Thursday's gossip column: Football transfers & rumours

For a list of confirmed transfers, check out our transfers page.

For breaking transfer news, follow Sportsday Live every weekday.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are making a £60m bid for Tottenham forward Gareth Bale, 24.

Gareth Bale was named last year's Footballer of the Year

Full story: Daily Mirror

Sunderland are considering a move for former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles, 30, who is unsettled at Fenerbahce.

Full story: Daily Mail

Manchester City are bracing themselves for a big bid from Real Madrid for striker Sergio Aguero, 25.

Full story: Metro

Striker Christian Benteke, 22, is facing showdown talks with Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert after requesting a transfer last week.

Full story: The Sun

Lazio are keen on Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson, 28, who only has a year left on his current deal.

Full story: talkSPORT

Arsenal and Napoli have been told by Real Madrid that forward Gonzalo Higuain, 25, will cost £37m.

Full story: The Times (subscription required)

Arsenal had a buy-back clause inserted in Cesc Fabregas' contract when he rejoined Barcelona

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward's exit from their pre-season tour of Australia to accelerate a move for Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 26, is a waste of time.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Celta Vigo are in talks to sign Liverpool striker Dani Pacheco, 22.

Full story: Daily Mail

Verona and Iceland midfielder Emil Hallfredsson, 29, is on Southampton's radar.

Full story: talkSPORT

OTHER GOSSIP

Harry Redknapp has missed Queens Park Rangers' pre-season trip to Austria, leaving former England manager Steve McClaren to take charge of training, and could be sidelined for at least another six weeks as he recovers from knee surgery.

Full story: Daily Mail

Swansea are increasing their bid for Espanyol winger Wakaso, 22, to £4.5m after Russian teams Anzhi Makhachkala and Rubin Kazan joined the race to sign him.

Full story: The Sun

Southampton are considering a bid for 28-year-old Catania striker Gonzalo Bergessio.

Florent Malouda has left Chelsea after six years

Full story: Daily Star

Crystal Palace are lining up an £850,000 bid for Croatian midfielder Mislav Orsic, 20, who has scored 22 goals in 90 games for Inter Zapresic.

Full story: Daily Express

Former Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda, 33, has joined Turkish side Trabzonspor.

Full story: Daily Star

GLOBAL GOSSIP

Everton have reached an agreement with Granada's Guilherme Siqueira, 27, to replace full back Leighton Baines, 28, who is rumoured to be on his way to Old Trafford.

Full story: Marca

Veteran Colombian defender Mario Yepes, 37, has signed a two-year contract with Atalanta following the expiry of his contract at AC Milan.

Full story: Tuttosport

French champions Paris St Germain have signed left-back Lucas Digne, 19, from Lille on a five-year deal.

Full story: Le Parisien

AND FINALLY

Air Asia tycoon Tony Fernandes flew his Queens Park Rangers players out for their pre-season tour on budget airline Easyjet.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Marseille scored a victory for football after beating rugby union's Toulon 36-35 in a bizarre half-football half-rugby match at the Stade Mayol.

Full story: Metro