, 24, on loan after learning that he is not part of Rafa Benitez's plans this season. (Daily Mirror)external-link

Tottenham are ready to reject a £10m offer from Southampton for 23-year-old England winger Andros Townsend, who is also attracting interest from QPR. (Daily Express)external-link

GLOBAL GOSSIP (sourced by BBC Monitoring)

Chelsea are looking at AS Roma striker Mattia Destro, 23, in case Fernando Torres, 30, decides to leave the club. (Le Figaro)external-link

Bayern Munich could make moves for defenders Mehdi Benatia, 27, and Diego Godin, 28, who play for AS Roma and Atletico Madrid respectively. (L'Equipe)external-link

Arsenal are in advanced negotiations with Italian side Napoli for the loan transfer of 24-year-old Chilean forward Eduardo Vargas. (Tuttosport)external-link

AS Monaco had offered their striker Radamel Falcao, 28, to Barcelona, but the Catalan club declined the proposal as they had already signed Luis Suarez. (Mundodeportivo)external-link

Liverpool will look to make a move for Paris St-Germain forward Edinson Cavani, 27, if they fail to recruit Colombia striker Radamel Falcao. (Bild)external-link

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 28, is Real Madrid's preferred candidate to succeed veteran Iker Casillas at the Bernabeu. (Bild)external-link

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said that the club is not looking at making any transfer moves. (Marca)external-link

Inter Milan could face stiff competition from AS Monaco for FC Porto's Brazilian defender Rolando, 28. (Le Figaro)external-link

OTHER GOSSIP

Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror back page

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, 41, received a text message from Suarez wishing him and his former Reds team-mates luck ahead of their opening-day win over Southampton. (Telegraph)external-link

Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood, 45, has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Tony Pulis at Crystal Palace after a favourable interview. (Guardian)external-link

Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, 28, has been offered a new five-year deal by manager Manuel Pellegrini, which is set to be signed this week. (Daily Express)external-link

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, 30, believes the side need to rediscover the fear factor that they had over teams to help them improve after an opening-day Premier League defeat against Swansea at home. (Daily Star)external-link

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger faces defensive problems in the build up to the first leg of his side's Champions League qualifier at Besiktas on Tuesday and could recall centre-back Per Mertesacker earlier than he wanted because of a foot injury to Laurent Koscielny. (Daily Telegraph)external-link

Sunderland striker Connor Wickham, 21, is attracting interest from other clubs and Black Cats manager Gus Poyet says the summer transfer window should be shut before the start of the top-flight season. (Independent)external-link

Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert, 32, says that he is surprised that former club Southampton's owners have not faced more criticism over their decision to sell several first-team players this summer. (Goal.com)external-link

Glen Johnson and Liverpool team-mates
Glen Johnson at his 30th birthday party with Liverpool team-mates

QPR, who lost 1-0 to Hull City on their return to the Premier League, will have to learn hard lessons if they are to survive in the top flight, says Hoops midfielder Joey Barton, 31.(Times - subscription required)external-link

Brazil forward Neymar, 22, who scored four goals in five games at the 2014 World Cup, will not be a true footballing star until he wins the tournament, says Brazil coach Dunga.(Daily Mail)external-link

Everton manager Roberto Martinez is eager to take the pressure off the club's £28m record signing Romelu Lukaku, 21, who failed to score in the opening day 2-2 draw with Leicester City. (Guardian)external-link

Senegal striker Demba Ba, 29, who left Chelsea to join Besiktas in the summer, insists he only struggled at Stamford Bridge because manager Jose Mourinho picked players on reputation rather than performance. (Sun - subscription only)external-link

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones tweetedexternal-link a photograph of Glen Johnson with team-mates at the England defender's 30th birthday bash.

Daniel Sturridge thanked his Liverpool team-mates after scoring the winner against Southampton
Daniel Sturridge thanked his Liverpool team-mates after scoring the winner against Southampton

Manchester United vice-captain Darren Fletcher, 30, takes the ice bucket challenge on his Facebookexternal-link page and nominates former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo to take it next.

Real Madrid star Ronaldo, 29, stripped down to purple underwear to take part in the craze on Twitterexternal-link and raise money for charity.

Liverpool match-winner Daniel Sturridge tweetedexternal-link to declare himself "a happy fella" after the 2-1 win against Southampton and thanked his team-mates for helping him to his first goal of the season.

AND FINALLY

PSV Eindhoven fans have objected after their club introduced free wifi at their stadium, believing that more focus should be put on the team and not on smartphones or tablet devices. (Back Page Football)external-link

An over-eager fan ran onto the pitch and kissed Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero after he sealed a 2-0 win at Newcastle United and then asked for his shirt. (Daily Mirror)external-link

A Real Madrid fan, dressed as Ronaldo, infiltrated Los Blancos' 2-1 friendly loss to Fiorentina and chatted with striker Karim Benzema, 26, on the pitch. (Marca)external-link