Gossip column: Klopp, Benteke, Clyne, Milner, Allardyce
Last updated on .From the section Football
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Jurgen Klopp, who takes charge of his final Borussia Dortmund game on Saturday, has made himself available to take over as Liverpool manager after the 47-year-old abandoned plans to take six months off. (Sun - subscription required)
Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood says the club will be powerless to stop striker Christian Benteke, 24, leaving the club if Liverpool meet a £32m buyout clause in the Belgium international's contract. (Times - subscription required)
But Sherwood believes former Standard Liege forward Benteke can secure a move to Real Madrid - if he helps Villa win the FA Cup, score 30 goals next season and have a good Euro 2016. (Independent)
Liverpool have had a bid of around £9m to sign Southampton right-back Nathaniel Clyne, 24, rejected but will return with an improved offer. (Daily Express)
Meanwhile, the Reds are set to end their interest in Fiorentina's 25-year-old goalkeeper Norberto Neto. (Liverpool Echo)
Arsenal are closing in on a £24.7m deal for Porto's 28-year-old striker Jackson Martinez. (Daily Express)
Manchester United are favourites to seal a £21.3m deal for Sevilla's 28-year-old striker Carlos Bacca. (Metro)
Manchester City are to offer Liverpool and Arsenal midfield target James Milner, 29, a £165,000-a-week contract to convince him to stay at the club. (Manchester Evening News)
Meanwhile, City's Bosnia-Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko, 29, is wanted by Italian club Roma.(Daily Mirror)
Sam Allardyce, 60, who is leaving West Ham, has told Sunderland it is too soon for him to consider becoming their head coach. (Daily Telegraph)
The Black Cats have also been turned down by 52-year-old former Manchester United manager David Moyes. (Daily Mail)
Real Madrid assistant manager Paul Clement, 43, is close to signing a £3m-a-year deal to take charge of Derby County. (Sun - subscription required)
Roy Hodgson says he will quit as England coach if public opinion turns against him at Euro 2016. (Daily Express)
Arsenal are weighing up making a £15m move for Galatasaray's 28-year-old goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.(Talksport)
Burnley striker Danny Ings, 23, is set to decide between a move to Liverpool or Tottenham.(Daily Telegraph)
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is in talks with Lille about a £7m move for 25-year-old midfielder Idrissa Gueye.(Daily Mirror)
Former West Ham United striker Carlton Cole, 31, is set to sign for relegated QPR.(Sun - subscription required)
Everton are keen on signing Fulham's 18-year-old striker Moussa Dembele. (Daily Star)
Germany defender Per Mertesacker, 30, believes a World Cup hangover cost Arsenal their chance of winning the Premier League title. (Daily Mirror)
Tottenham striker Harry Kane, 21, says flying all the way across the world for a club friendly against Sydney FC on Saturday will help him ahead of England's Under-21 Championship campaign. (Daily Star)
Best of social media
Chelsea touched down in Bangkok on Thursday ahead of their friendly with Thailand All-Stars with one player proving particularly popular - Eden Hazard. The Premier League champions' player of the year was greeted by some fans offering him free hugs.
It seems anything the Liverpool squad can do, the England women's team can do too.
After the Reds' ode to brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure, Toni Duggan and her international team-mates produced their own rendition of the chant. "Check out our YAYA/KOLO rendition after training in Toronto today..." tweeted Duggan.
Paul McShane has posted on his Instagram account a picture showing off the extent of the injury he suffered when he was stamped on by Marouane Fellaini during Hull's goalless draw with Manchester United in the final game of the season.
And finally
Referee Jonathan Moss, who will take charge of Saturday's FA Cup final between Arsenal and Aston Villa, wants to become a football manager. The 44-year-old says he has picked up lessons from observing the experts during his time as a professional referee.(Times - subscription required)
Arsenal fans hijacked the voting for the first-ever Facebook football awards and the Gunners won all three major awards, with Alexis Sanchez winning player of the season, Arsene Wenger manager of the season and Arsenal club of the year.(Metro)
