Paper Talk
Manchester United want to re-sign Old Trafford great Cristiano Ronaldo as the club intensifies its efforts to build a potentially title-winning squad.
Tottenham want to unite Saido Berahino and Harry Kane in a striking dream team.
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud has eased Arsene Wenger's striker frustrations by signing a new deal - but the Gunners boss is still in the market for another forward.
Tottenham, West Ham and Aston Villa are ready to test Crystal Palace's resolve to hang on to Yannick Bolasie.
Aston Villa are monitoring £12m-rated Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani.
Abou Diaby is in talks with West Brom about a pay-as-you-play deal after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired.
Steve Bruce's Hull future will be settled this week after "positive" talks with owner Assem Allam.
Manchester United are on red alert over Cristiano Ronaldo's deteriorating relationship with Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez.
Benitez is 100 per cent certain Sergio Ramos will not leave Real Madrid this summer.
Manuel Pellegrini has dropped a big hint that Edin Dzeko is not in his plans by leaving the striker as an unused substitute against Roma.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has warned potential suitors - including Manchester United - that his future is in the hands of agent Mino Raiola.
Aston Villa are close to signing former Leicester midfielder Esteban Cambiasso and Blackburn striker Rudy Gestede.
Arsenal are preparing an £8m bid for Juventus striker Fernando Llorente.
Cristiano Ronaldo and new Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez do not see eye-to-eye.
Newcastle are poised to complete the £8.5million signing of Anderlecht defender Chancel Mbemba - but doubts remain about the player's age.
Barcelona are ready to signal a scramble for starlet Alen Halilovic as they ponder letting him out on loan.
Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc admits Liverpool target Lucas Digne has asked to leave the club.
Daniel Levy has curtailed his notorious hard-line negotiating style in order to pave the way for Emmanuel Adebayor's exit this summer, with Aston Villa in talks with Tottenham.
Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has refused to commit himself to the club as speculation regarding a move back to AC Milan continues.
West Brom are determined to keep Saido Berahino from Tottenham's clutches by offering him a new contract after Mauricio Pochettino stepped up his interest in the striker.
Arsene Wenger has been told he can break Arsenal;s transfer record to sign a world-class striker.
Luka Modric is confident Sergio Ramos will snub a move to Manchester United and stay at Real Madrid.
Arsenal are closer to a deal with Juventus for Fernando Llorente than Manchester United.
The agent of Marc Bartra has denied suggestions that Barcelona ace Marc Bartra is negotiating a move away from the Nou Camp.
Saido Berahino is to enter contract talks with West Brom, despite interest from Arsenal and Tottenham.
Manchester City have been dealt a blow after it emerged Fabinho will be staying at Monaco this season.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has warned Manchester United that the European champions will not accept anything less than £22million for Pedro.
Jose Mourinho says Manchester City target Kevin De Bruyne could not handle fighting for a place at Chelsea.
Real Madrid will hold talks with Sergio Ramos and tell the defender they do not want to sell him, despite his desire to leave for Manchester United.
Queens Park Rangers manager Chris Ramsey has not given up hope of keeping his leading striker Charlie Austin.
Paris Saint-Germain have made an opening £45million offer for Manchester United's record signing Angel Di Maria.
Arsenal have been warned off making a bid for Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after they were linked with a £28.7million bid.
Manchester United have suffered setbacks in their bids to sign Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller, with both clubs insisting the stars are not for sale.
Manchester United are working towards re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid after his bust-up with Rafael Benitez.
Valencia striker Paco Alcacer has urged Nicolas Otamendi not to sign for Manchester United.
Yaya Toure believes Manchester City can reach the level of Real Madrid and challenge in Europe if they continue to spend money.
Manchester United are on the brink of a deal for Barcelona's unsettled striker Pedro - and the transfer could be sealed next week.
Manchester City have not made a bid for Kevin De Bruyne, according to Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs.
Cristiano Ronaldo's relationship with Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has continued to worsen pointing to a summer exit.
Barcelona starlet Sergi Samper is set for crunch talks with the club amid interest from Arsenal, according to his agent.
Arsene Wenger has accused Manchester United of abandoning the club's tradition of youth development in pursuit of short-term success.
Abou Diaby, the former Arsenal and France midfielder, is set to have talks with West Bromwich Albion.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has told David De Gea to focus on facing Barcelona on Saturday.
