Manchester United and Arsenal could lose out to Real Madrid in the chase for Germany World Cup star Mesut Ozil after the midfielder declares "I love Spain". (IM Scouting)

Former Arsenal midfielder Aleksandr Hleb could be heading out of Barcelona and back to the Premier League, with several English clubs interested in his services. (IM Scouting)

Meanwhile, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says all efforts to sign Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas have now been exhausted. (IM Scouting)

Fulham and West Ham are tracking Dundee United goalkeeper Dusan Pernis. (Various)

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is considering a £10m bid for Standard Liege's Belgium international midfielder Steven Defour, who the former Fulham boss sees as a natural replacement for want-away Argentine Javier Mascherano. (Daily Mail)

And Mascherano is set to be the subject of a £20m bid from Italy's European champions Inter Milan, who are managed by former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. (Daily Express)

Manchester City are still struggling to agree a fee with Aston Villa to buy their midfielder James Milner. Villa want £30m for the 24-year-old, but City are only prepared to pay £24m. (The Sun)

West Ham have snubbed Stoke's £9m bid for 26-year-old striker Carlton Cole. (The Sun)

New Fulham manager Mark Hughes is close to persuading 31-year-old striker Craig Bellamy to join him at Craven Cottage, rather than leave Manchester City for Tottenham. (The Sun)

Birmingham are lining up an improved £10m offer for Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia after seeing their initial £8m bid turned down by the Latics. (Daily Mail)

Blackburn have invited Roma midfielder Ricardo Faty for a trial with a view to a £1m deal for the 23-year-old, who has spent the last two seasons on loan - first, at Bayer Leverkusen and, later, at Nantes. (Daily Mail)

Arsenal youngsters Emmanuel Frimpong and Mark Randall, who both play in midfield, are loan targets for Southampton and Hull respectively. (Daily Mail)

Ipswich striker Jon Stead's proposed £250,000 move to Blackpool has fallen through after the former England Under-21 international failed to agree personal terms at Bloomfield Road. (Daily Mirror)

Nottingham Forest have placed their 30-year-old reserve goalkeeper, Paul Smith, on the transfer list. (Daily Mirror)

Mido is so angry that Middlesbrough are holding out for a £1m fee over his proposed move to Ajax that the striker is threatening to sit out the last year of his contract in protest. (Daily Mirror)

Celtic may try to hijack Rangers' bid to land 23-year-old St Etienne defender Yohan Benalouane. (Sun/Daily Record)

Rangers hope to sign Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic next week and will take Honduran forward Georgie Welcome on trial. (Daily Express)

Manchester United's new signing Javier Hernandez scored against his new club after playing the first half for his previous team Chivas Guadalajara in a pre-season friendly. He switched to United's side in the second half, but could not prevent Sir Alex Ferguson's side from losing 3-2. (Various)