Paper Talk
Louis van Gaal has instructed Manchester United to sell keeper David De Gea to Real Madrid before the Premier League season starts next weekend as he prepares a £25m swoop for Ajax stopper Jasper Cillessen.
West Ham will step up attempts to sign £15m-rated QPR striker Charlie Austin, 26, following an injury to Enner Valencia.
Sunderland have been offered the chance to sign Brazil striker Alexandre Pato from AC Milan for £5million.
Hull City boss Steve Bruce is waiting to see if Manchester United will allow defender Paddy McNair to join them on loan.
Diego Costa believes he can form a lethal Chelsea strike force alongside new arrival Radamel Falcao.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has claimed Arsenal's players are more "interested in selfies and six-packs instead of winning Premier League titles".
Manchester United will not give up on their pursuit of Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale despite the Spanish side asking a world-record fee of £86m.
Meanwhile, United are reportedly on the brink of finally clinching a deal for Benfica attacker Nicolas Gaitan.
Newcastle have joined Tottenham in targeting West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 21, who is likely to cost about £20m.
Crystal Palace and Stoke City have surprisingly entered the battle to sign reported Manchester United target Fernando Llorente, who has an £8.5million price tag.
Palermo have been rebuffed by Arsenal in their attempts to sign striker Joel Campbell. The Serie A club have offered £4million but the Gunners are holding out for £7million.
Roberto Soldado wants to join Villarreal and end his two-year spell at Tottenham.
Meanwhile, Spurs will step up their interest in Stuttgart wonderkid Timo Werner, 19, this week.
Manchester United have already convinced Pedro to join them this summer, the Barcelona player's mother has revealed.
West Ham are ready to rival Newcastle in the race to sign QPR striker Charlie Austin as they look to bolster their depleted forward line following an injury to Enner Valencia.
Steve McClaren wants Fabricio Coloccini to remain at Newcastle amid interest from Crystal Palace.
Sunderland are in talks over a deal to sign Rubin Kazan midfielder Yann M'Vila.
Leicester City have completed a £5.6m deal to sign Caen's 24-year-old midfielder N'Golo Kante on a four-year deal.
Middlesbrough are lining up an improved £14million bid for Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes after already having had an offer of £12m rejected.
Manchester City are prepared to put their bid to sign Paul Pogba on ice until the January transfer window.
Chelsea have increased their bid to £25million for Augsburg left back Baba Abdul-Rahman, according to his agent.
Winger Ashley Young, 30, has been offered a new three-year contract by Manchester United - with the option of a further year.
Meanwhile, French side Lyon are close to signing United full-back Rafael, 25, for £7m.
A £145m takeover is back on the agenda at Aston Villa by an American company with sporting connections.
QPR are making a £1.6million move for 22-year-old Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.
Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs says that it is '99.9 per cent certain' that reported Manchester City target Kevin De Bruyne will be staying at the club.
Sunderland are also closing in on a season-long loan deal for 25-year-old QPR midfielder Leroy Fer.
Manchester City are set to gazump their Premier League rivals and sign Saido Berahino from West Brom.
Former Manchester United midfield enforcer Roy Keane claims that Arsenal have a 'selfie culture' at their club.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, 52, has revealed he wants to follow his old friend and rival Sir Alex Ferguson - and manage into his 70s.
Louis van Gaal is ready to end David de Gea's drawn-out transfer saga and has instructed the Manchester United board to sanction the goalkeeper's sale to Real Madrid.
