Gossip: Ranieri, Costa, Benitez, Sanchez, Mbappe, Hiddink, Allegri, Neymar
Last updated on .From the section Football

For the latest gossip and debate, check out our Sportsday rolling news service every weekday, and for a list of all the completed deals, see our transfers page
Chelsea have told Chinese Super League Club Tianjin Quanjian that Diego Costa, 28, will cost a world record £127m. (Daily Star)
Two Chinese clubs are willing to offer Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez £30m a year and make him the highest paid manager in the world. (Daily Mirror)
Leicester City players have been asked if they want Nigel Pearson to return as manager. The response was so positive, he could be back in charge within days. (Sun)
Sacked Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri has made it clear he wants to return to football management as soon as possible. (Daily Telegraph)
Meanwhile, the Foxes want former Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink to replace Ranieri, with talks already understood to have taken place.(Daily Telegraph)
Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is also in the frame and Leicester could appoint a new manager by the middle of this week depending on the team's performance against Liverpool on Monday. (Daily Mail)
- Ranieri speculation is untrue - Vardy
- I have no problem with Ranieri - Schmeichel
- When Ranieri invited BBC reporters in for coffee
- Leicester is an amazing opportunity - Rowett
Arsenal's number one target to replace Arsene Wenger is Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri, but Barcelona have entered the race to sign him. (Daily Express)
Alexis Sanchez, 28, should leave Arsenal and join Inter Milan according to Chile team-mate Gary Medel. (Daily Mail)
Juventus' former Barcelona defender Dani Alves, 33, is being linked with a reunion with Pep Guardiola as Manchester City weigh up their full-back options for next season. (Manchester Evening News)
Monaco have valued 18-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe at £51m amid interest from Arsenal and Tottenham. (Metro)
'The new Thierry Henry' is also at the top of Pep Guardiola's wishlist after impressing against Manchester City in the Champions League. (Sun)

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has made personal contact with Barcelona's Neymar, 25, in a bid to lure him to Old Trafford. (Daily Mirror)
Mourinho says he is happy for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to lift the EFL Cup if his side beat Southampton in Sunday's final at Wembley whether the 31-year-old plays or not. (Times - subscription required)
Liverpool are leading Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in the chase to sign Fulham left-back Ryan Sessegnon, 16. (Daily Express)
Former England and Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes hopes Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will manage England one day. (Sun)
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, 25, has confessed to France team-mate Paul Pogba that he wants to play in the Premier League and that Pogba's Manchester United is his likely destination. (Don Balon via Daily Star)
Liverpool have sent scouts to watch 20-year-old Lyon striker Maxwel Cornet. (Liverpool Echo)
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino wants patience with his team as he believes they may not yet be ready to win a trophy. (Guardian)

Best of social media
And finally
Frank Lampard addressed the Stamford Bridge crowd at half-time during Saturday's match against Swansea. The Chelsea legend said he never got chance to say a proper goodbye when he left the club. (Sky Sports)