BBC
Manchester United want to re-sign Old Trafford great Cristiano Ronaldo, 30, from Real Madrid as the club intensifies their efforts to build a title-winning squad. (Manchester Evening News)
There are signs that Portugal forward Ronaldo does not see eye-to-eye with new Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez, and criticised one of the former Liverpool manager's training drills. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United are on the brink of signing 27-year-old Barcelona forward Pedro and the deal could be sealed next week. (Daily Express)
But the Red Devils have been told that Barcelona will not accept anything less than £22m for the Spain international. (Daily Telegraph)
Aston Villa are close to signing former Leicester midfielder Esteban Cambiasso, 34, and Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede, 26. (Sun - subscription required)
Arsenal and Tottenham are ready to battle it out for the signature of 26-year-old Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. (Talksport)
Manchester United target Sergio Ramos will hold talks with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez this weekend, who will tell the 29-year-old defender that the Spanish club do not want to sell him. (Guardian)
Meanwhile, United goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, has been told by manager Louis van Gaal to focus on facing Barcelona in a friendly in San Francisco on Saturday amid uncertainty over his future. ( The Times - subscription required)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been told he can break the club's transfer record to sign a world-class striker with the Gunners having more than £200m in the bank. (Daily Mail)
Norwich are set to bid about £2m for 24-year-old Fiorentina full-back Marcos Alonso - who used to play for Bolton. (Talksport)
Spurs want to unite £15m-rated West Brom forward Saido Berahino and Harry Kane in a strike partnership . (Daily Mirror)
Alternatively, Berahino is set to enter talks over a new contract despite interest in the 21-year-old from Tottenham and Arsenal. (Daily Star)
Former Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby, 29, is set to have a medical with West Brom this weekend as he prepares to join on a free transfer. (Sky Sports)
Manchester United have suffered a blow in their attempts to sign Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller, 25, and Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, 29, after being told the duo are not for sale. (Independent)
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will give winger Victor Moses, 24, a chance to resurrect his career at Stamford Bridge this season. (London Evening Standard)
Mourinho also claims that 24-year-old Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, a £50m target for Manchester City, could not accept fighting for his place at Chelsea. (Daily Telegraph)
City midfielder Yaya Toure, 32, wants to stay at Etihad Stadium until the end of his contract and believes he can play until he is 40. (Manchester Evening News)
Newcastle are not willing to meet QPR's £15m valuation of 26-year-old striker Charlie Austin. (Newcastle Chronicle)
Steve Bruce's future as Hull manager will be decided this weekend after he held "positive" talks with owner Assem Allam. (Daily Mirror)
Hull are considering a move for 30-year-old midfielder Ryan Taylor, who is a free agent following his release by Newcastle earlier in the summer. (Sky Sports)
Arsenal are preparing an £8m move for Juventus striker Fernando Llorente, 30. (Sun - subscription required)
Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, 32, says manager Jose Mourinho uses his ego to get the best out of his players. (Guardian)
Championship club Middlesbrough are in talks with Blackburn Rovers about signing striker Jordan Rhodes, 25, although owners Venky's are reluctant to sell him at any price. (Lancashire Telegraph)
Premier League newcomers Bournemouth are set to sign Banbury United striker Jordan Green, 20, on a one-year deal. (Bournemouth Echo)
Watford are close to their 10th signing of the summer after Dutch side AZ Alkmaar said they have come to a verbal agreement with the Hornets over the transfer of winger Steven Berghuis, 23. (Watford Observer)
Aston Villa have contacted Tottenham over striker Emmanuel Adebyaor, 31, as Tim Sherwood looks to replace Christian Benteke, who has moved to Liverpool. (Birmingham Mail)
Liverpool midfielder James Milner, 29, is excited about 19-year-old Jordon Ibe's potential but says the teenage forward shouldn't be burdened with the tag of being 'Raheem Sterling's replacement'. (Liverpool Echo)
Best of social media
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has made sure he is nice and loose after training with some gruelling stretches. He posted a picture of himself on Instagram with a the message "stretching time" while giving the thumbs up.
Former England defender Phil Neville is still getting used to life in Spain having become Valencia's assistant manager. He tweeted : "First game of the season vs Rayo Vallecano kicks off at 22.30 - normally had a good hour of sleep by that time!!!"
After West Ham scraped through their Europa League second-round qualifying tie with Maltese side Birkirkara on penalties the club diplomatically decided not to canvass votes for a man of the match on Twitter.