BBC
Manchester United will not give up on their pursuit of Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, 26, despite the Spanish side wanting a world-record fee of £86m for the player. (Sunday Express)
United goalkeeper David De Gea's move to Real could be on after Old Trafford manager Louis van Gaal said he wants to "unlock" negotiations following the 24-year-old's poor display against Paris St-Germain. (AS.com)
Meanwhile, Ligue 1 side Lyon are close to signing Red Devils full-back Rafael, 25, for £7m. (Daily Star Sunday via Le Parisien)
Tottenham are close to selling Spanish striker Roberto Soldado to La Liga side Villarreal. Spurs want £12m for the 30-year-old who they bought from Valencia for £26m in 2013. (Mail on Sunday)
Newcastle have joined Tottenham in targeting West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 21, who is likely to cost about £20m. (Sunday Express)
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane says Arsenal players are more "interested in selfies and six-packs instead of winning Premier League titles". (Sunday Mirror)
West Ham will step up attempts to sign QPR striker Charlie Austin, 26, who is valued at £15m, following the injury to current Hammers striker Enner Valencia. (Sunday Mirror)
Crystal Palace want to sign Newcastle centre-back Fabricio Coloccini, 33, who has one year remaining on his deal at St James' Park. (Mail on Sunday)
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says he's a better manager than he was 10 years ago and the 52-year-old plans to manage into his 70s. ( Sunday Times - subscription required )
Southampton are looking to beat Liverpool to a deal for Barcelona winger Adama Traore, 19. (Metro)
Leicester City are discussing personal terms with Chile international midfielder Charles Aranguiz, 26, after agreeing a club-record £10.5m fee. (Sky Sports)
Sunderland are in talks to sign Rubin Kazan midfielder Yann M'Vila, 25, as manager Dick Advocaat looks to add to his four summer signings. (Sunderland Echo)
The Black Cats are also closing in on a season-long loan deal for QPR midfielder Leroy Fer, 25. (Sun on Sunday - subscription required)
Crystal Palace and Stoke are both interested in signing Juventus striker Fernando Llorente, 30, who is valued at £8.5m by the Serie A champions. (Tuttosport - in Italian)
Potters striker Peter Odemwingie, 34, is targeting 10 goals next season after missing the last 11 months with a cruciate knee ligament injury. (Stoke Sentinel)
Everton manager Roberto Martinez is confident striker Romelu Lukaku, 22, will be fit for the start of the new season on 8 August despite leaving the pitch holding his left leg in a recent friendly. (Liverpool Echo)
Manchester United are facing criticism after unveiling their new shirt for women, which features a plunging neckline. (Sun on Sunday - subscription required)
Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores admits he does not know who will start for his side against the Toffees next weekend. (Watford Observer)
Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood faces concerns over new signing Jose Crespo, 28, who injured his knee half an hour into his debut against Nottingham Forest. (Birmingham Mail)
Notts County forward Ellen White, 26, says "women's football is still 50 years behind the men's game", despite England coming third at the recent World Cup. (Daily Star Sunday)
Best of social media
AC Milan midfielder Nigel de Jong seems to be a Star Wars fan, showing off his motorcycle helmet. He said on Instagram: "Darth Vader. Day off, cruising..."
New Chelsea forward Fran Kirby celebrates her team's win over Notts County in the first FA Cup final to be held at Wembley.
And finally...
Having taken the Champions League rights, BT Sport are close to securing a deal to show La Liga football on their channels. The Spanish league has been aired on Sky Sports for the last two decades. (Sunday Telegraph)
Former Arsenal man Nicklas Bendtner, who once called himself one of the best strikers in the world, came off the bench in the German Super Cup to score a last-minute equaliser for Wolfsburg against Bayern Munich before netting the winning penalty in the shootout. (Metro)
Mirror
West Ham to step up Charlie Austin chase after Enner Valencia injury leaves Hammers short up front
By Steve Stammers
Slaven Bilic's side are in for the QPR man who netted 18 Premier League goals last season, after Valencia was stretched off in their Europa League draw against Astra
West Ham will this week step up their attempts to bring QPR’s Charlie Austin to Upton Park.
The striker is valued at £15million by Rangers – and director of football Les Ferdinand has insisted they will accept nothing less for the man who scored 18 top-flight goals last season.
So far, the Hammers, Newcastle and Southampton have baulked at that valuation. But, West Ham boss Slaven Bilic may go back in again, this time offering winger Matt Jarvis, 29, to Rangers as a makeÂweight in the deal.
The winger has only one year left on his contract and would fetch close to £4m. That means a cash outlay of £11m for Austin – a sum the West Ham hierarchy will find more appealing.
The Hammers are short up front following last week’s serious injury to Enner Valencia in the Europa League.
Ecuador international Valencia could be out until Christmas with knee and ankle injuries, leaving Diafra Sakho and Modibo Maiga as the only recognised front men.
Austin’s proven ability in the penalty box would be welcomed by Bilic as he prepares for a vital season, with the Hammers moving into the 50,000 seater Olympic Stadium next term.
HITC
Inter Milan omit Danilo D'Ambrosio from pre-season squad, West Ham talks reported
Inter Milan have left defender Danilo D'Ambrosio out of their squad to face Galatasaray.
Olly Dawes
Inter Milan have confirmed on their official website that full back Danilo D'Ambrosio has been left out of the squad to face Galatasaray in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
Roberto Mancini takes his side to Istanbul to face his former club, and the squad contains star names like Samir Handanovic, Mateo Kovacic and Mauro Icardi, as well as new signings Jeison Murillo, Miranda, Martin Montoya, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Stevan Jovetic.
Yet the biggest talking points came from the players not on the list of players making the trip to face Galatasaray, with a host of players left back in Italy ahead of possible transfers.
Marco Andreolli, Yuto Nagatomo, Ezequiel Schelotto, Saphir Taider and Xherdan Shaqiri have all been omitted from the squad, along with Danilo D'Ambrosio.
