Transfer gossip: Sanchez, Costa, Coutinho, Hazard, De Boer, Di Maria

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Transfer news

Real Madrid rejected the chance to sign Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez in the transfer window but could return for him next summer when he is a free agent. (Don Balon, via Express)external-link

Sources close to unsettled Chelsea striker Diego Costa, 28, say he has offered no suggestion he is prepared to return to the London club and make himself available for selection. (Telegraph)external-link

Chelsea are understood to be considering suing Costa for up to £50m if he does not return to the club. (Express)external-link

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is to hold talks with playmaker Philippe Coutinho, 25, next week after his move to Barcelona failed to materialise in the transfer window. (Star)external-link

And Coutinho is upset Liverpool have given him no assurances he will be able to move to Barcelona next summer. (Mirror)external-link

But the 25-year-old could be available for the Reds' trip to Manchester City next week. (Liverpool Echo)external-link

Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer, 47, could be the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season and former England boss Roy Hodgson, 70, could replace him. (Sun)external-link

Real Madrid's plans to sell forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 32, to Manchester United and bring in Kylian Mbappe, 18, from Monaco were thwarted by the France striker's camp. (Sunday Times - subscription required)external-link

Chelsea's signing of Kylian Hazard, 22, could help convince his elder brother Eden Hazard, 26, to sign a new deal with the Blues. (Express)external-link

Barcelona director Robert Fernandez says that the club tried to sign Paris St-Germain playmaker Marco Verratti this summer. (Mail)external-link

Former Manchester United forward Angel di Maria's move to Barcelona broke down after PSG demanded £64m. (Mirror)external-link

Sporting Lisbon director Nuno Saraiva called West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan a "liar" in response to his statement over the Premier League club's failed attempt to sign William Carvalho. (Mail)external-link

Inter Milan are going to offer Ivan Perisic a new contract with a buyout clause inserted after resisting interest from Manchester United during the transfer window. (Tuttosport, in Italian)external-link

Everton made a last-ditch attempt to sign Benfica forward Raul Jimenez, 26, on loan. (A Bola, via Liverpool Echo)external-link

Stoke boss Mark Hughes is keeping an open mind on Bojan Krkic's long-term future at the club after the late decision to allow the 27-year-old to leave on a season-long loan to Alaves. (Stoke Sentinel)external-link

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Manchester City's deadline-day deal to sign Alexis Sanchez "was not very close at all". (Manchester Evening News)external-link

Jonny Evans is happy to stay at West Brom after Man City, Arsenal and Leicester all attempted to recruit the 29-year-old defender on deadline day. (Birmingham Mail)external-link

Wilfried Bony, 28, has revealed that his family said "don't think about anything else" other than to make a return to Swansea. (Wales Online)external-link

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will have to convince Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, 23, of his plans if he wants to sign him in January. (Sunday Times - subscription required)external-link

Back pages

Sunday Times
Cover star Jose Mourinho during his goalkeeping cameo in a charity match at QPR

Meanwhile...

The Football Association are lining up England friendlies against Brazil, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands as manager Gareth Southgate wants some testing warm-up games prior to the 2018 World Cup. (Observer)external-link

Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes, 36, says he could become an agent when he ends his playing career. (Sun)external-link

Danny Webber and Ruud van Nistelrooy were on target for a Manchester United Legends side in a 2-2 draw with a Barcelona XI containing Patrick Kluivert and Edgar Davids at Old Trafford. United won the two-legged match 5-3 on aggregate.

Former United striker Andy Cole was manager of the Legends XI and revelled in his unbeaten record.

Andy Cole

More Manchester United legends - "the class of 92" - Phil and Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who own non-league Salford, have been tipped to take over as owners of United, along with former team-mate David Beckham. (Mirror)external-link

The Premier League could go head-to-head with popular TV shows X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing by staging Saturday night games, with club bosses to discuss the latest proposals at Thursday's Premier League meeting in London. (Sun)external-link

Out-of-favour Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 25, replied to an Instagram advert for the academy set up by his former Bournemouth team-mate Tyrone Mings with: "Do you take 25-year-olds who can't get a game? I'm fit and ready to go." (90min)external-link

Powerful Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, aka 'The Beast', thinks Liverpool are one striker away from winning the Premier League - and the Reds fan joked he could be the man to fire them to the title. (Liverpool Echo)external-link