Thursday’s gossip

Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Neymar, 30, as Paris St-Germain bid to offload the Brazil forward to avoid falling foul of Uefa’s Financial Fair Play guidelines.

But while Chelsea are interested in striking a deal for Neymar, in an apparent u-turn, Paris St-Germain are now refusing to sell.

Chelsea have also submitted a new bid for Barcelona‘s 33-year-old Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, in a player-plus-cash deal which includes Spanish defender Marcos Alonso, 31.

AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, 23, and Dinamo Moscow midfielder Arsen Zakharyan, 19, have been linked with Chelsea. Russia’s Zakharyan would cost £12.6m but a reported £126m price tag could scupper any move for Portugal’s Leao.

Barcelona full-back Sergino Dest will join AC Milan on a season-long loan, with the option to turn the move into a €20m permanent switch. The USA defender had been linked with a move to Manchester United.

Brentford hope to hijack Arsenal’s move for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk, 21, but would have to smash the club’s transfer record to sign the £25m-rated Ukrainian forward.

Arsenal have submitted a £20m offer for Palmeiras midfielder Danilo, 21, but the club want a higher fee for the Brazilian.

Newcastle United have entered the race to sign Leicester City’s Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, 25. Arsenal have been tracking Tielemans throughout the transfer window, but another “mystery club” is now ready to table a bid as Leicester set a £30m price tag.

Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez, 24, is keen to push through a move to Chelsea as owner Todd Boehly launches a £50m bid for the Mexico international.

Thursday’s gossip

The Blues have bid £43m for Alvarez as Chelsea aim to sign a forward and a midfielder before the transfer window closes.

Brighton will return with a new bid for Chelsea‘s Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour, 21, on Thursday. Chelsea are closing in on a £77.7m deal to sign Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol, 20, but would be willing to let him remain at RB Leipzig on loan for the 2022-23 season.