TRANSFER GOSSIP

Mandzukic to United, Tevez wants to leave Juventus, Spurs want Imbula, Marquinhos for Di Maria, Martial not leaving...

Di Maria swap for Marquinhos, Spurs bid for German teenager, Atletico break Jose's heart, Man United want Higuain, Arsenal chase Krychowiak...

Zlatan to Arsenal, Liverpool want £10m Bentaleb, Van Ginkel to Newcastle, Cuadrado out on loan, Ba to Palace...

CASILLAS AGREES TO GO
Not only is the David de Gea transfer pretty much done, but Iker Casillas has apparently agreed to back out of the door to make room. Spanish TV station TVE are reporting that Casillas is ready to leave Madrid, with Fenerbahce named as his most ardent suitors.

This is unlikely to stop Casillas being feverishly linked with Arsenal, who are said by the Evening Standard to be 'keeping tabs' on the goalkeeper as Chelsea are likely to demand £10m for Petr Cech.


DE GEA DEAL ALMOST DONE
So that'll be that then. Four years after David de Gea arrived at Manchester United as a streak of p***, he is all set to leave as one of the world's best goalkeepers for pretty much the same fee.

Spanish newspaper MARCA claim that a fee of £18m has been agreed between Madrid and Manchester United after the latter accepted that his heart is in Spain. The report claims that his wage will be £85,000 a week, less than half of what United were reportedly offering.


LACAZETTE TO LIVERPOOL? NEVER GONNA HAPPEN...
Lyon's chief Jean-Michel Aulas endeared himself to us last month when he said that Liverpool have neither the ambition nor the means to sign Ligue Un top scorer Alexandre Lacazette.

L'Equipe tell us once again that Liverpool are still interested in Lacazette but Aulas himself has said that the striker will only leave when they receive "an offer that can't be refused". That seems unlikely to come from Liverpool.


HIGUAIN TO UNITED? NOPE
'Manchester United AGREE five-year deal for Arsenal and Chelsea target Gonzalo Higuain' is the Daily Express' latest missive. They have more sources than all of the world's rivers combined.

So after a headline that says it's done, with no room for leeway, the tagline instantly lets us down: 'MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly set to announce the signing of Gonzalo Higuain on a five-year deal.' Oh right, so it's utter toss then.

This all comes from Calciomercatoweb.com (on Sunday, natch), who say that 'according to information obtained exclusively by the editors of calciomercatoweb.it'. At least you know who to blame when it doesn't happen.

They also claim that United will have to pay 50 million Euros for Higuain. Something stinks.


MARTIAL MATTERS TO MONACO
Yes, that is a p**s-weak Eminem pun.

Tottenham are thought to want Monaco forward Anthony Martial this summer, but it seems that may well be a forlorn hope. Coach Leonardo Jardim has poured icy water all over a potential deal.

"I know about everything that could happen. I would just like it all to be done with as soon as possible," Jardim told L'Equipe.

"Bernardo Silva and Martial will stay, as will [Nabil] Dirar, [Danijel] Subasic, [Andrea] Raggi, Elderson and [Jeremy] Toulalan. All the others could leave for financial reasons. When a player leaves, we will buy another, that is why scouting is fundamental in our strategy."

Hardball.


TEVEZ TO LEAVE JUVE
More tut from the Daily Express now, who at least make reasonable sacrifices to the Gods of SEO. 'Man United hero Carlos Tevez to quit Juventus with Liverpool READY to swoop,' reads their headline.

The only thing that has actually been reported is that Tevez wants to leave Juventus, and even that is according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Mark our words, if Tevez does leave Juventus this summer, he's far more likely to go back to Boca Juniors than anywhere else.

As an aside to the whole shebang, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has also spoke warmly of Tevez. Would Atleti make a cheeky bid? What would make that bid cheeky?


SPURS WANT IMBULA
Now this is a transfer we will throw our considerable weight (had fish and chips last night) behind.

