BBC Gossip Column Debunked – Issue 53

The English league season may have started last night but the transfer gossip has been going all summer long, today is no different as it is time for Saturday’s bumper serving. These rumours are hot so please handle with care

Gossip in standard font, my thoughts are in bold

Chelsea have reportedly contacted Paris St-Germain defender Serge Aurier, 24, amid speculation he could join Manchester United. (Manchester Evening News) Will Aurier be allowed in the UK country after his previous arrest. Surely that is the most pertinent issue

Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim has hinted that 18-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe – targeted by a number of clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona and Arsenal – could leave before the close of the transfer window for a big enough offer. (Independent) Mbappe did pick up an injury in Monaco’s 3-2 win over Tolouse last night, I don’t think it will have any bearing on any potential move though. Barcelona’s interest will have no doubt increased now that Neymar has finally moved to PSG

Philippe Coutinho has been left out of Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s friendly against Athletic Bilbao because of a back injury. The 25-year-old midfielder is wanted by Barcelona as a replacement for Neymar, who has joined Paris St-Germain.(Mirror) This will definitely get tongues wagging as people put two and two together and get five

Barcelona have wasted no time in finding a replacement for Neymar after making contact with Borussia Dortmund over French forward Ousmane Dembele, 20.(Daily Mail) With the transfer window closing at the end of the month the club cannot afford to hang around though. Whether Dembele is top of the list in regards to replacements remains to be seen

Dembele says he welcomes the transfer speculation linking him with the club at the moment.(Metro) To be fair no-one ever goes on record saying they don’t want to move to Barcelona do they

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 32, admitted he would like to return to England when speaking during his court case over alleged tax fraud in Spain. (Cadena SER – in Spanish) If someone has a spare £1 billion laying around then it could still happen

Meanwhile, Real will consider selling winger Gareth Bale, 28, to Manchester United if they include goalkeeper David De Gea in the deal. (Don Balon, in Spanish) I think Bale only leaves if Mbappe joins Real Madrid

Paris St-Germain are reportedly set to follow up their signing of Neymar by rivalling Arsenal for the transfer of Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, 26. (Metro) Nice are in the Champions League Play-off round, if a deal takes place it may not happen until these two matches have taken place

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is reportedly ready to allow defender Andreas Christensen, 21, to leave in a swap deal in order to sign Inter Milan winger Antonio Candreva, 30. (Tuttosport, in Italian) Christensen’s chances of getting first team football are slim, this could be a move that benefits both parties.

However, the Blues have rubbished claims that Conte is deliberately pushing striker Diego Costa, 28, out of the club. (Independent) When your told that you are no longer in someone’s plans, that pretty much means that you are shown the exit door. Why does nobody love Diego.

AC Milan are considering a shock move for former Chelsea and Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao, 31. (Sky Sport Italia, in Italian) Falcao has gone through something of a resurgence since back at Monaco, could he provide further firepower for the Italians

Midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, 26, a target for Liverpool and Tottenham, has asked to leave Inter Milan. (Gazzetta dello Sport, in Italian) After that Own Goal last week, I’d want to leave as well

Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, 26, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool and Chelsea, has been backed in his £60m stand-off with Saints by Netherlands boss Dick Advocaat. (Mirror) If a move is to take place then you get the feeling that the defender is going to have to officially ask for a move, only then will Liverpool get the green light to re-enter the bidding

Manchester City are hopeful of resolving conflict with 17-year-old winger Jadon Sancho despite the teenager refusing to train after he was left out of the squad for last month’s US tour. (Daily Mail) Why be a youngster at Manchester City? Why did Tottenham try to sign him as part of the Kyle Walker deal?

Everton could produce a club record deal of £50m for midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, 27, as renewed contract talks have started with Swansea. (The Times) This is now entering “transfer saga” territory

Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater, 27, is ready to tell the club he wants to join Premier League champions Chelsea. (Mirror) After the title winning and Champions League exploits, what is there else to do at Leicester. This potential link does have legs in my opinion.

Watford are lining up a move for Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno, 25, after the club rejected an £11m bid from Napoli earlier this summer. (Liverpool Echo) Probably end up cheaper than signing Kieran Gibbs but would be better off spending the extra in my opinion