Gossip column: Leicester, Mourinho, Laporte, Guardiola, Guidolin, Thauvin
- Published
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Jose Mourinho is expected to make a decision on his future this week after seeking assurances from Manchester United. (Telegraph), external
United are readying a bid for Sporting Lisbon's 23-year-old midfielder Joao Mario, who has a £55m release clause in his current deal. (A Bola - in Portuguese), external
Manchester City have agreed to pay the £39m release clause to sign French defender Aymeric Laporte, 21, from Athletic Bilbao in the summer, according to reports in Spain. (EITB, via Guardian), external
City boss-elect Pep Guardiola has hit back at his critics before current side Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, saying: "The problem people have with me is that I've won so many titles." (Marca), external
Wolfsburg are keen to tempt striker Olivier Giroud, 29, away from Arsenal this summer with an extremely lucrative contract offer worth £5.5m-a-year. (Foot Mercato - in French), external
Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin is being strongly tipped to become the next manager of Watford. (South Wales Evening Post), external
Rafa Benitez is among the names being considered by Everton as replacement for manager Roberto Martinez, should the Spaniard's current club, Newcastle, be relegated from the Premier League. (Daily Mail), external
Newcastle midfielder Florian Thauvin, 23, currently on loan at Marseille, has been linked with a move to Inter Milan. (Newcastle Chronicle), external
Aston Villa supporters are planning a march in protest against owner Randy Lerner before this weekend's final Premier League match at Villa Park, plus "a mass release of energy" in the 74th minute of the match against Newcastle. (Birmingham Mail), external
Former Everton defender Michael Ball says the club "need to come out and let them know their plan of action" regarding the future of under-fire boss Roberto Martinez. (Liverpool Echo), external
Stoke boss Mark Hughes has told 35-year-old former England striker Peter Crouch he can still be a regular starter - if he can repeatedly reproduce Saturday's form against Sunderland. (Stoke Sentinel), external
Former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says he is eager to return to management this summer and has hinted he would be interested in taking over at Celtic. (Daily Mail), external
Best of social media
Match of the Day presenter and former Leicester striker Gary Lineker leads the celebrations as the Foxes win the Premier League.
Lineker had pledged to present the programme in his underpants if his old club won the title, leading ex-wife Danielle Bux to post a humorous response.
After Harry Kane's recent post of a lion to indicate Tottenham's title challenge remained strong, mischievous Leicester striker Jamie Vardy responded, external with an image of Mufasa from the animated film The Lion King plunging to his death.
Spurs and England striker Kane sent a two-part tweet:, external "I'm so proud of this team and club. We put it all on the line but unfortunately it just wasn't enough. We learn and come back stronger! Congratulations to Leicester on what they achieved. Finally thanks to all the fans! Let's finish the season strong now! #COYS."
Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez:, external"CHAMPIONS !!!!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 thank u everyone !!!"
Some Leicester responses were not printable but fortunately their Ghana international Jeffrey Schlupp puts it perfectly.
Manchester City's Premier League-winning captain Vincent Kompany:, external "Congratulations to the new Champions of England, Leicester City. Respect."
Former Spurs midfielder and manager Ossie Ardiles: "Congratulations to Claudio Ranieri and everybody at Leicester." He then adds:, external "Just wonder if Chelsea would have played with this kind of intensity vs Leicester if Leicester needed the 3 points. Just a thought."
Much-travelled striker Mario Balotelli tweets:, external"Leicester city..🏆champion. Congratulations to the players and to an amazing manager as RANIERI!"
Many former Burnley players congratulate the club on their promotion from the Championship, including Bournemouth's Marc Pugh, who writes:, external "Amazing scenes @BurnleyOfficial Fully deserved after a fantastic season - chuffed 2 see them back in the premier league! #CelebrationsBackHome."
Blackburn's Elliott Bennett inadvertently offends Rovers fans after sending a tweet of congratulations to Andre Gray of rivals Burnley which read: "Congratulations @AndreGray7 promoted to the best league in the world. Started from the bottom and done it the hard way. #Respect."
As one team in claret and blue celebrates promotion, the demise of another, relegated Aston Villa, is celebrated by a merciless Twitter user.
David de Gea is delighted to have been named Manchester United's player of the year for the third time on the trot...
De Gea's team-mate Wayne Rooney has an impromptu 'take your child to work day'.
And finally
Former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole was sent off for two bookable offences in 32 seconds in LA Galaxy's 1-1 draw with Kansas City. (London Evening Standard), external
Andre Ayew, who scored twice for Swansea against Liverpool at the weekend, offered to play for the Anfield giants for free prior to his move to the Welsh club. (Mail), external
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