L'Equipe are claiming that Tottenham have launched a bid for Marseille midfielder Giannelli Imbula.

Imbula, still 22, is a wonderful talent, high on energy and dribbling. Basically, watching him play alongside Paulinho would be something approaching high-end visual comedy.


MARQUINHOS FOR DI MARIA?
Something from Le 10 Sport now, which seems to be the French version of (something smells) Fichajes.net.

They claim that Manchester United will go in again for Paris St Germain defender Marquinhos, after twice having interest rejected. This time it's different, however. This time Angel Di Maria will form part of the deal.

Disclaimer: At 10am on Wednesday, Le 10 Sport's homepage also talks of a Real Madrid bid for Thibaut Courtois, Liverpool bidding for PSG's Lucas Digne, PSG wanting Marco Verratti and PSG buying Cristiano Ronaldo in summer 2016. We're renaming them SpuriousPSG.fr


MANDZUKIC TO UNITED
The Sun have a big 'exclusive' on their back page. They have gone heavy on claims that Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic could be heading to Manchester United.

With Radamel Falcao's loan ending and Robin van Persie also available for transfer, Louis van Gaal will want at least one striker this summer. The Sun believe Mandzukic is the leading candidate, with Sevilla's Carlos Bacca also on the list.

Mandzukic only joined Atleti last summer from Bayern Munich for a fee of £18.5m, but the Spanish side are thought to be willing to sell him after just one season. He scored 12 goals in La Liga and eight goals in other competitions.

It's worth pointing out that Mandzukic is also 29. This isn't exactly a nod to the long term.


WEST HAM INTERESTED IN TRIO
Slaven Bilic's West Ham tenure may be less than 24 hours old, but the Daily Mirror report that he is already closing in on three signings.

Bilic will reportedly look to tie up deals for for Marseille attackers Andre Ayew and Andre-Pierre Gignac. It seems that Bilic isn't going to rely on the fitness of Andy Carroll. And why would you?

West Ham do face competition, however. The Mirror report that Southampton, West Brom, Stoke and Newcastle are also interest in Gignac, whilst Roma and Swansea want to sign wide forward Ayew.

The final news is that West Ham have lodged a £5.75m bid for Sampdoria's Pedro Obiang. The Spaniard has two caps for Spain's U-21 side. He moved to Genoa at the age of 16 from Atletico Madrid.


GERMAN WONDERKID TO SPURS
More news from the Daily Mirror now, and their claim that Tottenham are looking to tempt German striker Timo Werner from Stuttgart.

Werner, still just 19, scored three goals for Stuttgart last season as they recovered from a dreadful start to finish 14th in the Bundesliga. He does have five goals in six games for German U19 team.

With links to Anthony Martial at Monaco, it does seem as if Mauricio Pochettino is going to be going for youth in the final third to support Harry Kane. We'd say experience might be an idea, but hey.


AND THE REST
Manchester United have been given the option to sign £7m-rated PSG defender Gregory van der Wiel following Dani Alves' decision to stay at Barcelona...Inter and AC Milan are fighting to sign Manchester City defender Aleksandar Kolarov...Steve McClaren will finally be confirmed as Newcastle boss on Wednesday and wants to make QPR striker Charlie Austin his first signing...West Ham will back new manager Slaven Bilic by offering funds for a summer spending spree, with Chelsea striker Loic Remy heading the list of targets...Manchester City have asked the Premier League for an opening-day away game as they expand the Etihad Stadium...

Newcastle will pay £1m in compensation to sacked manager John Carver...Derby manager Paul Clement is ready to pay Hull £6m to make midfielder Tom Ince his third signing...Everton have targeted Crystal Palace centre-back Scott Dann as they look to bolster their defensive options over the summer...Former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye - who struggled to hold down a regular place in the PSG side last season - has admitted he would be interested in reuniting with former boss Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace.