Gossip column: De Gea, Pogba, Austin, Kovacic, Roberts, Babel

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Manchester City are in a four-way battle to sign Juventus's 22-year-old midfielder Paul Pogba, who is valued at £60m. (Daily Mirror) external-link

Barcelona have already opened talks with Juve over Pogba, according to a presidential candidate who says he will sign the France international if elected at the Spanish club. (Sun - subscription required)external-link

Daily Mirror back page
The Mirror's back page leads on Chelsea's bid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

If City miss out on Pogba, manager Manuel Pellegrini will turn to Aston Villa's 25-year-old midfielder Fabian Delph instead. (Telegraph)external-link

Man City's Argentina forward Sergio Aguero, 27, insists he is happy at Etihad Stadium and believes he can become the best player in the world at the Premier League club. (Daily Star)external-link

Chelsea have targeted Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, 27, as a replacement for Petr Cech. (Telegraph)external-link

Arsenal have rejected a swap deal for Cech, 33, that would see 21-year-old midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain join Chelsea. The Gunners would prefer a cash-only deal worth £10m to sign the Blues' back-up goalkeeper. (Daily Mirror)external-link

Manchester United's 24-year-old goalkeeper David De Gea appears certain to join Real Madrid, but Iker Casillas, 34, has hinted he is not ready to relinquish his role as the Spanish club's number one. (Manchester Evening News)external-link

Tottenham's resolve to keep Hugo Lloris could be tested if United make a £25m bid for the 28-year-old goalkeeper. (London Evening Standard)external-link

United are also facing a battle with Real Madrid to sign £35m-rated Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi with new Real boss Rafael Benitez keen on the 27-year-old Argentina international.(Daily Star)external-link

West Ham and West Brom are competing to bring Senegal striker Demba Ba, 30, back from Turkey after the striker said that wanted to leave Besiktas over a disagreement about money. (Times - subscription required)external-link

QPR have warned Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle that they will need to pay £15m to sign 25-year-old striker Charlie Austin. (Daily Express)external-link

Daily Star back page
Sergio Aguero's desire to stay at Manchester City and become the best player in the world dominates the back of the Daily Star

Inter Milan have turned down an offer from Liverpool for 21-year-old midfielder Mateo Kovacic which included striker Mario Balotelli, 24, as a makeweight. (Talksport)external-link

Southampton are targeting Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson, 23, as a potential replacement for 24-year-old right-back Nathaniel Clyne, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool. (Guardian)external-link

Meanwhile, West Ham are keen on reviving a loan deal for Jenkinson, despite Sunderland agreeing a £2m deal with the Gunners for the right-back. (Daily Mail)external-link

The Hammers have edged ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign 25-year-old QPR striker Charlie Austin.(Daily Star)external-link

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood is keen on signing Hull City's midfielder Tom Huddlestone, 28, and winger Robbie Brady, 23. (Daily Mirror)external-link

Everton still want to sign Tottenham's 28-year-old winger Aaron Lennon, despite closing in on a deal with Barcelona for wide player Gerard Deulofeu, 21. (Times - subscription required)external-link

Swansea want to sign former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel in a £2m deal from Turkish club Kasimpasa. The 28-year-old spent four years at Anfield between 2007 and 2011. (Sun - subscription required)external-link

West Brom have agreed a £1.5m fee with Wigan Athletic for 26-year-old winger James McClean. (Sky Sports)external-link

Newcastle want £10m for 30-year-old Senegal striker Papiss Cisse with West Brom forward Saido Berahino, 21, on their list of targets. (Newcastle Chronicle)external-link

Best of social media

Calum Chambers
England's first game of the Euro U-21 Championships is against Portugal on Thursday

The European Under-21 Championships get under way on Wednesday and England and Arsenal defender Calum Chambers is ready to get going. The 20-year-old tweeted:external-link "Warm-up shot of us in the Czech Republic. Looking forward to our first game."

Charlie Austin has put to one side all the transfer speculation surrounding him to head to Ascot. The QPR striker has been tweetingexternal-link his tips as well as pictures of him rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of the horse racing world.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas revealed on Instagramexternal-link that he spent a day go-kart track racing against heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua while on on holiday. He posted a picture with Joshua and the message: "Big day at the track #number1onthegrid #someonewassobad #someonewasdrivingoffroad".

And finally

Rafael van der Vaart enjoyed a rapturous welcome from Real Betis fans after signing a three-year deal with the Spanish club. But perhaps nobody was as pleased as the 32-year-old midfielder's grandma, who only lives about 80 miles away and was reunited with the Dutchman. (ITV)external-link

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique cut the goal nets down after the Champions League final to give to a friend whose wedding he was due to miss because of international commitments with Spain. (Independent)external-link