All the top stories and transfer rumors from Saturday’s national newspapers…
DAILY MAIL
Chelsea have made a shock inquiry about Harry Maguire’s availability amid growing doubt over the central defender’s future at Manchester United.
Christian Pulisic is reportedly preparing to hold crunch talks with Chelsea in a bid to carve out a regular first-team role ahead of the World Cup – and will push for an exit if his demands are not met.
Manchester City jet straight off to Spain on a four-day jaunt after Sunday’s game at Newcastle United. In an unusual move, the Premier League champions are facing Barcelona in a friendly for charity at the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening.
Christian Eriksen has been contacted by Brentford owner Matthew Benham to express the club’s regret after he was booed by sections of the home crowd during the Bees’ 4-0 win over Manchester United.
Norwich are fighting to keep Max Aarons amid major interest from across Europe.
LAFC midfielder Jose Cifuentes is currently being watched closely by Brighton.
Southampton’s owners have added the first new club to their network by purchasing a controlling stake in Turkish side Goztepe SK.
The Premier League wants the EFL to drop its profit and sustainability (P&S) rules and adopt its own system of cost controls as the price for giving an increased funding package to the lower divisions.
The EFL has urged the remaining Championship clubs to field first-choice teams in the second round of the Carabao Cup by pointing out they are in danger of undermining the competition’s credibility and destroying its financial value.
Coventry City could be hit by a points deduction with their Championship rivals furious that their opening three home games of the season have been postponed due to the pitch at their ground being deemed unsafe.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation has taken the extraordinary step of preventing a national newspaper from attending the World Cup in Qatar due to its coverage of Chile’s attempt to get them thrown out of the tournament via an appeal to FIFA.
Harry Maguire is a shock target for Chelsea
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Real Madrid are considering making a bid for Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Manchester United are to submit a bid for PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo and expect to complete a £34m deal.
Manchester United will attempt to land two forwards should Cristiano Ronaldo leave the club, with the summer departure of one of their greatest players becoming increasingly likely.
THE TIMES
Arsenal are set to clear out another unwanted player as Nicolas Pepe closes on a loan move to Nice.
Manchester United’s owners are expected to be offered a cash lump sum in exchange for a share of future TV income as a way of raising money to pay for the expansion of Old Trafford.
Todd Boehly’s business links with Newcastle United’s director Amanda Staveley go back to before the pandemic when he tried to enlist her and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to be part of a bid to buy Tottenham.
Virgil van Dijk has become a business partner of Andy Murray after buying shares in Game4Padel, the UK’s padel business in which the tennis star is a major investor.
Bosses of Spain’s La Liga were so furious that Kylian Mbappe signed a new deal for Paris Saint-Germain instead of moving to Real Madrid that they launched four legal challenges against his latest contract.
Liverpool have given the club’s new supporters board a veto over two ‘heritage items’ – any proposal to move away from Anfield or to join a breakaway league.
Everton have agreed a deal to sign Ghana international Mohammed Kudus on loan from Ajax.
THE SUN
Chelsea have submitted a bid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and offered Marcos Alonso to Barcelona in exchange, according to reports.
Feuding fans marred Norwich’s 2-0 Championship win over Millwall as police and stewards swarmed in to intervene.
Crystal Palace are open to bringing Aaron Wan-Bissaka back to the club in a bid to end his Manchester United nightmare.
West Ham have resurrected a deal to sign Chelsea full-back Emerson Palmieri after the player’s agents agreed to accept the terms on offer.
DAILY MIRROR
Ajax striker Antony has refused to train with the Dutch club in a bid to force through a £72.3m move to Manchester United.
Antony has reportedly refused to train with Ajax as he pushes for a move to Man Utd
DAILY EXPRESS
Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech is ready to seal a return to Ajax – which could help Manchester United in their pursuit of Antony.
Tottenham have been given encouragement in their interest in signing Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi.
THE ATHLETIC
Aston Villa have approached Southampton over a possible deal for defender Jan Bednarek.
With less than a fortnight to go until the transfer deadline, there is hope at Newcastle United that two deals – preferably permanent, rather than loans – are still there to be done.
Bertrand Traore and Morgan Sanson – the two big-money arrivals from January 2021 – are set to leave Aston Villa.
Norwich City will hold a general meeting of their shareholders in September to appoint Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio to the Championship club’s board.
DAILY RECORD
FC Midtjylland sporting director Svend Graversen admits there is interest in wantaway star Evander amid links with Rangers – but they will only sell at the right price.
Stevie Hammell hopes the personal touch can help him pull off a “massive coup” by convincing Robert Snodgrass to sign on at Motherwell.
SCOTTISH SUN
Manchester United star and former Rangers loanee Amad Diallo has been ‘eyed up’ for a loan move by Ligue 1 side Nice.