Gossip column: Ronaldo, Ramos, Higuain, Messi, Neville

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 31, and 29-year-old defender Sergio Ramos, who have been linked with moves to Manchester United, have handed in transfer requests at the Spanish club. (Sport), external

The Red Devils are ready to offer £115m to sign the pair this summer. (Fichajes, in Spanish), external

Image source, Independent
Image caption,

The Independent's sport supplement cover page

Meanwhile, Manchester United's interest in a £62m move for Napoli's 28-year-old Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain is now rivalled by a potential bid from Liverpool. (Daily Star), external

Manchester City and Manchester United could have to battle it out with each other after they identified West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna, 27, as a possible target.(Times - subscription required), external

Barcelona's Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 28, says he would like to return to play in his homeland at some stage of his career.(El Grafico via Guardian), external

Ex-England midfielder Steve McManaman, who played with Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane during two seasons at the Spanish giants, says the former France international did not come across as a future manager.(Daily Express), external

Image source, Sun
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The Sun's back page

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is keen to bring in Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino or Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri to replace Zidane if his side fail to win the Champions League this season.(La Gazzetta dello Sport), external

Chelsea have held talks with the representatives of Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, who has been recommended by the London club's prospective new manager Antonio Conte, and established the 25-year-old has a £31m buyout clause. (Times - subscription required), external

Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group "underestimated how poor the playing squad was" when they bought the club in 2010. The revelation came during a legal battle between Mill Financial, Royal Bank of Scotland and former Reds co-owner George Gillett. (Liverpool Echo) , external

Aston Villa's players believe manager Remi Garde will leave the club in the summer following the club's seemingly inevitable relegation from the Premier League. (Daily Mirror), external

Villa are eight points from safety but centre-back Micah Richards, 27, says the players are "not giving up". (Aston Villa official website), external

Valencia are keen to appoint Gary Neville as their permanent manager on a two-year contract, with the Mestalla club set to speak to the ex-Manchester United defender about potential signings. (Daily Mirror), external

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has criticised the quality of the Liverpool side and says he would replace the whole squad in the summer. (Daily Express), external

Norwich midfielder Alex Tettey, 29, fears his season may be over after suffering an ankle injury in the midweek defeat by Chelsea. (VG Sporten, in Norwegian), external

Former Netherlands international and Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar told the Oxford Union that his former Ajax boss Louis van Gaal, now at Old Trafford, is the best manager he ever worked with. (Daily Mail) , external

Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez, 25, says he thought the city only had a rugby team before he signed for them from Le Havre in January 2014. (FourFourTwo) , external

A second-tier Atlantic League, featuring clubs from several countries including Scotland and the Netherlands, could back up a European Super League which is being proposed by Europe's elite clubs. (The Sun), external

Motherwell forward Scott McDonald, 32, believes Scottish club football should be played in the summer. (Glasgow Evening Times), external

Borussia Dortmund want to sell £23m midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 25, a player that Arsenal are interested in. (Bild via Talksport), external

Best of social media

West Ham fan and comedian Russell Brand interviewed Hammers boss Slaven Bilic after Wednesday's win over Tottenham and had a special present for him as he gave the Croat a kiss.

Image source, West Ham on Twitter
Image caption,

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic gets more than he bargained for during an interview with Russell Brand

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has questioned midfielder Santi Cazorla's prospects of returning before the end of the season - but the 31-year-old Spain international tweeted his surprise, external at his manager's comments.

Image source, .

Meanwhile, Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany tweeted, external his side will bounce back from their 3-0 defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday.

Image source, Vincent Kompany

And finally

Barcelona forward Neymar, 24, says, given the option, he would take team-mate Lionel Messi's left foot over Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo's right. (UOL Esporte, in Spanish), external

Former Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby's long-awaited comeback from injury has been put back again. The 29-year-old was due to play for Marseille in a cup game on Thursday but suffered a calf injury in training. His last competitive game was in September 2014. (ESPN), external

Manchester United teenager Timothy Fosu-Mensah, 18, started Wednesday's match against Watford but was not mentioned in the matchday programme. (Metro), external