Gossip column: Wenger, Howe, Hodgson, Toure, Lukaku, Flamini

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Gossip logoImage source, BBC Sport

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Arsenal want Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe to replace Arsene Wenger when the Frenchman's contract at Emirates Stadium expires in the summer. (Sun), external

West Brom will look to reappoint former England boss Roy Hodgson if Tony Pulis decides to resign. Hodgson spent 18 months at The Hawthorns before joining England in May 2012. (Mirror), external

There will be a crackdown on how Premier League clubs buy players under the age of 16, with families' phone records and bank details to be checked to stop clubs tapping-up youngsters. (Mirror), external

New FA boss Greg Clarke has described the clock erected at St George's Park counting down to the Qatar 2022 World Cup by his predecessor Greg Dyke as "a joke". (Telegraph), external

Arsenal and Manchester United are both interested in signing Manchester City's Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, 33, but a move to either club would be "impossible" according to his agent.(Sky Sports), external

Daily MirrorImage source, Mirror
Image caption,

Wednesday's Daily Mirror back page

Chelsea will compete with Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan to sign Benfica defender Victor Lindelof, 22, in January. (Football Italia), external

Blues boss Antonio Conte will also attempt to bring in Santos' 19-year-old midfielder Thiago Maia, with the Stamford Bridge club prepared to pay around £15m. (Daily Mail), external

But defender Branislav Ivanovic, 32, faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, with summer signing of Marcos Alonso, 25, threatening his position in the team. (Telegraph), external

England manager Sam Allardyce was seen mouthing "well done, boy" in the stands as 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford scored a hat-trick for the Under-21s against Norway. (Daily Mail), external

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke, 25, turned down the chance to move to the Chinese Super League from Liverpool in January, because he wanted to play in one of Europe's big leagues. (Daily Express), external

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, 23, has hinted that he will move away from the club next season. The Belgium international turned down Italian champions Juventus in the transfer window to continue under new Toffees manager Ronald Koeman. (Sport Wereld - in Dutch), external

Juventus and Italy midfielder Stefan Sturaro was approached by Sunderland and Southampton during the transfer window.(Daily Star), external

The SunImage source, Sun
Image caption,

The Sun reports that Arsenal want Eddie Howe to replace Arsene Wenger as manager in the summer

Crystal Palace have held talks with former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini, 32, says manager Alan Pardew. (Croydon Advertiser), external

West Brom are ready to offer Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans, 28, a new £75,000 a week contract after Arsenal's failed attempt to sign him. (Telegraph), external

Lorient president Loic Fery has revealed the French club rejected three offers from Sunderland for Gabon midfielder Didier Ndong, 22, before finally accepting a fourth bid hours before the transfer deadline. (Talksport), external

New West Ham signing Alvaro Arbeloa, 33, turned down AC Milan in favour of joining the Hammers from Real Madrid. (Daily Mail), external

But the Spain full-back said that leaving Madrid was like "falling from heaven". (Cope - in Spanish), external

Former England and Chelsea forward Kerry Dixon, 55, is determined to "turn his life around" after serving time in prison for actual bodily harm. (Daily Mail), external

New Sunderland signing Javier Manquillo, the 22-year-old full-back on loan from Atletico Madrid, "does not understand" manager David Moyes. (Telegraph), external

Best of social media

Manchester United's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic shared this old photo of himself and former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, with the caption: "A Boss recognises a Boss."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Silvio BerlusconiImage source, @iamzlatanibrahimovic
Image caption,

Ibrahimovic played for Berlusconi's AC Milan between 2010 and 2012

It was back to school day for Wayne Rooney's sons Kai and Klay.

Wayne RooneyImage source, @WayneRooney

And Bournemouth and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere wished his son Archie well on his first day at school.

Jack WilshereImage source, @JackWilshere

And finally

Saturday's Manchester derby will be the most expensive match ever played, with United and City fielding over half a billion pounds worth of talent between them.(Mirror), external

Argentine referee Silvio Ruiz was taken to hospital after being punched by the player he was sending off. Atletico Quilmes defender Leonardo Vera hit the referee several times before being held back by his team-mates.(Mirror), external

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