Football gossip: Maguire, Lukaku, Benitez, Firpo, Fernandes, Mejia

Football gossip

Leicester City and England's Harry Maguire, 26, is set to become the world's most expensive defender this week when he joins Manchester City for £80m after turning down Manchester United. (Mirror)external-link

Liverpool and Manchester United will battle for the signature of Real Betis' Spanish left-back Junior Firpo, 22. (Marca)external-link

Manchester United will trigger their 12-month extension option in Marcus Rashford's contract amid fears the 21-year-old England striker may leave when his current deal expires next summer. (Sun)external-link

Manchester United have been told they must cough up £430m if they want to sign France centre-back Raphael Varane, 26, from Real Madrid. (Star)external-link

Inter Milan are still 25m euros (£22.3m) short of Manchester United's valuation of their Belgium international striker Romelu Lukaku, 26. (La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia)external-link

Arsenal manager Unai Emery wants the Gunners to break the bank to sign Crystal Palace and Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha, 26. (Sun)external-link

Paris St-Germain want £13.5m for Christopher Nkunku, with Arsenal and RB Leipzig interested in the 21-year-old French midfielder. (L'Equipe - in French)external-link

Newcastle United are set to hold last-ditch talks in an attempt to persuade Rafael Benitez to extend his contract as manager. The 59-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of June, has reportedly been offered a job in China. (Chronicle)external-link

Newcastle and Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron, 25, is a target for Real Madrid. (TYC Sports - in Spanish)external-link

Real Betis are interested in Liverpool and Belgium striker Divock Origi, 24. (Estadio Deportivo - in Spanish)external-link

Brighton have agreed to sign Belgian winger Leandro Trossard, 24, from Genk for £18m. (Sky Sports)external-link

England Under-21 forward Tammy Abraham, 21, wants to use Chelsea's transfer ban to his advantage by becoming the Blues' first-choice striker. (Mail)external-link

Liverpool target Nicolas Pepe is the subject of an £80m bid from Inter Milan. The Serie A side are one of a number of clubs keen on the 24-year-old Lille and Ivory Coast winger. (L'Equipe - in French)external-link

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made a personal plea to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to move quickly and sign Sporting Lisbon and Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, 24. (Record - in Portuguese, subscription required)external-link

Meanwhile, Manchester United are on the verge of signing 16-year-old Spanish winger Mateo Mejia for an initial £600,000 from Real Zaragoza. (Sun)external-link

Arsenal are considering selling Lucas Torriera, 23, after AC Milan submitted their first offer for the Uruguay midfielder. (Sport Mediaset - in Italian)external-link

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has been told it is a waste of time to try to sign 26-year-old Scotland midfielder Callum McGregor from his former club Celtic. (Scottish Daily Mail)external-link

Dutch side AZ Alkmaar have confirmed they have held talks with Southampton midfielder Jordy Clasie, 27. (Daily Echo)external-link

Burnley have told defender Ben Gibson that he can leave the club this summer. Premier League newcomers Aston Villa and Sheffield United are among a group of clubs interested in a £15m move for the 26-year-old Englishman. (Teamtalk)external-link

Everton have joined the race to sign Bristol City's English centre-back Adam Webster. Aston Villa and Newcastle are also interested in the 24-year-old. (Sun)external-link

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says talks will take place this summer with English winger Jordon Ibe, 23, whose contract expires in 2020. (Bournemouth Echo)external-link

Aston Villa are set to step up talks to sign Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings. The 26-year-old Englishman was instrumental in Villa's promotion to the Premier League when on loan with the club last season. (Birmingham Mail)external-link

Nottingham Forest face competition from Preston for the signature of Manchester City and Kosovo goalkeeper Aro Muric, 20. (Nottingham Post)external-link

The Star and several other national newspapers lead on Phil Neville's comments
The Star and several other national newspapers lead on Phil Neville's comments

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