Paper Talk
Chelsea are poised to complete the signing of Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic for £8m plus Blues midfielder Marco van Ginkel on a year's loan.
Manchester United are demanding £10million for defender Jonny Evans, who is a West Brom target.
QPR have told striker Charlie Austin, who has been linked with Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, West Brom and Leicester, that he will have to stay at relegated QPR unless someone meets their £15m asking price.
Didier Drogba is on course to follow Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to the MLS.
Steve McClaren has insisted new employers Newcastle are ready to spend big on three top class players - with a deal for Georginio Wijnaldum close.
West Brom are ready to step up their interest in Queens Park Rangers defender Steven Caulker.
Swansea are trying to sign Wales international midfielder Hal Robson-Kanu but are refusing to meet Reading's £4million valuation.
Manchester City are set to make Liverpool a third and this time genuinely final bid of £40m for Raheem Sterling.
Louis van Gaal wants to leave David de Gea and Robin van Persie behind when Manchester United leave for their pre-season tour of the USA. Van Gaal is keen for deals to sell both players to be concluded before he and his squad jet off on Monday.
Robin van Persie will quit Manchester United because he feels "betrayed" by manager Louis van Gaal.
Former England defender Jonathan Woodgate looks set to retire and is in talks with Middlesbrough over a coaching role.
Raheem Sterling is set to defy Liverpool and refuse to go on their pre-season tour.
Federico Fazio looks set to be kicked out of Tottenham - less than a year after signing.
Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is plotting a £50million transfer spree.
Stoke are in talks with Udinese midfield destroyer Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.
Manchester United will step up their bid to sign Thomas Muller from Bayern Munich in a £60m deal after agreeing to sell Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce.
Steve McClaren insists Newcastle are no longer shopping in the bargain basement as he strives to bring in five £10m-plus players.
Aston Villa and Sunderland are interested in winger Andros Townsend but Tottenham want £15m for him.
Sevilla have enquired about Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.
Southampton made a late attempt to sign Angelo Ogbonna from Juventus on Wednesday night but the defender is due to have his medical at West Ham on Friday before signing.
Chelsea have offered midfielder Marco van Ginkel to Stoke in a bid to finally land Asmir Begovic.
Newcastle have been encouraged in their £12million pursuit of Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after Roma and Porto stalled on proposed deals.
Crystal Palace have offered defender Scott Dann a new contract worth £65,000-a-week.
Manchester United have slapped a £10m price tag on defender Jonny Evans, who is wanted by West Brom, while their pursuit of Sergio Ramos has reportedly hit a hurdle.
Robin van Persie will earn around £30m after agreeing a three-year contract with Fenerbahce - with an option for a fourth season - that matches the £200,000-a-week salary he is on at Manchester United.
Jordan Henderson is set to be officially named as the new captain of Liverpool following Steven Gerrard's exit after 12 years as the Reds skipper.
Crystal Palace want to sign QPR striker Charlie Austin - their initial bid will be £6m plus two players.
