Manchester United have been told that Aston Villa captain and centre-back Ron Vlaar, 29, will cost them upwards of £12m, but face stiff competition from Arsenal.
Juventus have upped their asking price for 27-year-old midfielder Arturo Vidal, a Manchester United target, following strong interest from Real Madrid.
Manchester United are considering re-signing Stoke captain and centre-half Ryan Shawcross, 27, who came through the youth ranks of the Old Trafford club.
Spanish champions Atletico Madrid have signed-up former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon as an advisor, with a remit to expand the club's international presence. (
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OTHER GOSSIP
Liverpool's 19-year-old winger Raheem Sterling will play for England at the European Under-21 Championships in the Czech Republic next summer - if the FA and Anfield club can come to an agreement.
Sterling, who sparked a debate when he said he was too tired to play for England, has performed more sprints, over a greater distance and reached a higher top speed than Premier League rivals like Manchester City's David Silva or Chelsea's Eden Hazard so far this league season. (
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Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 21, also says that he wants to play in the European Under-21 Championship despite being capped 18 times in Roy Hodgson's senior England team. (
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Liverpool's £16m striker Mario Balotelli, 24, has blamed manager Brendan Rodgers' tactics for the fact he has scored just one goal since his arrival from Milan in the summer. (
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Professional Footballers' Association trustee Brendon Batson has called on the 20 Premier League chairmen to address racial discrimination in English football by coming up with an alternative to the Rooney Rule.
Manchester City midfielder James Milner, 28, says he wants to sign a new contract with the Premier League champions.
Arsenal wanted to sign Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas, all 27, when the trio were teenagers at Barcelona's academy.
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Gerard Pique has a chat with Spanish police
Barcelona defender Pique, 27, has
an apology following a verbal confrontation with police in Spain which, according to Spanish newspaper
could land him in front of a judge accused of civil disobedience and for disrespecting the police.
Arsenal midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain, 21, could be set for an uncomfortable time the next time he bumps into his noisy neighbour after the 21-year-old
"My neighbour drives me mad! The guy persists on mowing his lawn and chopping trees down morning noon and night, EVERY DAY! Just chill man!"
AND FINALLY
Defender-turned-pundit Gary Neville has jokingly ripped apart Ryan Giggs' famous solo goal against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final using his giant Sky-Pad at an event to honour his former Manchester United team-mate.
The players of Leyton Orient have agreed to feature in a reality show on Italian TV after backing down in a row with the League One club's new Italian owner Francesco Becchetti. (
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Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock played Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were at training this week.