Football Transfer Gossip, Tuesday – June 4

Transfers

Liverpool are not deterred by the £22m valuation that Shakhtar Donetsk have put on Armenia international midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with any move not dependent on whether they are forced to sell striker Luis Suarez, 26. Mkhitaryan, 24, scored a record 25 goals in the Ukrainian Premier League last season.

Arsenal are considering whether to make a move for Swansea attacker Michu. The 27-year-old scored 22 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign with the Welsh side last term.

Newcastle could compete with Liverpool to sign 24-year-old centre-back Alex Pearce, whose contract at Reading ends this summer.

Sunderland hope to beat Southampton and Norwich to the £7m signing of 25-year-old Celtic striker Gary Hooper.

Barcelona striker David Villa, 31, who has been linked with Arsenal and Tottenham, has said he will not make any decision about his future until he has finished playing in the Confederations Cup with Spain. The tournament is set to run from 15-30 June.

Newcastle plan to add only a central defender and a striker to their squad in the summer.

Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, 30, has said he will miss Carlo Ancelotti at Paris St-Germain, but has denied he will leave the club after the manager's departure.

Former Italy international Gennaro Gattuso, 35, has been named coach of Palermo.

Former Brazil international Roberto Carlos, 40, has been named coach of Turkish side Sivasspor.

Atletico Madrid have bought Brazilian striker Leo Baptistao, 20, from Rayo Vallecano on a five-year deal.

Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil, 24, has thanked outgoing coach Jose Mourinho in a post on his Facebook page.

Other Snippets

Head coach Stuart Pearce will allow winger Wilfried Zaha, 20, to decide whether he is fit enough to play in England's opening game in the European Under-21 Championship finals against Italy on Wednesday.

Manchester City could recruit England and Norwich goalkeeping coach Dave Watson because of the positive relationship he has developed with Joe Hart, 26, while on international duty.

Manchester United will soon announce that Phil Neville, 36, is to return to his former club as a member of new manager David Moyes's backroom staff as he follows the Scot to Old Trafford from Everton.

Source BBC