The full back, formerly of Torino, is expected to leave Inter this summer, and recent reports from Tutto Mercato Web suggest that West Ham have been in talks over a deal to bring the Italian to East London this summer.
The Hammers may have signed right back Carl Jenkinson on loan from Arsenal again this summer, but the release of backup right back Guy Demel means that manager Slaven Bilic may look to bring in another right sided defender before the transfer deadline.
D'Ambrosio would fit the bill given that he can play at right and left back, which would provide Bilic with vital cover in two key positions - and with Inter leaving him out of their squad, it seems that a deal to bring D'Ambrosio to Upton Park has potentially just got easier.
West Ham have already raided Serie A twice this summer for defender Angelo Ogbonna and Pedro Obiang from Juventus and Sampdoria respectively, and they could now return for D'Ambrosio as yet another summer signing in what has been a busy window so far for the ambitious Hammers.
OS
Preview - Werder Bremen
The background
West Ham United could lift their first silverware of the season on Sunday when they host Werder Bremen for the Betway Cup.
The four-time Bundesliga champions come to east London as both sides finalise their preparations for the new campaign, with West Ham hoping to bounce back from losing a two-goal lead against Astra Giurgiu in midweek.
Bremen’s season begins next weekend with a German Cup game against Wurzburger Kickers, while West Ham kick things off with a trip to Arsenal on 9 August.
Bremen’s pre-season has included a win over Sevilla, and coach Viktor Skrypnyk will look forward to another strong test in London.
The history
Werder were formed in 1899 and established themselves as one of the top clubs in northern Germany over the first half of the 20th century.
After the Bundesliga was formed in 1963, Bremen took their first national title two years later and now have four championships to their name.
Skrypnyk took the reins last autumn and led a recovery away from the foot of the table as Bremen ended in tenth.
West Ham last faced German opposition last year, when a pre-season match at Schalke 04 ended 0-0 with West Ham winning on penalties.
The Hammers play their third game of the week on Sunday, so Slaven Bilic is sure to mix his team again.
Carl Jenkinson could feature for the first time at the Boleyn Ground since re-joining the Club from Arsenal, while Manuel Lanzini will also hope for a run out after arriving on loan from Al Jazira.
Enner Valencia suffered knee and ankle injuries against Astra and joins Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, Stephen Hendrie and Pedro Obiang on the injured list.
Werder Bremen
Werder’s top scorer from last season, Franco Di Santo, was solid to Schalke last week so Werder will be looking to new arrival Anthony Ujah for their goals this year.
Austrian Playmaker Zlatko Junuzovic, Levin Öztunali, Alejandro Gálvez and Cedrick Makiadi are unavailable.
Match info
West Ham are undefeated in their first team friendlies this summer, defeating Norwich City and Southend United, and drawing with Charlton Athletic and Peterborough United.
Werder are also unbeaten in ten friendlies, beating the likes of Sevilla and TSV 1860 Munich.
Diafra Sakho is available again after being suspended for the visit of Astra in midweek, while James Tomkins and James Collins can play as their bans only apply to Europe.
Over the last two years the Hammers have beaten Hamburg and Eintracht Braunschweig from the German top flight.
Tickets, travel, weather and coverage
Tickets will be available on the door, priced at £25 Adults and £15 U16s.
A sunny day is expected on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 25C (77F)
The eastern branch of the District Line is open as normal on Sunday. Head to tfl.gov.uk for the latest on the tubes and nationalrail.co.uk for train news.
Head to whufc.com on matchday for live updates and photos. You can get involved with the conversation on Social Media using #WHUBRE.
Sport Witness
Poll says Payet joining West Ham is very damaging to French football
A poll has been conducted in France to find out which player leaving Ligue 1 this summer will be the most damaging to French football and Dimitri Payet joining West Ham United from Marseille has topped the list. The playmaker recently joined the Premier League side much to the disappointment of the Marseille fans.
Le10 Sport have today run the poll which sees Payet receiving 28% of the vote ahead of Geoffrey Kondogbia and André-Pierre Gignac. Payet’s move to the Hammers was criticised in the French media, and even the Marseille leaders were unhappy the winger headed to England this summer for such a small transfer fee. The West Ham star was followed by Kondogbia who joined Inter Milan from AS Monaco with the young midfielder receiving 18% of the vote. Gignac came in third with 18% after he left Marseille on a free transfer last month.
Payet joined West Ham in July for a fee in the region of £10m which brought condemnation in France. Even Matt Pokora a winner on the French version of Popstars ripped into Marseille for agreeing to sell Payet.to West Ham by taking to Social media. Pokora vented his anger at the transfer fee West Ham paid for the player and didn’t understand Marseille’s decision in selling the France international. Despite these comments West Ham will be not be concerned they have brought in a player of Payets quality for a bargain price.
