Football gossip: Buffon, Arteta, Henry, Benitez, Morata, Jorginho

Liverpool want Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, 40, who has left Juventus after 17 years, but may face competition from Premier League champions Manchester City. (Sun)

Former Arsenal and Spain midfielder Mikel Arteta is closing in on becoming the successor to Arsene Wenger at Emirates Stadium. (Telegraph)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and director of football Txiki Begiristain have given permission for their assistant coach Arteta to speak to his old club. (Sport)

The Gunners also intend to speak to their record goalscorer and former France international Thierry Henry about their vacant managerial position early next week. (Sky Sports)

Rafael Benitez, thought to be a target for West Ham, would prefer to stay as Newcastle manager, but wants assurances over transfer budgets from owner Mike Ashley. (Telegraph)

Benitez wants a £100m to spend on players, full control over transfers and a £6m-per-year contract to stay with the Magpies.(Express)

The 58-year-old Spaniard's talks over a new contract at Newcastle have reached a critical stage. (Chronicle)

Manchester United will begin discussions with Monaco over 25-year-old France full-back Djibril Sidibe. (Le 10 Sport - in French)

United are on the verge of finalising a 50m euro (£43.7m) deal with Juventus for Brazilian left-back Alex Sandro, 27. (La Stampa via Football Italia)

Arsenal could sell Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, 27, if he does not sign a new contract this summer. (Sun)

Juventus want to bring back Alvaro Morata, who played for the club from 2014 to 2016. The 25-year-old Spain striker scored 11 Premier League goals in 31 appearances in his first season at Chelsea.(Independent)

Chelsea have ruled out allowing on-loan 24-year-old Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi to join Borussia Dortmund on a permanent deal but would welcome the German side signing Morata. (Mirror)

The Blues have compiled a shortlist to present to manager Antonio Conte's successor, including Manchester United's France forward Anthony Martial, 22, and 26-year-old Nice and Ivory Coast midfielder Jean-Michael Seri. (Mail)

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, 29, says he only expects to play with Barcelona forward Lionel Messi for Argentina, and that he is happy at Etihad Stadium. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)

The agent of Napoli midfielder Jorginho says a transfer to Manchester City will be a formality once the clubs agree on a fee. Napoli want up to £60m for the 26-year-old Brazilian - but City will try to agree a price closer to £50m. (Manchester Evening News)

Napoli have placed a 120m euros (£104.7m) price tag on Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, 26, in an attempt to deter Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United. (RAI Sport, via Football Italia)

Leicester have agreed a fee with Porto of £17.5m plus add-ons for Portugal defender Ricardo Pereira, 24. (A Bola, via Leicester Mercury)

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 33, would only be allowed to leave the Spanish giants for Major League Soccer in the United States and not for a European league. (Marca)

Paris St-Germain's Brazil forward Neymar, 26, has returned to full training having sustained a broken metatarsal in February. (Mail)

Ruben Neves has "no interest" in leaving Wolves despite reported interest in the 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder from some of Europe's biggest clubs. (Express and Star)

Leeds are targeting out-of-contract Hull and Uruguay striker Abel Hernandez, 27. (Yorkshire Post)

Rangers are expected to continue their pursuit of Brighton's English defender Connor Goldson, having had an initial bid for the 25-year-old rejected by the Seagulls. (Argus)

• Thursday's gossip