BBC
Manchester United will step up their pursuit of Bayern Munich's World Cup-winning forward Thomas Muller, 25, after agreeing to sell 31-year-old striker Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce. (Daily Star)
Netherlands international Van Persie says he is leaving after three years at Old Trafford because he feels "betrayed". (Sun - subscription required)
Newcastle expect to make PSV Eindhoven's Dutch international midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, 24, the first of four new signings for manager Steve McClaren. (The Independent)
Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, 28, is set to complete an £8m move to Chelsea with Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel, 22, moving the other way as part of the deal. (Daily Telegraph)
Sevilla, West Ham United and Orlando want the Red Devils' £8m-rated striker Javier Hernandez. The 27-year-old Mexico international is out for four weeks with a broken collarbone. (Daily Mail)
Newcastle United must pay Queens Park Rangers £15m if they want to sign 26-year-old striker Charlie Austin. (Evening Chronicle)
Crystal Palace also want former Burnley player Austin - and will make an initial offer of £6m plus two players in part exchange. (Guardian)
Tottenham want £15m for 23-year-old winger Andros Townsend, who is wanted by Aston Villa and Sunderland. (Daily Mail)
Middlesbrough's former England defender Jonathan Woodgate, 35, is to retire from playing and is in talks with Boro over a coaching role. (Sun - subscription required)
Liverpool are set to name midfielder Jordan Henderson, 25, as their new captain following Steven Gerrard's move to Los Angeles Galaxy. (Liverpool Echo)
Crystal Palace's former Blackburn defender Scott Dann, 28, has been offered a new contract worth about £65,000 a week. (Daily Express)
Udinese's Cameroon defender Allan Nyom, 27, has been unable to agree personal terms with Premier League newcomers Watford. (Watford Observer)
Newly appointed Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren has banned his players from swearing, forbidden them from using mobile phones at work and sent two players home for arriving at training five minutes late. (Daily Mirror)
McClaren is confident the Magpies are closing in on summer targets - with Anderlecht's Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, 20, set to be the first signing. (Evening Chronicle)
Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat says Argentina defender Santiago Vergini, 26, is not part of his plans for the forthcoming season. (Sunderland Echo)
Stoke City have set a deadline to complete the signing of 23-year-old Inter Milan winger Xherdan Shaqiri, with assistant manager Mark Bowen saying: "There is a limit to how long we can wait." (Stoke Sentinel)
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has told Spurs fans to expect more signings this summer after revealing plans to move to a 61,000-capacity new stadium. (London Evening Standard)
Manchester City have flown to Australia for a pre-season tour with a squad including 17 youngsters. Only eight senior squad players - Willy Caballero, Richard Wright, Vincent Kompany, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, Fernando, Jesus Navas and Yaya Toure - were on the plane. (Manchester Evening News)
Crystal Palace are close to completing a deal for Paris St-Germain's former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, 29. (Daily Star)
Best of social media
Arsenal's Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey reacted to the news his country has climbed to 10th in Fifa's latest rankings by tweeting: "#TogetherStronger."
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper reacted on Twitter after Elliott Lee, the son of former team-mate Rob, scored for West Ham in the Europa League on Thursday. "Delighted for a no doubt proud father in @7RobLee to see @ElliotLee9 score for West Ham tonight," wrote Harper.
Tottenham forward Harry Kane, who is still on holiday after playing for England at the European Under-21 Championship, tweeted his delight at Spurs' new stadium plans. "Enjoying my break and catching up on yesterday's news. New stadium designs look great! Can't wait to see @NFL there," he wrote on Twitter.
Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who is facing competition for a place in the side from new signing Petr Cech, posted a picture on Instagram announcing his engagement to girlfriend Marina Luczenko. "I'm delighted to confirm that my beautiful @marina_official said 'yes'," he wrote.
And finally
An ostrich is listed at 500-1 by a bookmaker to be the next manager of Leicester City, a jokey reference to former Foxes boss Nigel Pearson's jibe at a journalist last season. (Leicester Mercury)
Former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who retired after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch in 2012, has graduated from Staffordshire University with a degree in sports journalism. (Manchester Evening News)
West Bromwich Albion have presented a fan with a signed Claudio Yacob shirt after he hitch-hiked from his home in Denmark to Austria to watch the Baggies in a pre-season friendly. (@WBAFCofficial)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Scott Murray
Manchester United are in the market for a new striker now that Robin van Persie is leaving Old Trafford for Fenerbahce in high dudgeon. He’s “furious”, having been “betrayed” by Louis van Gaal. Penny for the thoughts of Arsène Wenger. Anyway, United ideally want Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani or Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane. But failing that, West Ham United’s Diafra Sakho will suffice.
United are also planning to offload Javier Hernández, who will go much more quietly than rantin’ Robin. He could serenely head off to West Ham as part of a deal for Sakho, or join Sevilla instead.
