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BBC Gossip Column Debunked – Issue 70

Another morning which is brimming with gossip as the column reaches it’s 70th birthday, lets see what presents are on the back pages today.

Gossip in standard font, my thoughts are in bold

Paris St-Germain are close to agreeing a season-long loan deal for Monaco and France striker Kylian Mbappe, 18. (Sky Sports) This would see Mbappe then move to PSG permanently at the end of the season, this deal would mean that there would be no breach of FFP. Very smart.

Barcelona have accepted Liverpool will not sell them Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho, 25, this month. (Mirror) Good news for Liverpool fans.

Barcelona believe forward Lionel Messi, 30, and 33-year-old midfielder Andres Iniesta – who could both leave on free transfers next summer – will sign new contracts. (Independent) Messi I think will stay, Iniesta I think will leave.

Manchester City are on the brink of giving up on signing West Brom and Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans, 29, and will bid £20m for Middlesbrough centre-back Ben Gibson, 24. (Independent) I think Ben Gibson would be the slightly smarter move, as it is a younger player and probably cheaper also.

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a £20m bid for injured Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, 23, but still face competition from Chelsea. (Telegraph) I think £20m will be too low, whether that will let Chelsea in, I’m not too sure.

West Ham are already looking at potential successors to manager Slaven Bilic following their disappointing start to the season. (Mirror) A bit too early to be talking about sacking managers, but the pressure is certainly on.

Manchester United are keen on Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon. The 17-year-old left-back has been a target for Tottenham. (Sky Sports) I guess this is dependent on whether or not Danny Rose does leave Tottenham, Sessegnon will move to one of these clubs just depends who.

Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare says the futures of Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez, 26 and England midfielder Danny Drinkwater, 27, might not be resolved until the final few days of the transfer window. (Leicester Mercury) Tense times for Leicester fans

Southampton and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk, 26, has been pictured training with the club’s under-23 side after handing in a transfer request. (Express) This saga continues

Chelsea will only bid for Van Dijk if they get the go-ahead from Saints, who have insisted the centre-back is not for sale. (Telegraph) Chelsea should have stolen a march while everyone hesitated, although I’m not sure it is another centre back that they need.

Chelsea target Antonio Candreva, the 30-year-old Italy midfielder, may be put up for sale as Inter Milan look to generate funds to sign midfielder Suso, 23, from rivals AC Milan. (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Star) This one keeps cropping up, a squad member and not a lot more.

Arsenal will hold talks with England international midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this week as they look to resolve uncertainty over the 24-year-old’s future. (Mail) Oxlade-Chamberlain is adamant that he is not going to sign a new contract

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is yet to decide whether 20-year-old winger Ryan Kent will be sent out on loan for the season. (Liverpool Echo) Surely the player would be better going out on loan and getting some game time.

Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio, 31, who is a target for Chelsea, has revealed he wants to leave Serie A champions Juventus. (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Talksport) May have something to offer at Chelsea, but at 31 he surely cannot be at the top of their targets

Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed his interest in 21-year-old Southampton striker Sam Gallagher. (Birmingham Mail) Triffic

Burnley have made an £8m offer to French Ligue 2 side Lorient for Ghana forward Abdul Majeed Waris, 25. (Burnley Express) I’ve never heard of him

West Ham have ruled out England striker Andy Carroll, 28, leaving on loan but are open to the idea of a permanent transfer, with the player linked with a return to Newcastle. (Newcastle Chronicle) He’ll just spend all his time injured somewhere else then I would imagine.

The Hammers remain hopeful of signing Sporting Lisbon’s Portugal international William Carvalho, 25. Sporting are holding out for £38m while West Ham’s latest offer is £30m, with another £6m in player-related bonuses, but talks continue. (London Evening Standard) This move is really dragging it’s heels.

Tottenham’s England midfielder Dele Alli, 21, is looking to change his agent, with a view to increasing his £60,000-a-week wages. (Mail) The Daily Mail anti Tottenham bias is in full flow here.

Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Pires, 23, has ruled out leaving Spanish club Leganes this summer, despite being repeatedly linked with a move to Newcastle. (Newcastle Chronicle) Not good news for Newcastle fans.

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