Football Gossip & Transfer News For July 4, 2016

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Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, 28, is close to joining Everton after suggestions new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 34, has been given the Spaniard’s squad number. (Daily Telegraph)

Meanwhile, United are set to sign Pachuca forward Hirving Lozano, 20, after he plays for Mexico at the Rio Olympics. (Futbol Entre Lineas via Manchester Evening News)

Crystal Palace could sell Yannick Bolasie this summer, with West Ham favourites to sign the 27-year-old winger. (Daily Mirror)

Dinamo Zagreb winger Marko Pjaca is most likely to move to the Premier League this summer, according to the Croatian club’s sporting director. The 21-year-old Croatia international interests Liverpool. (FC InterNews via Daily Express)

New Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola remains interested in Everton and England centre-back John Stones, despite the Merseyside club wanting £50m for the 21-year-old. (Daily Mail)

Derby County midfielder Will Hughes, 21, is being monitored by Manchester United as manager Jose Mourinho looks to increase the number of home-grown players in his squad. (Sun)

Everton manager Ronald Koeman wants to sign Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves, 31, this summer. (Deporte Valenciano – in Spanish)

Manchester City are poised to sign goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, 24, from Uruguayan club Deportivo Maldonado for £7.5m to provide competition for Joe Hart. (Express)

Real Madrid’s Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodriguez, 24, is set to join Paris St-Germain, with talks believed to be at an advanced stage. (Yahoo Sports France via AS)

Liverpool value midfielder Joe Allen, 26, at £14m. Swansea have bid £8m for the Wales international, who has a year left on his contract. (Daily Mail)

The European Commission is expected to deliver its verdict on Monday on whether Spain wrongfully handed out tens of millions of euros in state aid to some of the country’s top football clubs.(Guardian)

Chelsea’s signing of Belgium international Michy Batshuayi, 22, could force fellow striker Diego Costa, 27, out of the club.(Daily Telegraph)

Former Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa, 33, is a target for Championship side Newcastle United.(Football Espana via Sportsmole)

Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj, 21, will tell Jose Mourinho he wants to leave if he is not in the manager’s first-team plans.(Sun)

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is the only Englishman under consideration for the vacant job of England manager. (Independent)

Former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink wants to talk to the Football Association about succeeding Roy Hodgson. (The Times – subscription only)

Southampton’s Graziano Pelle is wanted by new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who managed the 30-year-old Italy forward at Euro 2016. (Sky Italia via Inside Futbol)

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, 23, wants fresh talks with the club after new owner Farhad Moshiri valued him at £75m. (Daily Star)

Striker Kelechi Iheanacho, 19, accepts he will not be going to the Olympics this summer after Manchester City blocked Nigeria’s attempts to call him up.(ESPN)

Liverpool are prepared to let Hungarian goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, 28, join Wigan Athletic.(Daily Star)

Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola at his Manchester City unveiling

Pep Guardiola’s unveiling at Manchester City was, for some observers, as notable for what he wore as what he said – skinny jeans, trainers, T-shirt and blazer.

Southampton defender Maya Yoshida, meanwhile, employed mind over matter before tackling a table-sized pizza.

Maya Yoshida
Man v food: Maya Yoshida channels his inner Derren Brown

Manchester United winger Memphis Depay paid tribute to Ryan Giggs, who has left the club after a 29-year association. Depay wrote on Twitter: “It was a huge honour to have worked with you. I wish you all the best for the future! #GiggsLegend”

Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul posted a video on Twitter of him with egg on his face (well, his back) after an attempt to show off while cooking went wrong.

Iceland were outclassed by France at Euro 2016 on Sunday, but newly elected president Gudni Thor Johannesson was a proud spectator at the Stade de France.

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