Transfer rumours: Haaland, Son, Salah, Messi, Pedri, Pineda

Borussia Dortmund's Norway striker Erling Braut Haaland, 20, has been backed to join Liverpool instead of Manchester United by RB Salzburg's sporting director Christoph Freund. Haaland joined Dortmund from Salzburg earlier this year. (Sky90 via Star)

Tottenham owner Joe Lewis has given the green light for South Korea forward Son Heung-min, 28, to be handed a contract worth £200,000 a week, plus performance-related bonuses. (Football Insider)

Liverpool could lose forward Mohamed Salah, 28, to Egypt duty for two different tournaments next season after the country's under-23 coach again confirmed his wish to pick him for the Olympics. (Ahram Online via Mirror)

Manchester United have been urged to be active in the January transfer window by former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, following their Premier League disappointments. (Bein Sports via Manchester Evening News)

West Ham are close to agreeing a deal for Danish centre back Frederik Alves Ibsen, 20, to join from Silkeborg in January. (Mail)

The release clause in the contract of Barcelona's Spanish 17-year-old attacking midfielder Pedri has been set at 400m euros (£360m). (Goal)

Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte is unhappy with 28-year-old midfielder Christian Eriksen, and he could sell the Dane to Paris St-Germain. (La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Mail)

Manchester United target David Brooks, 23, is desperate to play in the Premier League, but the Welshman says he would like to return "hopefully with Bournemouth". (Echo, via Sun)Wednesday's gossip column

Cruz Azul's Mexican winger Orbelin Pineda, 24, has been tracked by Arsenal, Tottenham, Wolves, Everton, Southampton, Newcastle and West Ham. (90min)

Watford boss Vladimir Ivic has expressed his frustration at the lack of development in signing a new left-back. (Hertfordshire Mercury)

Chelsea's former Ghana midfielder Michael Essien never envisaged former team-mate and Blues boss Frank Lampard would go into management. (Talksport)

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has told Turkish striker Cenk Tosun, 29, he will be used in "some games" this season after making his first appearance in more than 11 months against Newcastle last weekend. (Liverpool Echo)

• Tuesday's gossip column

• Wednesday's Scottish gossip

• Watch 13 first-round ties on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app this weekend. Find out more here.