Gossip column: Pedro, Muller, Mane, De Bruyne, Benzema

For a list of all the latest deals, check out the transfers page.

Telephone conversations with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and midfielder Cesc Fabregas persuaded Barcelona forward Pedro, 28, to snub long-standing interest from Manchester United and move instead to Stamford Bridge. (Guardian)

Fabregas's partner, Daniella Semaan, sold London to Carolina Martin, Pedro's wife, to persuade the Spain international to join the Blues. (Daily Express)

With Pedro's arrival imminent, Chelsea have offered Brazil midfielder Willian, 27, to Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain. (Foot Mercato via Metro)

Or Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado could be the man to make way for Pedro in the squad, with Italian club Juventus interested in the 27-year-old. (Daily Express)

Chelsea are yet to offer Serbia defender Branislav Ivanovic a contract extension, despite the 31-year-old having just a year left on his deal. (Daily Mail)

Everton agree a £5m fee with River Plate for 24-year-old defender Ramiro Funes Mori, who has one cap for Argentina. (Times - subscription required)

Newcastle are taking a gamble on their latest signing, 22-year-old French midfielder Florian Thauvin, according to former Magpies player Robert Lee. (Daily Star)

Manchester City will sign Valencia's Nicolas Otamendi, 27, for £32m in the next 24 hours after the Argentina defender passed his medical and agreed personal terms.(Daily Mail)

Daily Mail back page

Bayern Munich have told Manchester United that German World Cup-winning midfielder Thomas Muller is not for sale, after reports they had made a £60m bid for the 25-year-old. (Manchester Evening News)

United have suffered another blow as Southampton have ruled out selling Senegal forward Sadio Mane, 23. (Daily Star)

Real Madrid have accepted a £48m offer for France striker Karim Benzema from Arsenal, according to former QPR forward Rodney Marsh. (Talksport)

Wolfsburg will sell Kevin de Bruyne, 24, to Manchester City if the club meet their asking price of £57m for the Belgium midfielder. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham have had a £3.5m bid for Turkey striker Burak Yilmaz, 30, rejected by Galatasaray. (London Evening Standard)

Meanwhile, the Hammers have pulled out of a surprise deal to sign Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 31, from Tottenham Hotspur. (Telegraph)

Wolverhampton Wanderers have said they will not be selling striker Benik Afobe, 22 - despite reports Norwich City have made a "substantial bid" for the English forward. (Norwich Evening News)

Former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has warned Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho a player could die if he tries to stop a doctor going on the pitch. (Sun - subscription required)

Daily Mirror back page

West Brom are trying to sign Tottenham's Argentina defender Federico Fazio, 28, despite rejecting the White Hart Lane club's opening bid for striker 22-year-old Saido Berahino. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, 25, is expected back at Anfield this weekend after a successful rehabilitation process in the United States following hip surgery and the England international could make his first-team comeback at Manchester United on 12 September. (Guardian)

Swansea manager Garry Monk says new striker Andre Ayew is not "money-motivated" and that his ambitions are "football-orientated". (Wales Online)

Raith Rovers have started talks to bring Serbian striker Marko Vukanovic, 20, to the club. (Daily Record)

Melbourne City have signed 39-year-old Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen on a two-year deal. (Danish paper BT via The Age)

Best of social media

The Pirlo sandwich

Former QPR midfielder and free agent Joey Barton tweeted about his future. He said: "Not reached any agreement with anyone. Spoke to several. Long way to go yet. Needs to be the right project. No more time can be wasted."

A New York sandwich shop have come up with a sandwich in tribute of MLS club New York City's Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, featuring Genoa Salami, fresh mozzarella, fried zucchini and pickled blueberries.

And finally

Manchester City's England winger Raheem Sterling has put his Southport home up for sale - complete with an indoor swimming pool and Michael Jackson themed room. (Liverpool Echo)

Sunderland have been made the odds-on favourites for relegation - by their own shirt sponsor Dafabet. (Metro)

Women's World Cup winners USA beat Costa Rica 7-2 on Wednesday in an exhibition game that included an 83-minute weather delay. (Chicago Tribune)