Thursday's gossip column: Pogba, Zidane, Van Dijk, Sancho

Football gossip

Manchester United hope to convince 26-year-old France midfielder Paul Pogba to sign a new contract. England midfielder Jesse Lingard, 26, and 17-year-old England Under-21 forward Mason Greenwood are also in line for new deals. (Standard)external-link

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes says Pogba would not be a "big loss" if he left the Old Trafford club. (Talksport)external-link

Fuming Real Madrid fans have called for Zinedine Zidane to be sacked as Real Madrid boss after Paris St-Germain thrashed his side in the Champions League. (Sun)external-link

Juventus rejected the chance to sign Dani Alves this summer before the 36-year-old Brazil defender joined Sao Paulo on a free transfer. (Calciomercato)external-link

Manchester United sent an official to watch Norwegian forward Erling Haaland, 19, as the son of former Manchester City forward Alf-Inge Haaland introduced himself to the European stage by scoring a hat-trick for Red Bull Salzburg on his Champions League debut. (Salzburger Nachrichten, via Sport Witness)external-link

Blackburn are in talks to sign former Tottenham and Fulham midfielder Lewis Holtby, with the 29-year-old Germany international a free agent after leaving Hamburg last season. (Mail)external-link

Everton are interested in signing 19-year-old Northern Irish striker David Parkhouse, who is currently on loan at Derry City from Sheffield United. (Football Insider)external-link

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale speaks perfect Spanish, according to former Wales boss Chris Coleman. Bale has previously been criticised by fellow Welshman John Toshack for not learning Spanish since joining Real in 2013. (Athletic, via Marca)external-link

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 33, is considering retiring from international duty with Germany after next year's European Championships. (Bild - in German)external-link

Borussia Dortmund's 19-year-old English winger Jadon Sancho, a Manchester United target, has refused to rule out leaving the German club next summer. (Viasport, via Metro)external-link

Manchester United are monitoring German coach Thomas Tuchel's situation at Paris St-Germain in case they decide to replace manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. (Le10 Sport, via Sport Witness) external-link

Defender Virgil van Dijk, 28, has dismissed suggestions he is close to agreeing a new contract with Liverpool. (Sky Sports, via Mail)external-link

Chelsea have opened talks with forward Tammy Abraham and defender Fikayo Tomori to give the English 21-year-olds new five-year contracts. (Guardian)external-link

Tottenham are considering whether to recall English winger Jack Clarke from his loan spell at Leeds with the 19-year-old yet to make a league appearance this season. (Mail)external-link

Uefa will confirm Wembley Stadium as the host venue for the 2023 Champions League final next week. (Sky Sports)external-link

Arsenal have made an approach to sign 18-year-old Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai from Red Bull Salzburg. (Football.London)external-link

Gunners boss Unai Emery sent his players on a team bonding night in London hours after their woeful display against Watford on Sunday. (Mirror)external-link

American businessmen Dave Checketts and Alan Paceremain interested in buying Sheffield United if Prince Abdullah decides to sell the club. (Mail)external-link

Mirror
Back page of the Mirror

Elsewhere on the BBC