Newcastle United were the last English club to break the world transfer record, causing headlines around the globe as they splashed £15m on Blackburn Rovers striker Alan Shearer in 1996. The best part of two decades on, and that sort of money only gets you a passing mention in a piss-poor rumour round-up. Newcastle will spend that sum on PSV Eindhoven midfielder and Brazil botherer Georginio Wijnaldum, and again on either Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic or QPR’s Charlie Austin. Times change, and the Mill feels so very old.
The Raheem Sterling to Manchester City saga, which had its world premiere at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham in October 1952, opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in London the following month, and moved to St Martin’s Theatre in 1974, could finally be coming to a close. City are going to offer Liverpool a take-it-or-leave-it £40m deal plus £5m in add-ons.
Acceptance of this deal will allow Liverpool to go and buy Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, apparently. And there was us, thinking they’d already spent the money.
Manchester City have also been pursuing Fabien Delph, but this particular rumour hasn’t totally ruined what could have been a lovely summer. Aston Villa will bolster their depleted midfield with Andros Townsend, unless Sunderland get in the way.
Stoke City have not given up on Internazionale winger Xherdan Shaqiri, in case anyone had forgotten about that. Also their goalkeeper Asmir Begovic will sign for Chelsea, with midfielder Marco van Ginkel moving the other way. José Mourinho’s been very quiet so far this summer, which suggests he’s either up to something, or that he’s completely happy with his squad. The rest of the Premier League stand at a fork in the road, with both routes leading to a world of pain.
Mail
Lusitans 0-1 West Ham (agg 0-4): Elliot Lee scores his first goal for the club as the Hammers qualify despite Diafra Sakho's early red card after an off-the-ball incident
West Ham reached the Europa League second qualifying round
Diafra Sakho was given a straight red following an altercation
Elliot Lee opened the scoring after 21 minutes to net his first for the club
West Ham will now face Birkirkara of Malta in the next qualifying round
By Sami Mokbel
West Ham may have been playing in Pyrenees, but this was anything but an uphill task.
Despite having to play 76 minutes with 10 men after Diafra Sakho was sent off, the Hammers cruised past Lusitans.
Elliiot Lee's first goal for the club booked a Europa League second qualifying round clash against Maltese side Birkikara - who boast former Italy international Fabrizio Miccoli.
Elliot Lee celebrates after scoring the only goal of the Europa League qualifier against Lusitans
The son of former player Robert Lee neatly slotted home after he worked himself into space inside the box
Lusitans average attendance is 100; there were 10 times that - half of those Hammers fans - packed into the homely Estadi Comunal for the biggest game in the Andorran club's history.
After being branded disrespectful by opposing manager Xavi Roura for not sitting on the bench during the first-leg, Slaven Bilic took his place in the dug-out for the first time since his appointment as the club's manager.
Bilic, though, left control to academy chief Terry Westley, with the match-day squad mostly made up of promising youngsters.
Diafra Sakho, No 15, was given his marching orders after an off-the-ball clash with Moises San Nicholas
Slaven Bilic argues with the fourth official after his striker was sent off early in the first half
And the Hammers starlets didn't let their new boss down.
However, amid the serene surroundings of Andorra's picturesque hills, one of West Ham's senior statesmen had a night to forget.
Sakho, the hero last week after scoring two goals in the first-leg, was shown a straight red card by referee Anders Poulsen following an off-the-ball clash with Moises San Nicholas.
The flashpoint sparked angry scenes between both sets of players, and, after the dust settled, the Senegal striker was handed his marching orders
Sakho's team-mates, however, didn't lose their composure - their 3-0 advantage from the first-leg ensured panic didn't set in.
And the visitors put their place in the second qualifying round beyond doubt in the 21st minute as Lee neatly rolled his effort past Gerardo Rubio to put the English side ahead.
The 20-year-old, son of former England star Robert Lee, celebrated like he was playing in the Europa League final - his first goal for the club obviously meant the world to him. So it should.
