TOP STORY: Arsenal move in on Real star Benzema
Thierry Henry wasn't fully convinced by Olivier Giroud's efforts for Arsenal last season, and now The Sun reports that Arsene Wenger will seek to provide competition for the France striker by launching a £40 million bid for compatriot Karim Benzema as soon as Monday.The Real Madrid forward is a curiously unloved figure at the Bernabeu despite an impressive record in front of goal, and could be deemed surplus to requirements if Rafa Benitez plays either Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale in a more central role next season.
Meanwhile, The Daily Star reports that Chelsea are ready to hijack Newcastle's move for Anderlecht forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is valued at around £15 million.
Borussia Dortmund have indicated they have no intention of selling Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Gabon international Aubameyang, 26, was Dortmund's top scorer with 16 Bundesliga goals last season, and BVB sporting director Michael Zorc told kicker: "I've heard a lot but I've made it very clear that he's firmly in our plans."
10.05 BST: France Football reports that Joao Moutinho is in talks with Porto about a return to the club. The Portugal midfielder, 28, left Porto to join Monaco in an estimated €25 million move in 2013.
09.55 BST: Lorient have been forced to deny Jordan Ayew has signed for Borussia Dortmund after an Internet "joker" fooled a French newspaper.
Read more about the "joker" here.
09.43 BST: From Madrid to Milton Keynes? Sources have told ESPN FC that MK Dons are set to pull off a transfer coup by signing Real Madrid midfielder Cristian Benavente.
09.36 BST: Liverpool have now made a £32.5 million bid to trigger the release clause in Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke's
09.30 BST: Hector Bellerin says he has no desire to return to Barcelona amid reports he is on the verge of signing a new long-term contract at Arsenal.
Read more here.
Sevilla are looking to strengthen their defensive line after selling Aleix Vidal to Barcelona last month.
09.21 BST: Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed the club are interested in signing Arturo Vidal but says a deal is far from being completed.
"I make no secret of the fact that we're interested in him" he said. "But on the way out I read that everything is agreed -- that's something I can't confirm."
Click here to read more.
Benitez told Marca: "I see the future with Sergio -- he is a crucial player on the pitch and in the changing room.
"I believe the president has said, perhaps not publicly, but I have read it somewhere, that he will continue and that he will remain here.
"If that is it the case I will be the happiest man in the world because he is a great professional, a great player, with the commitment and motivation that I see in him. I believe he can be a great captain."
08.59 BST: Asked about the reports Everton are closing in on Man Utd's Jonny Evans, Roberto Martinez told reporters: "It's not true. There's nothing. I always said I'm not going to be commenting publicly on any of the names that have been shared around but I can tell you clearly that there is nothing true in that story."
08.45 BST: Granada are close to signing FC Porto goalkeeper Andres Fernandez and are interested in acquiring Spanish striker Michu of Swansea.
08.28 BST: Oh Arsene, you can't let a nice bit of transfer gossip lie can you?
08.20 BST: In one of those 'this is now a story' things, Nicolas Otamendi looks set to join Manchester United simply based on the fact that he was left out of Valencia's kit launch.
08.00 BST: The Chinese league has been busy. Robinho yesterday, now Australia international
Matthew Spiranovic has left Western Sydney Wanderers to sign for Chinese Super League (CSL) strugglers Hangzhou Greentown.
07.44 BST: Hector Bellerin says he has no plans to return to Barcelona amid reports he's about to sign a new long-term contract at Arsenal. Story here.
07.40 BST: We were told yesterday that Liverpool were set to trigger Christian Benteke's release clause. The BBC says they've now done it. Might Manchester United do the same, as The Sun reported yesterday?
07.19 BST: Marca reports that Sevilla are set to announce the signing of Brazilian right-back Mariano Ferreira from Bordeaux.
PAPER ROUND
Chelsea close on Serbian striker
The Daily Star reports that Chelsea are ready to hijack Newcastle's move for Anderlecht forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is valued at around £15 million.Swansea are also after the Serbian following his impressive displays in Belgium, but the 20-year-old is thought to want Champions League football and a contract starting at £60,000 a week.
The paper adds that while Jose Mourinho is still after Barcelona forward Pedro, Mitrovic may be a better option given he is seven years younger and would be cheaper both in terms of a fee and wages.
Chelsea could make space for Mitrovic and/or Pedro by selling Victor Moses, with the Mirror claiming that Tottenham have made an £8m offer for the 24-year-old Nigeria international.
The Blues have also finalised a £6.3m deal for Brazilian forward Kenedy, according to the Mail. The deal hasn't been announced, but Oscar handily Instagrammed a selfie alongside the 19-year-old former Fluminense man on Chelsea's preseason tour -- that's as good as a club statement nowadays.
Mourinho lines up left-back changes
Another player who could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge is Filipe Luis. The Brazil international left La Liga for Chelsea along with Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and (finally) Thibaut Courtois last summer, but was the only one not to take on a key role for the Blues as Cesar Azpilicueta nailed down the left-back spot.The Mirror reports that Atletico Madrid expect to complete a deal to bring the 29-year-old back to the Calderon just 12 months after selling him to the Blues, with Mourinho "confident" of landing Baba Rahman as his replacement.
Sources told ESPN FC in early July that Chelsea were leading the race for the 21-year-old Augsburg left-back, and the player -- who was involved in a car crash last week -- would prefer a move to West London amid interest from Manchester City and Arsenal.
PSG get tough with United
Ed Woodward has proved himself a fine negotiator as the Sergio Ramos-David De Gea saga plays out, but PSG look ready to turn the screw on the Old Trafford CEO.The Daily Telegraph reports that the French champions are unwilling to let Edinson Cavani join United, but are increasingly confident of tying up a deal for Angel Di Maria.
PSG reportedly view the Uruguay international as one of their "main assets," while the paper suggests that officials will simply "walk away" from talks over the Argentina midfielder if United demand too much.
Meanwhile, Spanish paper ABC claims that Di Maria regrets leaving Real Madrid and has asked to return to the Bernabeu, but Los Blancos are not keen -- that means Paris may be the 27-year-old's only option. It's a tough life.
All change at Anfield and Villa Park
Christian Benteke appears to be nearing his move to Liverpool after sources confirmed to ESPN FC on Thursday that the Reds will activate his £32 million buyout clause.The Mirror reports that the striker will sit out Aston Villa's friendly against Sporting Braga in Albufeira on Friday to avoid any pesky injuries before becoming the second most expensive player in Anfield history.
Liverpool's pursuit of Benteke leaves little room for the club's boyhood fan Rickie Lambert, with the Mirror reporting that West Brom have made their move for the veteran striker.
Benteke's impending departure obviously means Villa need a starting forward, and the Birmingham Mail suggests that Tim Sherwood is keen to work with Emmanuel Adebayor once again -- "work" being a loose term for the forward's approach to collecting a six-figure weekly salary.
Juve keen on Gotze
It's fair to say that Mario Gotze's Bayern Munich career isn't exactly going as planned, but salvation for the World Cup winner could lie in the direction of Turin.La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that having tied up the sale of Arturo Vidal to Bayern for around €40 million, the Bianconeri will look to re-invest that back into the Bundesliga champions by taking Gotze off their hands.
With so much competition for places at the Allianz Arena, Pep Guardiola may be inclined to sell the talented playmaker if only to keep other squad members with a vague chance of getting some minutes next season.
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