Today's Gossip: Another Possible Exit At Arsenal; Monaco Reject Huge Bid For Mbappe

Giroud Wants First Team Football
Olivier Giroud is prepared to quit Arsenal this summer if Arsene Wenger revamps his strike-force.

France international Giroud is keen to ensure he is playing regular first-team football next season, in order to make his country’s squad for the World Cup in Russia.

With top-scorer Alexis Sanchez likely to leave with just a year left on his contract, Wenger is known to have a new frontman among his list of priorities as he revamps his squad.


Marseille have a strong interest in making Giroud part of a major recruitment drive which they hope will result in the club competing for the French title next season, and booking a return to the Champions League.

They are understood to be ready to pay up to £20million for the 30-year-old former Montpellier star's services.


Although Giroud has so far indicated he has little interest in a return to France, wealthy Marseille - who signed Dimitri Payet from West Ham in January, and are eyeing Leicester star Riyad Mahrez - could test his resolve with a lucrative financial package.

Monaco Turn Down Liverpool Bid
Although teams like Liverpool are keen on his signature, Monaco have rejected a 75 million offer for Kylian Mbappe and will do whatever it takes to persuade the player to remain in France for the upcoming season, according to the club's vice-president Vadim Vasilyev.

The Reds have expressed their interest on paper, but the boss of the French team, Dimitri Rybolovlev, is convinced that the particular transfer can wait for another year.

As MARCA understands, the offer has been rejected by Monaco, who believe that the price tag carried by their prodigy should read a number above 100 million euros.

The young striker produced exceptional performances, both domestically and in the Champions League, attracting several clubs around Europe and Vasilyev claimed that despite Les Monegasques' undisputed will to retain the player's services, the club will respect his decision.

In Other News
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will be given £200m to strengthen his Premier League title-winning squad and is set to spend 50m euros (£42.7m) on Monaco's 22-year-old France midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko. (Telegraph)

The Blues have told attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, 26, they will make him the focal point of the team for years to come if he signs a new contract at Stamford Bridge. (Evening Standard)

But Real Madrid plan to sign Belgium international Hazard in order to convince Paris St-Germain's 24-year-old Italy midfielder Marco Verratti to join Chelsea instead of rivals Barcelona. (Don Balon - in Spanish)

Monaco will resist all offers for France international Mbappe this summer, says the club's chief executive. (CNN) 

Liverpool are confident of completing a deal for Fulham's 17-year-old left-back Ryan Sessegnon. The England Under-19 international is one of five summer targets. (Independent)

Jurgen Klopp says he would "love" for Steven Gerrard to be his successor as Liverpool manager. (Times - subscription required)

Manchester United are considering Benfica's Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson, 23, as a possible replacement for David de Gea if the Spain international leaves in the summer.(Manchester Evening News)

United could also move for Atletico Madrid and Slovenia keeper Jan Oblak and are willing to pay up to £40m for the 24-year-old. (Daily Star)

However, Real Madrid are ready to launch a shock move to take Oblak from their city rivals. (Goal)

Sunderland and England striker Jermain Defoe, 34, will demand £100,000-a-week wages and a signing-on fee of around £6m from his next club, with West Ham and Bournemouth his most likely destinations. (Evening Standard)

Crystal Palace are also interested in the former Tottenham striker and hope to capitalise on his connection with boss Sam Allardyce, who managed Defoe at Sunderland. (Daily Mirror)

Allardyce wants to sign Manchester City and France full-backs Gael Clichy, 31, and Bacary Sagna, 34, who are both out of contract at Etihad Stadium this summer. (Sun)

Everton will use Chelsea's 19-year-old forward Tammy Abraham - who spent the season on loan at Championship side Bristol City - as leverage in any deal to take Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge. (Daily Mail)

The Toffees will offer £15m for Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford, 23, but the Black Cats will demand double that fee for the England Under-21 international. (Newcastle Chronicle)

Relegated Middlesbrough will not sell captain Ben Gibson, 24, this summer despite interest from Chelsea and Liverpool in the former England Under-21 international. (Daily Mail)

Boro captain Grant Leadbitter, 31, suggested a language barrier between staff and players contributed to the club's relegation this season. (Independent)

Sergio Aguero will seek assurances about his role at Manchester City in talks with manager Pep Guardiola. The 28-year-old Argentina striker is concerned that reduced playing time next season could jeopardise his World Cup place. (Telegraph)

Liverpool fear they could be beaten to the signings of Southampton and Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk, 25, and Fulham left-back Ryan Sessegnon, 17, by Chelsea and Tottenham respectively. (Daily Express)

West Ham, Southampton, Swansea and Stoke are all keen on £20m-rated Leeds striker Chris Wood after the 25-year-old New Zealand international finished top scorer in the Championship, with 27 goals. (Sun)

Claude Puel is facing the prospect of losing his job as Southampton manager, with several first-team players complaining about his training methods. (Mirror)

Burnley will demand more than £25m from Manchester United for defender Michael Keane, 24, because the Clarets will have to pay 25% of any transfer fee to the Old Trafford club as part of the deal that took the England centre-back to Turf Moor.