West Ham's players line up for a photograph just before kick-off against Andorran minnows Lusitans
It was a picturesque setting but the football was far from pretty as the game became scrappy
Nine minutes from time, Lee was at it again, falling in the box following a reckless challenge from Pedro Munoz, but once more the Danish referee ruled in favour of the home side.
Like the first-leg, the home side's play-acting grew laborious with every dive and needless shriek.
West Ham, though, despite their inexperience didn't bite, keeping their cool when many on the Hammers bench were clearly losing theirs over Lusitans' histrionics.
Much like the first, the second half was was a walk in the park for the Hammers.
In front of Bilic, England Under 17 star Reece Oxford, 16, produced another accomplished performance in only his second senior clash.
Joey O'Brien completes with Luigi San Nicolas during the first half in Andorra La Valle
As did midfielder Diego Poyet, who ran the game from central midfield.
Franclim Soares thought he'd written his name in Lusitans history books in the 71st minute as he guided a header past Darren Randolph.
But as Soares wheeled away in ecstasy, what would have been the most famous goal in the club's history, was ruled out for offside.
You'd have felt sorry for the European minnows if it wasn't for the all the play-acting.
Lusitans manager Xavi Roura appeals for a throw-in as he saw his side beaten by ten-man West Ham
Southampton miss out on last-ditch attempt to sign Angelo Ogbonna as Juventus defender heads to West Ham for medical
West Ham are close to tying up a deal for Angelo Ogbonna from Juventus
Southampton made an attempt to sign him on Wednesday but missed out
Juventus turned down Southampton due to their commitment to West Ham
Southampton are weighing up options to replace Morgan Schneiderlin
By Simon Jones for MailOnline
Angelo Ogbonna (left) is set to join West Ham for £8.5million following a medical at the club on Friday
Southampton made a late attempt to sign Angelo Ogbonna from Juventus on Wednesday night but the defender is due to have his medical at West Ham on Friday before signing.
The 27-year-old opted for West Ham over Everton after the London club agreed an £8.5m fee.
Juventus turned down Southampton's offer, understood to be £10m, because they had already given their commitment to West Ham. Napoli also made a late enquiry.
Manchester United express an interest in £15m-rated Diafra Sakho as Robin van Persie nears Old Trafford exit
Manchester United are interested in signing West Ham striker Diafra Sakho
The 25-year-old scored 12 goals in 26 appearances last season
Hammers co-chairman David Gold believes Sakho can be 'world class'
United still exploring a move for Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller
Robin van Persie is close to ending his three-year stay at Old Trafford
The Dutch striker is closing in on a move to Fenerbahce
By Simon Jones for MailOnline
Manchester United have shown an interest in West Ham striker Diafra Sakho.
The Senegal international scored 12 goals in 26 appearances last season, including one in the 2-1 defeat by United at Old Trafford.
Co-chairman David Gold rates Sakho highly recently saying: 'He is the one who can surprise everyone. I believe he can become a world-class striker.
'He has the passion and attributes to be one of the top forwards in the Premier League.'
While United will also continue to work on recruiting some of Europe's grander names, such as Thomas Muller, their scouts have been impressed by the 25-year-old Sakho who was signed for just £3.5million last summer but is now valued around £15m.
West Ham also maintain an interest in signing Javier Hernandez from United although his collarbone injury means their immediate focus is on Mattia Destro from Roma. Seydou Doumbia will join Shanghai from the Italian capital club.
Star
West Ham, Crystal Palace and Arsenal lose hope of signing £10m Chelsea star target Destro
MONACO are on the verge of signing Roma wantaway Mattia Destro.
According to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, Destro will meet with Monaco representatives today to finalise his long-awaited move.
A deal between the two parties collapsed earlier this month due to a disagreement over a proposed fee.
Monaco were keen to pay Roma £2m in performance related add-ons rather than fork-out the arranged £10.7m fee - a proposition that aggravated the Italians.
