Gossip: Real Madrid 'want De Gea, Hazard... and Wenger', Palace 'eye £25m Sakho deal'

It’s a wonder Arsene Wenger is so bothered about whether he stays at Arsenal or not, given the amount of other – and mostly better – jobs he will reportedly be offered if he leaves. Wenger is apparently on the wanted list of Paris Saint-Germain (better than Arsenal), England (yes on current form even they are arguably better than Arsenal) and – now – Real Madrid, whose reserves are probably better than Arsenal.

Seriously, Real Madrid. At least that’s what the Express says. Under the rather unimaginative headline, “Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could take Real Madrid job if this happens”, the paper proceeds to list a series of things that probably won’t happen.

For instance, it says Real president Florentino Perez “could axe” current boss Zinedine Zidane if his side “fail to maintain their impressive form” at the top of La Liga. Which is bit like saying Real could sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Nottingham Forest for £150,000 if he develops an incurable addiction to chicken nuggets and puts on 15 stone in the next two months. Not impossible though, granted.Similarly, Zidane (or Wenger) is ready to “break the bank” to sign Hazard and the club are ready to “throw” Alvaro Morata into any deal for the Chelsea playmaker. Poor Alvaro Morata.

Crystal Palace will attempt to sign Mamadou Sakho from Liverpool on a permanent deal in the summer, reports the Independent. On the plus side, the big Frenchman has been in inspired form since joining the Eagles in January. On the downside, this means his asking price has risen “towards £25m”. It still might be better value than the £30m Palace paid the Reds for Christian Benteke though.

Elsewhere, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen says he is “very happy” at the Nou Camp despite being linked with Manchester City (Mail), Chelsea and Man Utd target Marco Verratti will hold talks about his PSG future at the end of the season (Mirror) and Bournemouth want to make Jack Wilshere’s loan move from Arsenal permanent (Telegraph). Presumably Eddie Howe has dropped the midfielder from the Cherries starting line-up in recent weeks just to drive down his value. Clever.