Manchester United have been linked with Gareth Bale before. Many times. But this, perhaps, could the The One. According to Diario Gol the Welsh wizard “is not having a good season” because of “injuries that have not let him thrive”, as a result of which “his future is uncertain” – and could lie in Lancashire. “Manchester United are the team that has shown the most interest,” they write, “so much so that the Welshman has reached a verbal agreement with José Mourinho and co. However for the player Champions League football is essential, and he will not sign this summer if they are stuck in the Europa League for another season. The Welshman’s future will be decided by the performance of Mourinho’s side.” So it seems straightforward: win the Europa League and United can have Bale, as simple as that. Well, as simple as that and stumping up about £80m, though no fee is mentioned in the latest report.

United also think they are about to sign Burnley’s Michael Keane, but Liverpool believe they can beat them to it, according to the Mirror. With personal terms already agreed Jürgen Klopp hopes the defender will put pen to paper as soon as Liverpool secure a Champions League place, but the battle might turn messy because “Keane is a United fan and would jump at the chance to rejoin his beloved Red Devils if they make a concrete offer”. The Telegraph however believe that United “are confident of winning the race”, with the 25% sell-on clause they put in the deal they struck to send him to Burnley in 2015 now amounting to a decent discount on his now gallingly-expensive return. Wherever he ends up Burnley will need to replace him, and it seems they have already decided on a primary target, in the shape of the 26-year-old Barnsley captain Marc Roberts.

Keane, meanwhile, is not the only former United player that United now want to lure back to Old Trafford: the Telegraph also report that “Mourinho is thought to have explored the possibility of re-signing Javier Hernández”, the winningly-nicknamed Mexican striker sold to Bayer Leverkusen, also in 2015.

Virgil van Dijk, who after Keane is surely the next most gossiped-about top-flight defender, is going nowhere, according to the Southampton manager, Claude Puel. “He has a long contract and the directors want to keep him,” said the French tactician. “It’s important for us to wait until the beginning of the season to see him on the pitch with Southampton.” Bah.

Everton want to wrap up a deal for Jordan Pickford before anyone else even has a chance to flex their chequebook, reports the Sun. Apparently a £10m offer is on the cards, with which Ronald Koeman “plans to beat a host of Premier League rivals” as well as RB Leipzig. Yeah, nice plan. Not going to work. “However,” the report continues, “Sunderland will reject the offer as they want £20m.” Or even more: the Express say they “believe a scramble for his signature will nudge his valuation towards £30m”. Everton could have Brighton’s David Stockdale for nothing, meanwhile, with the out-of-contract 31-year-old posting a series of farewell messages on social media that strongly hint he is not planning an extended stay on the south coast.

Everton’s transfer business won’t stop there, though: they also want £12m-rated Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker. Scouts were on hand to see the 22-year-old help his side beat Zulte Waregem 2-0 on Sunday and has, says the Sun, “been on Everton’s radar for much of the season” and “previously declared his intention to go abroad”.

It sounds like the Belgian giants can prepare themselves for a proper summer of Premier League-related asset-stripping. Not only does their midfield also boast long-term Mill favourite Youri Tielemens, but now West Ham want to sign their Polish striker Lukasz Teodorczyk. Teodorczyk’s 28 goals in 47 games this season has put “a number of clubs across Europe” on red alert, according to the Mirror, and has secured his place on Slaven Bilic’s rather lengthy attacking want list, which also includes Daniel Sturridge, Jermain Defoe, Napoli’s Dries Mertens and Milan’s Carlos Bacca.