But after negotiations it appears the deal has been revived and Destro will sign for the French outfit in the very near future.
The news will crush West Ham, who had hoped to bolster their attacking ranks with the Italian international.
Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea have all been linked with Destro at some stage in the past 12 months, but interest never materialised into a firm offer.
Destro hinted at an exit long before the season had ended, he said: "It's right the coach does his evaluations, at the end of the season I'll do mine."
Mirror
Progressive West Ham have traded up this summer as they show their intent to reach the next level
By Darren lewis
While many have been quick to criticise the Hammers, they have quietly gone about upgrading the club on and off the pitch
It's fair to say that West Ham are trading up this summer.
You may not like the way that they went about replacing Big Sam Allardyce but they were the not the first club - and will be far from the last - to decide they needed an upgrade.
Southampton were vilified when they dumped Nigel Adkins, the man who led them up into the Premier League from the Championship.
In came Mauricio Pochettino to take hold of a outfit seen at the time as relegation fodder and take them to another level.
Chelsea took a bit of stick when they dispensed with the services of Claudio Ranieri. Jose Mourinho quickly silenced their critics.
Tony Pulis did superbly for Stoke but Mark Hughes is building on the foundations laid by the Welshman. And Garry Monk is breaking records at Swansea after taking over from Michael Laudrup.
So why should West Ham not aspire to bigger things by looking up?
Why should they not progress from cast-offs and has-beens to running with the bigger boys?
There is a misconception that the Irons are simply hankering after ‘The West Ham Way’. That the fans are hoping against hope for a return to an era long since past.
Actually, they just want to move to the next level. And at this rate it looks pretty much as though they are doing so.
The signing of £14million Dimitri Payet from Marseille is a real statement of intent. Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna is set to become the commanding figure at the back that they have been looking for.
They have kept left-back Aaron Cresswell, one of the very best in the Premier League, from the clutches of Chelsea and Manchester City . And after landing 23-year-old Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria they now have midfield teeming with steel and craft.
Yohan Cabaye would have improved it further had he not chosen Crystal Palace instead. But Argentine playmaker Manuel Lanzini, on his way from Al Jazira Club in the UAE, could well provide that x-factor.
The Hammers are continuing to look at strikers and are keen to continue using the Europa League to ensure their youngsters are knocking as hard as they can on the door to the first team.
This is a period in the club’s history that could prove pivotal.
They don’t have a Russian investor or an Arab Sheikh which is even more of a reason why Davids Gold and Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady deserve credit.
Whatever you think about the way that they have acquired the Olympic Stadium, they have made some shrewd moves that are enabling them to think big.
The enhanced new TV deal helps, while it is fair to say that Slaven Bilic is perhaps more able to attract players than Allardyce was.
So now they are doing what fans of every club outside the top six wants - they are having a right go.
Eyes were rolled in France when they initially moved for Payet (“As if he would go there…”). Even after the winger signed his move was described in his homeland as “embarrassing for French football”.
It is far from that for West Ham. It is a measure of their growing ambition that they are able to land a player of that calibre.
Before closing the deal for Ogbonna the Hammers weighed in for Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour and Dynamo Kiev centre-back Aleksander Dragovic.
The players coming in are not has-beens at the end of their careers. Obiang is 23, Payet is 28 and has just come off the back of a season in which he was the most creative player in the top five European leagues.
Ogbonna is 27, Carl Jenkinson - set to return on loan - is 23. Even with all his miles on the clock Alex Song, poised to come back on a permanent basis pending an assessment on his injury, is still only 27.
There was a time when the Irons would panic if Andy Carroll picked up, as he tends to, any kind of injury. These days they are building a team mixed with youth and experience while at the same time providing a pathway for their rising stars.
Rather than pining for the ‘West Ham Way’ there has always been a strategy at Upton Park. For that they surely deserve praise, not criticism.