West Ham will play Romanian side Astra in the third qualifying round of the Europa League
And finally
Northampton Town launched a new pink away kit - with 10% of sales going to a breast cancer charity. (Northampton Town)
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he would never consider dying his greying hair. (London Evening Standard)
Robin van Persie's son Shaqueel has followed in his father's footsteps and joined Fenerbahce. The ex-Manchester United striker's son had been on the books of Manchester City but has left for the Turkish club's academy following the family move to Istanbul. (Turkish-football.com)
Mexico defender Paul Aguilar pulled off one of the most embarrassing dives ever during his side's controversial Gold Cup semi-final against Panama. (Metro)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Paul Doyle
Don’t tell Arsène Wenger, but there are suggestions today that Manchester United still want to buy glory. Too lazy to grow their own Cristiano Ronaldo, the dastardly Mancunians are plotting to just go out and purchase one of the greatest footballers in history. What’s more, they might just get away with it if, as several organs claim today, Ronaldo has fallen out with Rafa Benítez. It seems that the new Real Madrid manager has made like a masseuse with one of those hand buzzers and rubbed Ronaldo up the wrong way and now the Portuguese wants out. The only evidence produced so far to back up this sensational claim is a slice of footage of Ronaldo appearing to swear in training and if that’s the level of proof required to be able to pass something off as fact, then Sasquatch is alive and well and living in Dunstable and Gordon Ramsay is Rangers’ record goalscorer. Ahem.
The Ronaldo move would be part-funded by the sale of Ángel Di María, whose union with PSG edges ever closer. Ronaldo is not United’s only target, of course. They’ve also deployed a wonk to follow Real’s president around 24/7 saying, “can we have Sergio Ramos?” in the manner of a six-year-old in the backseat of a car saying, “are we there yet?”. But at least United are even-handed towards Spain’s giants, as they’re also pestering Barcelona for Pedro, who is expected to be let go soon.
Wenger, meanwhile, is also being linked with Madrid stars, though presumably he plans to persuade Real to simply donate Isco to the Arsenal cause rather than compel the Londoners to do something so crass as buy the player. Arsenal and Tottenham are also interested in convincing Borussia Dortmund to part with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with Spurs offering money in return and Wenger giving a sermon.
In the likely event of Aubameyang not wanting to go to Spurs, Tottenham will turn their attentions to Saido Berahino, whom West Brom still hope to hold on to. Newcastle are also sniffing around the youngster, whom they believe could represent better value than Charlie Austin, for whom QPR continue to demand at least £15m.
Norwich will give Fiorentina £2m for full-back Marcos Alonso. Javier Manquillo, last seen underwhelming at Liverpool, is to be loaned out again by Atlético Madrid, this time to Marseille. Atlético are vying with Internazionale and Leicester for the signature of Thiago Motta, who has declared his desire to leave PSG.
Mail
Birkirkara 1-0 West Ham United AET (1-1 agg, 3-5 pens): Europa League dream still alive (just) as James Tomkins sees red and stuttering 10 men need penalties to avoid embarrassing defeat
Fabrizio Miccoli gave Birkirkara a lead on the night in the 14th minute before James Tomkins was sent off
Tomkins saw red following a tussle with Nikola Vukanac, although it appeared a harsh decision
West Ham re-grouped but didn't have a firm grip until extra time when Matias Mazzetti was dismissed
Diego Poyet netted the winning penalty for Slaven Bilic's side who now face Astra Giurgiu in round three
By Luke Augustus
Slaven Bilic has warned his West Ham side to wise up to the tricks of European football after a second player was sent off for an off-the-ball challenge.
James Tomkins was dismissed as the Hammers clung on to their Europa League dream by their fingertips in sweltering heat as they narrowly beat Malta’s Birkirkana on penalties in the return leg of their second-round qualifying tie.
Diego Poyet proved the hero as he coolly scored the decisive spot-kick to give West Ham a 5-3 shootout victory after the game was forced into extra-time with both sides a man down.
