Gossip column: Benteke, Ayew, Baston, Gabbiadini, Lukaku, N'Koudou

  • Published
Gossip logoImage source, @borinifabio29

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

Christian Benteke's agent has confirmed Liverpool have yet to receive any new offers for the Belgium striker, but the 25-year-old hopes to leave Anfield before the end of the transfer window. (Guardian), external

Turkish side Besiktas are willing to either offer £21.1m for Benteke or take the striker on loan. (Haber7, via Daily Express), external

Everton have been angered by what they see as Chelsea's attempts to unsettle striker Romelu Lukaku, with the Blues yet to bid for the 23-year-old. (Liverpool Echo), external

Officials at Goodison Park will meet Lukaku's agent, Mino Raiola, in the coming days as they look to resolve the forward's long-term future. (Daily Express), external

Jose Mourinho claims Paul Pogba, 23, will become the world's best player at Manchester United, something he could not achieve at Barcelona or Real Madrid because of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. (Daily Star), external

Arsenal defender Gabriel, 25, was carried off against Manchester City in Gothenburg, leaving the Gunners without a fully fit senior centre half for the start of the season, which could intensify their attempts to land £40m-rated Valencia centre back Shkodran Mustafi. (Daily Mail), external

But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested the club will not be signing a new centre-back before their opening Premier League game against Liverpool next Sunday.(Metro), external

Wenger has hinted that Theo Walcott, 27, will be used as a winger this season. (Daily Star), external

West Ham are close to completing the signings of Swansea striker Andre Ayew, 26, and Olympiakos left-back Arthur Masuaku, 22. (Talksport), external

Swansea are ready to break their transfer record and pay around £15m to bring Atletico Madrid striker Borja Baston to the Liberty Stadium. (South Wales Evening Post), external

Image source, @sun
Image caption,

The Sun's backpage on Monday leads on Manchester United's Community Shield triumph

Tottenham will complete the signing of Marseille midfielder Georges-Kevin N'Koudou, 21, this week, with 22-year-old Clinton Njie heading the other way. (La Provence, via HITC), external

France defender Eliaquim Mangala, 25, and Wilfried Bony, 27, appear to be edging towards the exit at Manchester City after being left at home for the game with Arsenal in Gothenburg. (Manchester Evening News), external

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 34, labelled Manchester United as the "biggest club he has played for" after scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 Community Shield victory over Leicester. (Sun), external

Arsenal and Liverpool are among the favourites to sign Charlton and England U19s forward Ademola Lookman, 18, for more than £2m. (Daily Mirror), external

Southampton have initiated contact with Napoli over a potential deal for Italy forward Manolo Gabbiadini, 24. (Tutto Mercato, via HITC), external

Kelechi Iheanacho's agent says he blocked a move to Arsenal before the striker, 19, moved to Manchester City in 2014. (AllNigeriaSoccer, via Manchester Evening News), external

AC Milan will start a £300m transfer outlay by securing Arsenal target Isco from Real Madrid, but will have to pay £37m for the 22-year-old Spain midfielder. (AS), external

Image source, @dailystar
Image caption,

The Daily Star leads on Paul Pogba's transfer to Manchester United

Newcastle United and France midfielder Moussa Sissoko says he is "flattered" to have been linked with a move to some of Europe's top clubs this summer. (L'Equipe, via Chronicle), external

Championship side Birmingham City are targeting a loan deal for Manchester United's 20-year-old English striker James Wilson. (ESPN), external

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says striker Andy Carroll, 27, should be in new England manager Sam Allardyce's plans. (Daily Express), external

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana says new signing Sadio Mane, 24, is "unpredictable" and he expects the forward will be a success at Anfield. (Daily Mirror), external

Sunderland will be prepared to let Liam Bridcutt, 27, join Leeds United on loan if that is what it takes to remove the Scotland international from the wage bill. (Chronicle), external

Best of social media

Manchester United confirm Paul Pogba will be having a medical in the next few days and the midfielder cryptically sends this tweet on Sunday...

Image source, Paul Pogba

Former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo knows how to spend a Sunday...

Image source, Andrea Pirlo

Jose Mourinho celebrated his first piece of silverware as Manchester United boss by posing for a selfie with wife Matilde.

Image source, Matilde Mourinho

For Manchester United goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Community Shield was career trophy number 31, and he posted this picture, external on Instagram...

Image source, @iamzlatanibrahimovic

Sir Bobby Charlton, nine days into his life on Twitter,, external told followers he was "looking forward to the new season", before presenting Manchester United with the Community Shield at Wembley.

And finally

Gonzalo Higuain may have become the third most expensive player when he joined Juventus for £75.3m but back home in his native Argentina the striker is less popular with fans. An app mocking the 28-year-old has been developed, with users trying to help Higuain finish off the chances he missed in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals.(Gazzetta), external