Gossip column: Butland, Sanchez, Mahrez, Ancelotti, Hernandez, Keita, Fred

Midday update

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will use some of the proceeds from the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona to fund a move for Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland, 24. (Star)

Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez, 26, is desperate to move to Liverpool. (Express)

Phil Neville has emerged as a candidate to manage the England Women's team. (Telegraph)

Some Manchester United fans are urging manager Jose Mourinho to sign the club's former striker Javier Hernandez, 29, back from West Ham. (Mirror)

Tottenham have dropped their interest in Bordeaux winger Malcolm, 21. The Brazilian had been linked with a £45m move but Spurs wish to prioritise other targets, (Mail)

Liverpool winger Ryan Kent, 21, is joining Bristol City on loan for the rest of the season. (Liverpool Echo)

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville says if the club sign Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, 29, it would compare to the signing of Eric Cantona in 1992. (Sky Sports on Facebook)

Rangers are being linked with a move for Burnley midfielder Scott Arfield, 29. (The Scotsman)

South American football expert Tim Vickery expects Brazilian winger Malcom, 20, to leave French side Bordeaux. He is being linked with Arsenal. (BBC Radio 5 live)

Manchester United have made a £25m bid to sign Arsenal's 28-year-old Chile forward Alexis Sanchez. (Guardian)

Sanchez would prefer to join Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola's side have only bid £20m. (Independent)

Manchester United have also made initial inquiries about two other forwards - Leicester's 30-year-old England international Jamie Vardy and West Ham's 29-year-old Mexican striker Javier Hernandez, who was at Old Trafford from 2010-2015. (Telegraph)

New MLS side Los Angeles FC are also interested in signing Hernandez. (Talksport)

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is likely to leave the club at the end of the season. Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique are the leading contenders to replace him. (Mail)

Manchester United and Chelsea are both interested in signing Brazilian playmaker Arthur Melo, 21, from Gremio. (Star)

Liverpool are in official contact with RB Leipzig as they attempt to bring forward Naby Keïta's arrival as Philippe Coutinho's replacement. A deal has already been agreed for the 22-year-old midfielder to join in July. (Times)

Liverpool are willing to sell their 28-year-old striker Daniel Sturridge, but they will demand £30m for the England international. (Liverpool Echo)

However, no club in the Premier League is prepared to meet Sturridge's valuation, and his £150,000-a-week wages are another obstacle. (Mail)

Italian Carlo Ancelotti is the preferred candidate to take over from Arsene Wenger as Arsenal boss at the end of the season. The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain manager has agreed a four-year deal worth 40 million euros (£35.5m). (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)

Everton are set to make a £20m bid for Arsenal's 28-year-old England forward Theo Walcott. (Telegraph)

Espanyol are not aware of any interest from Stoke City in their Spanish manager Quique Sanchez Flores. (Marca - in Spanish)

Crystal Palace are targeting two new strikers. They have agreed a £12m fee for West Ham's 28-year-old Senegalese striker Diafra Sakho and will bid £13m for Everton's 27-year-old Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse. (Evening Standard)

Claude Puel has confirmed striker Kelechi Iheanacho will not be leaving Leicester City in the January transfer window. The Foxes manager has urged the 20-year-old to improve in all areas. (Leicester Mercury)

West Ham have been dealt a blow by Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal who has stressed he is determined to keep defender Alfie Mawson, 23, suggesting the club would only consider selling him if they received an offer in the region of £50m. (Star)

Manchester United will match Liverpool's interest in 19-year-old United States and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Christian Pulisic if their Premier League rivals make a bid. (Independent)

Manchester United are considering making a bid for Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Fred, 24, who is also a target for Manchester City. (Record)

• Read Thursday's gossip

• Brighton boss Hughton praises FA over 'Rooney Rule'

Everton are considering recalling their 21-year-old England U21 left-back Brendan Galloway from his loan at Sunderland. (Liverpool Echo)

Liverpool and Tottenham want to sign Norwich's England U21 attacking midfielder James Maddison. (Mirror)

Wolves are also interested in signing the 21-year-old from their Championship rivals. (Express and Star)

Inter Milan have made a loan offer for Barcelona and Brazil midfielder Rafinha, 24, with an option to buy him for £17.7m. (Sky Sport Italia - in Italian)

Former Chelsea midfielder Ramires hopes to join Inter Milan this month. The 30-year-old Brazilian plays in China for Jiangsu Suning. (Sky Sport Italia)

Manchester City are set to send England U20 winger Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, 19, on loan to Oxford United after recalling him from FC Twente. (HITC)

Nottingham Forest's new manager Aitor Karanka wants to sign Chelsea's Belgian forward Charly Musonda, 21, on loan. (Telegraph)

Two Premier League clubs want to sign Changchun Yatai, Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo and the 28-year-old former Watford player says he is open to a Premier League return. (Sky Sports)

Manager Rafa Benitez is becoming increasingly frustrated at Newcastle United's inaction in the transfer window. (Shields Gazette)

Newcastle are set to open talks with 17-year-old Young Boys striker Yannick Toure, who plays for Switzerland Under-17s, in the next 24 hours. (Mail)

A second Middle East investor is looking to make an offer for Newcastle United. (Mail)

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino wants permanent January deals rather than loan signings. (Daily Echo)

Best of Thursday's gossip

West Ham are ready to listen to offers of £17m for Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, 29, and they could replace him with Krasnodar forward Fyodor Smolov. The 27-year-old Russia captain is said to be interested in a move to the club. (Mirror)

Manchester United would be willing to let Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 28, return to Borussia Dortmund this month if a deal can be agreed that suits all parties. The Armenian playmaker's current wages are thought to be a potential stumbling block. (Independent)

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has asked 18-year-old Ajax striker Justin Kluivert, son of Netherlands legend Patrick, to stay with the Dutch club this month as he hopes to bring him to England in the summer. (Sport - in Spanish)

Liverpool plan to offer Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino, 26, a contract that would see him spend the rest of his career at the club. (Telegraph)

Gossip was compiled by Patrick Jennings and Emlyn Begley.