Diego Poyet is calmness personified as he steps up to stroke home the deciding penalty for West Ham in Malta on Thursday
Poyet is congratulated back on the halfway line by his Hammers team-mates as they progressed in the Europa League
The night started badly when ex-Juventus striker Fabrizio Miccoli stunned West Ham by putting Birkirkara ahead in the 14th minute
Morgan Amalfitano (left), Mauro Zarate (second left), Mark Noble (right) and Kevin Nolan trudge back to the halfway line after the first goal
Tomkins is shown a red card by referee Enea Jorgji later in the half after a tussle with Nikola Vukanac
West Ham's players look flummoxed at the reaction of Vukanac as Tomkins spins away after the initial ruck
The Londoners will now face FC Astra in the next round but the likelihood of a trip to Romania appeared slim after a first half which saw them reduced to 10 men and behind to a Fabrizio Miccoli goal.
Tomkins, the hero from the first leg, soon turned villain as he was sent off just before half-time for an off-the-ball incident with Nikola Vukanac.
Bilic knows his side cannot afford to keep putting themselves in situations like that after Diafro Sakho was dismissed for a similar offence in the previous round against Lusitans.
The West Ham manager said: ‘We’re not used to playing in Europe, in this kind of atmosphere, but we have to adjust. We cannot react like that when provoked. It will happen again later in the competition, that’s for sure.’
Bilic and his players were worried about the heat ahead of kick-off but it was the red-hot tempo set by their opponents that caused them more concern.
Birkirkara dominated from the start. Captain Paul Fenech, playing at top of a midfield diamond, gave West Ham a warning in the opening exchanges — one that was not heeded.
And they were made to pay when Birkirkara took a deserved lead in the 14th minute. Finding space just inside the West Ham half, Fenech clipped a ball down the left and James Collins, in for the injured Winston Reid, was left trailing in the wake of Liliu, who sprinted clear and squared for the unlikely Miccoli to score. The squat and rotund No 10 was proving a thorn in West Ham’s side, especially Mark Noble, and the pair clashed several times.
The hosts were buoyed by their goal and got further about their Premier League opponents — and Albanian referee Enea Jorgji, too. Any foul was protested against as they created a siege mentality.
Tomkins was incensed at the way in which the Serbian went down after the tangle at a West Ham set-play
Both sets of players were upset with each other after the altercation, with James Collins (centre) pointing the finger
Slaven Bilic watches on ashen-faced as West Ham surrender an early lead against the Maltese minnows
Zarate tries to jink beyond Birkikara's Vukana as West Ham struggle to get a foothold on the game
Cheikhou Kouyate attempts to spread the play but the Hammers went into the break a goal down on the night and level on aggregate
Bilic brought on Modibo Maiga on in the second half for Morgan Amalfitano in search of an equaliser
Matt Jarvis goes down under the challenge of Vukanac in a bid to win a penalty but his appeal falls on deaf ears
And a minute before the interval their tactics worked as Tomkins was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Vukanac. The centre back was dismissed after the pair grappled ahead of a West Ham free-kick as Tomkins tried to free himself from the challenge of his opponent — whose style of defending would have been more akin to the wrestling ring.
Vukanac theatrics subsequently saw him fall to the ground amid a mass of ensuing Birkirkara players demanding a dismissal. Their wish was granted, after much deliberation from Jorgji, leaving Bilic a headache at half-time.
The Croat responded by dropping midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate into defence as West Ham tried to stem the Birkirkara waves of attack as the match headed towards extra-time.
The travelling 400 fans summed up their feelings midway through the second half with a chant of: ‘We’re s*** and we know we are.’ It did little to spur on their side as the hosts continued to pour forward in search of a winner in normal time.
It did not materialise and like the score, the numerical deficit was levelled up in the second half of extra-time as Birkirkana centre back Matias Mazzetti earned a second yellow card for showing dissent.
Bilic cuts a dejected figure as an inexperienced West Ham side struggle to cope over in Malta
Zarate, back in the fold under Bilic, leads the line for the Hammers but is starved of service throughout the evening
MATCH FACTS
Birkirkara: Haber, Z Muscat, Vucanac, Latini, Zerafa, R Muscat (Agius 71), Emerson (Zammit 97), Camenzuli, Liliu, Fenech, Miccoli (Plut 77)
Subs not used: Atkpan, Sciberras, Zerafa, Murga
Goal: Miccoli 14
Booked: Vukanac, Mazzetti, Miccoli, Plut
Sent off: Mazzetti 107
West Ham: Adrian 5; O’Brien 4.5, Tomkins 4, Collins 4.5, Cresswell 5; Kouyate 5, Noble 5.5; Nolan 4.5 (Poyet 59, 5), Jarvis 6 (Samuelsen 119), Amalfitano 5 (Maiga 60); Zarate 5
Subs not used: Randolph, Hendrie, Pike
Booked: O'Brien, Noble
Sent off: Tomkins 45
Mail
West Ham must learn to deal with European tricks after red cards, says Slaven Bilic
West Ham went down to 10 men when James Tomkins was sent off before half-time against Birkirkana
Fabrizio Miccoli's strike put the home side ahead on the night
The contest ended 1-1 on aggregate after extra time
Diego Poyet netted the winning penalty for the Hammers in Malta
By Luke Augustus
Slaven Bilic has urged his side to adapt to the tricks entailed in European football after they squeezed into the third round of Europa League qualifying on Thursday night.
