EPL TRANSFER: Man U & Liverpool Battle for Benteke, Napoli Holds on to Gonzalo Higuian, Carlton Cole To Leicester City..

Manchester United 

Manchester United are set to beat Liverpool to the signing of Aston Villa’s Belgium striker Christian Benteke, with a £32.5m offer for the 24-year-old. But Benteke is keen to join Liverpool, though the Reds still need to agree a fee with Villa.

Manchester United are also ready to make a final bid for Real Madrid defender, Sergio Ramos, 29. 
The Red Devils are prepared to let Angel Di Maria, 27, leave, and will use the midfielder as part of a deal to sign striker Edinson Cavani, 28, from Paris St-Germain.


Tottenham are in talks to sell striker Roberto Soldado, 30, to Sevilla for £11m less than the £26m they paid Valencia for the Spaniard in 2013.  

Everton boss Roberto Martinez says midfielder James McCarthy, 24, will not be sold to Manchester City. 
Watford are poised to sign Netherlands winger Steven Berghuis, 23, from AZ for £3.5m.
Sunderland want Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul, 29, after pulling out of a deal for Zenit St Petersburg centre-back Nicolas Lombaerts, 30.

New Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri could make former Chelsea and West Ham striker Carlton Cole, 31, his first signing.

Aston Villa are hopeful of signing Nice defender Jordan Amavi, 21, this week after agreeing a fee of about £9m.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 23, wants to hold talks with boss Arsene Wenger to clarify his position in the Gunners squad.

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, 27, will not be leaving the Serie A side, despite interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.  
Manchester United defender Rafael, 25, is close to leaving Old Trafford, according to the Brazilian’s agent.

Winger Stewart Downing, 30, will double his salary if he can help Middlesbrough back into the Premier League after rejoining the club from West Ham.

West Brom have made an improved offer in the region of £5m for Nottingham Forest midfielder Michail Antonio, 25.

Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne, 24, has denied a rift with England boss Roy Hodgson. 

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren remains confident of signing Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, 20, despite interest from Porto.

Sheffield United have received a setback in their efforts to re-sign Leeds United striker Billy Sharp, 29.