Gossip column: Bale, Varane, Mata, De Gea, Mancini, Begovic

The Guardian sports section on Wednesday

The Sun backpage on Wednesday

Chelsea are ready to spend £150m on Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, 25, and defender Raphael Varane, 21, this summer. (Daily Express) 

Manchester United will use goalkeeper David de Gea, 24, as bait to temp Real Madrid to sell Gareth Bale. (Daily Star) 

Valencia are eyeing a £20m summer move home for Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, 26, who played for them until his 2011 move to Chelsea. (Daily Mirror) 

Chelsea have made an approach to sign teenage Brazilian striker Kenedy, his representative has confirmed. The 19-year-old has already been the subject of a £5.7m bid from Manchester United. (Metro) 

Manchester United and Liverpool are on alert over 24-year-old Argentina winger Eduardo Salvio's ongoing contract talks at Benfica. (Daily Mirror) 

Tottenham are maintaining a keen interest in Cologne's 22-year-old defender Kevin Wimmer, an Austria Under-21 international. (Daily Mail) 

Stoke are offering £12m-rated keeper Asmir Begovic, 27, a new deal to fend off interest from Inter Milan and Tottenham. (Daily Mirror) 

Manchester City officials are thought to be losing patience with striker Edin Dzeko, and could listen to offers for the 29-year-old in the close season. (Daily Star) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says his successor Manuel Pellegrini was "really lucky" to inherit a strong side from him and he should be winning a trophy every year. (CNN) 

Adam Johnson, currently on bail following his arrest on suspicion of having sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, could feature for Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat after club confirmed it would "review its position" on the player's suspension. (Daily Mail) 

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil prompted discussion during their Champions League clash with Monaco as the German international swapped shirts at half-time with opposition player Geoffrey Kondogbia. (Daily Mail) 

Atletico Madrid forward Fernando Torres says he felt like he was "swimming in wet clothes" during his unsuccessful stint at Chelsea. (Sky Sports) 

Liverpool fans arriving at the Manchester United game on Sunday will see the steel structure of the new Main Stand at Anfield - which will add an extra 8,500 seats to that side of the ground. (Liverpool Echo) 

Former Netherlands international goalkeeper Ed de Goey says Sunderland have appointed the perfect man in countryman Dick Advocaat to steer them to Premier League safety. (Talksport)