Gossip column: Clyne, Rafael, Tiote, Van Persie, Costa

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TRANSFER GOSSIP

The Sun's back page on Friday

Chelsea are set to challenge Manchester United for the signature of Southampton and England right-back Nathaniel Clyne, 23. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United will listen to offers at the end of the season for defender Rafael, 24, as manager Louis van Gaal prepares a clearout. (Telegraph)

Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote, 28, may have played his last game for Newcastle after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. (Daily Mail)

Watford are considering signing former Aston Villa and Bolton defender Zat Knight, 34, after taking him on trial. (Talksport)

Winger Emanuele Giaccherini, 29, has a future at Sunderland despite an injury-hit two years at the club, says manager Gus Poyet. (Daily Mail)

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, 31, is set to be out for a month with the ankle injury he suffered during last Saturday's defeat at Swansea. (Sun - subscription required)

The Times back page on Friday

Manchester City are to start negotiations with midfielder Yaya Toure, 31, about a new contract with his current deal running until 2017. (Daily Star)

Arsenal's owners will allow manager Arsene Wenger to spend £50m this summer - but are expecting a significantly improved performance from him. (Daily Telegraph)

Out-of-favour Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, 24, is set to be lose his place in the Poland side to Bournemouth's Artur Boruc as he continues to be an understudy at the Emirates to David Ospina. (Sun - subscription required)

Liverpool are ready to give winger Jordon Ibe, 19, a five-year contract that will more than quadruple his pay to around £25,000 a week. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool are set to avoid Uefa sanctions, despite being in breach of Financial Fair Play regulations after writing off a proportion of financial losses as allowable stadium expenditure. (Daily Telegraph)

Chelsea striker Diego Costa, 26, says he will not change the way he plays despite a recent three-match ban imposed for stamping on Liverpool's Emre Can. (Daily Express)

Burnley striker Ashley Barnes, 25, should ignore the criticism he has received from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho over his "criminal" challenge on Nemanja Matic, according to his manager Sean Dyche.(Daily Star)

Newcastle interim manager John Carver says it is his decision - and not the board's - as to whether winger Jonas Gutierrez, 31, returns to play on Saturday after overcoming testicular cancer.(Newcastle Chronicle)

Carver has suggested he would be happy if Aston Villa were relegated in May - after they sent Newcastle down in 2009.(Sunderland Echo)

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, 24, has been staying behind at training for extra shooting practice to try to improve his season's goal total of three.(Birmingham Mail)

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, 27, celebrated the birthday of his partner Antonella Roccuzzo by posting a selfie on Instagram with their son Thiago.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge tweeted after his side went out of the Europa League to Besiktas: "Another big game on Sunday. Thank you to all the away fans that travelled to show support tonight. We were unlucky."

Sunday Times journalist David Walsh was scathing about the performance of English clubs in Europe this week, posting on Twitter: "I watched City flounder, Arsenal crumble, now Spurs, Liverpool. The Premier League has to be the most exciting illusion in sport's history."

On loan Arsenal striker Joel Campbell tweeted a picture of dressing room celebrations with his Villareal team-mates after they progressed to the last-16 of the Europa League with a win against Red Bull Salzburg.

AND FINALLY...

ITV4 suffered a blackout moments before Liverpool's Europa League penalty shootout against Besiktas - but regained coverage just in time for the first kick. (Daily Express)

An Arsenal fan says he left his wife because she did not like football. (Talksport)