It took a penalty shootout for the Hammers to overcome Maltese outfit Birkirkana – after having played the majority of the match with 10 men.
James Tomkins was the guilty man, sent off in the first half for an off-the-ball incident involving Nikola Vukanac. The defender’s red card was the second dismissal of Bilic’s short reign at Upton Park, with Diafro Sakho seeing red for a similar offence against FC Lusitans in the previous round.
And although Birkirkara had Matias Mazzetti sent off in the second half of extra-time too, Bilic stressed after the match that his squad must learn to cope with playing away from home in Europe.
‘That’s two rounds, two stupid red cards, first in Andorra and now here,' the Croat lamented.
‘We’re not used to playing in Europe, in this kind of atmosphere, but we have to adjust.
‘We cannot react like that when provoked, it will happen again later in the competition. 100 per cent that’s for sure.
‘Both of them [the sendings off] were a little bit hard for me but we gave them a chance for the referee to give us a red card.’
Diego Poyet’s matchwinning spot-kick sealed a 5-3 penalties victory for the Premier League outfit at a raucous Ta’Qali National Stadium. Yet the previous 120 minutes of football suggested that the victors would be the hosts, who were on the front foot for most of the match, willed on by their supporters.
West Ham, unaccustomed with the humidity in Malta, struggled with the conditions and looked lethargic at times – especially in the final third.
Their lack of creativity was something that didn’t go unnoticed by Bilic, but the 46-year-old cited that the key thing was the result.
‘The most important thing is that we are through,’ he added. ‘They started better, they pressed up front - they definitely knew they would get used to the conditions.
‘I felt we took control of the game, but we didn’t create chances, even though we were around the box a lot and passing the ball.
‘But we lacked either the determination or quality to go into there and create clear cut chances.’
Next up for the Upton Park outfit is a clash against FC Astra of Romania. The second leg of that tie comes three days before the start of their Premier League season opener against Arsenal on August 9. While fixture congestion could be a problem, Bilic is adamant that games like Thursday’s win over Birkirkara can only stand them in good stead over the duration of a long campaign.
‘We played 120 minutes, which for a pre-season is good. On this kind of pitch, I can only praise the character to play with a man down, chasing the result, in that kind of humidity,’ he said.
‘We showed character, determination and we didn’t go into second half of extra time, 1-0 and a man down in the heat and give it up. We wanted to turn it around and the end we just about deserved it.’
C&H
Diarra destination decided
Lassana Diarra – who has been training with the Hammers for months – looks set to join Marseilles – according to morning reports.
The Frenchman has been in dispute with his former club Lokomotiv Moscow and has been training with the Hammers squad but now free to move, it appears his future may be in France.
Leading French newspaper L’Equipe claim he has decided to move to Marseille and should complete a switch before the weekend.
The newspaper says the French club has offered the 30-year-old a four-year deal and beat off several sides in securing his signature.
Talksport
Inter Milan set to land Germany starlet ahead of West Ham
Inter Milan have moved into pole position ahead of West Ham in the race to sign out-of-contract Schalke wonderkid Thilo Kehrer.
The 18-year-old defender has been labelled as one of European football's next big stars, attracting interest from many clubs, including Slaven Bilic's Hammers.
According to the La Gazzetta dello Sport, the teenager has rejected a new deal to stay in the Bundesliga and will join Inter on a free transfer, although the Italian giants will have to pay a compensation fee.
It is reported that the Germany under-19 centre-back does not have to sign a three-year extension clause at Schalke due to the fact he is still a youth player, allowing Inter the chance to swoop in and clinch the deal.
