Transfer Rumours And Paper Review - Sunday, May 17

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Sunday's newspapers...

Chelsea are planning a shock move for Manchester City's 29-year-old striker Edin Dzeko, with City ready to listen to offers. (Sunday Mirror)

Meanwhile, the Stamford Bridge club's manager Jose Mourinho is also interested in Manchester City's unsettled midfielder Yaya Toure, 32. (Sunday Express)

Everton and Southampton are favourites to sign £10m-rated Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk, 23. (Mail on Sunday)

The Saints are also looking at Burnley defender Kieran Trippier, 24, as a replacement for their Manchester United-bound England international Nathaniel Clyne, 24. (Mail on Sunday)

Former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic is on their managerial shortlist alongside favourite Rafael Benitez in anticipation of Sam Allardyce's expected departure at the end of the season. (Mail on Sunday)

Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller, 25, and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32 have emerged as transfer targets for Manchester United. (London Evening Standard)

Manchester United's 24-year-old goalkeeper David de Gea will hold a family meeting at the end of the season to decide his future. (Daily Star Sunday)

However, United will struggle to get their money back on De Gea after being warned that Real Madrid are ready to play hardball over the Spanish keeper who they signed for nearly £18m from Atletico Madrid in 2011. (Sunday Mirror)

Manchester United are also looking at Lazio's Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson, 22. (Sunday People)

Portuguese midfielder Nani is reportedly returning to Manchester United after Sporting Lisbon refused to meet the 28-year-old's £15m price tag following a season-long loan in Portugal. (the Sun -subscription required)

Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has cast doubt on whether £60m record signing Angel Di Maria can turn his form around after a disappointing first season for the winger, 27, at Old Trafford. (Mail on Sunday)

Louis van Gaal wants to bring back Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba to Old Trafford. The France international, 22, left Manchester United to join the Serie A club in 2012 after failing to secure a regular first-team place under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. (Observer)

Manchester City hope to scupper United's hopes of signing Gareth Bale, 25, from Real Madrid by tabling an £80m bid for the Welshman. (The Sun)

Welshman Bale wants to leave Real Madrid after two seasons in Spain, and the European champions will allow him to depart if they receive a bid of more than £85m. (Sunday Times)

Liverpool are stepping up their pursuit of Asier Illarramendi after Real Madrid officially put the 25-year-old midfielder up for sale. (Sunday People)

Swansea manager Garry Monk hopes to add "five or six quality players" to his squad during the summer transfer window. (Observer)

Maduabuchi, Bashir Begin Lobi Era

Wecan reveal that Lobi Stars will give debuts to a posse of new players, led by former Enyimba skipper and Warri Wolves midfielder, Josiah Maduabuchi as well as ABS legend, Abdulrahman Bashir, during Sunday's match day nine trip at high-flying Wikki Tourists.

The duo were headline acquisitions as Lobi seek to boost their fortunes this term.

Fellow new signings Akleche Enokela from ABS and former Abia Warriors player, Ogu Michael, are also in line to make their debut.

Lobi's need for reinforcements was emphasized by a slow start to the season in which they have failed to record a win in their first eight league games.

Maduabuchi has been assigned number 18, while Bashir will wear 24.

The duo of Enokela and Michael will use 28 and 7, respectively.

"Lobi has good players and I'm here to do my best for the club," Bashir told supersport.com.

With players such as Moses Bunde, Anthony Agbaji, John Huan, Felix Osia, Douglas Arhiv and Obioma Arinze, also at his disposal, manager Justin Tenger, now faces a challenge to accommodate all of his star names in his preferred 4-4-2 formation.

Fans expect a favourable result as Bauchi remains a favourable ground for Lobi.

Arsenal Thwart Man Utd As De Gea Departs

Tyler Blackett's late own goal compromised Manchester United's hopes of automatic Champions League qualification as Arsenal drew 1-1 at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

The hosts took the lead when Ashley Young crossed for Ander Herrera to volley home, but Arsene Wenger's side earned a point in the 82nd minute when Theo Walcott's shot nicked off Blackett and looped over United substitute goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

The result kept Arsenal two points above United in third place in the table and the FA Cup finalists can secure a Champions League group-stage berth by winning at home to Sunderland in their game in hand on Wednesday.

Liverpool's 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday meant that United were already guaranteed at least a place in the Champions League play-off round, which was the minimum requirement when Louis van Gaal took up his post as manager last year.

But of more pressing concern is the future of goalkeeper David de Gea, heavily linked with Real Madrid and who may have already made his final United appearance after being forced off by injury in the second half.

Arsenal were unchanged for the sixth game running – the first time that has happened since January 1994 – and as has been their approach in recent major showdowns, they were content to let their opponents attack them.

It led to a number of half-chances for United, with Young, Radamel Falcao, Chris Smalling – captain in Wayne Rooney's absence – and Juan Mata all threatening.

A slip at the other end by Phil Jones gave Arsenal a sight of goal, but despite being flat on his front, the United centre-back improvised brilliantly by swiping the ball away from Olivier Giroud with his head.

It was United, though, who were making the running, and they took the lead on the half hour.

Young stood up a cross from the left flank and with two defenders drawn to the giant Marouane Fellaini, Herrera met the ball flush on the volley at the back post to claim his eighth goal of the season.

Exit Falcao

Arsenal failed to muster a single shot on target in the first half and when Giroud's knock-down fell kindly for Alexis Sanchez early in the second, the Chilean shanked a shot high into the East Stand.

The game was a last chance for Falcao to impress the United fans after a frustrating loan spell from Monaco, but he spent much of the first half on his backside, the victim of a slippery pitch, and gave way for former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie on the hour.

The apologetic wave Falcao gave as he left the pitch suggested he will not be seen at Old Trafford again in a United shirt.

Giroud, Van Persie's successor as Arsenal's attacking figurehead, belatedly got in behind the United defence moments later, but after neatly beating Marcos Rojo to Mesut Ozil's cross, he was thwarted by De Gea.

"David de Gea, we want you to stay!" chorused the Stretford End, betraying their fear that the Spain international is destined for Madrid.

When Arsenal did find a way past De Gea, Aaron Ramsey lobbing a shot over him from Sanchez's pass, Rojo was on hand to hook clear.

De Gea had to depart the fray moments later after an awkward landing, enabling the shaven-headed former Barcelona goalkeeper Valdes to come on for his United debut, four months after joining the club.

Valdes had not played a first-team game for over a year and his first task was to pick the ball out of the net after Walcott's shot nicked off fellow substitute Blackett and looped over him.

Both sides had chances to win it, but Giroud could only shoot into the side-netting and Van Persie then ballooned over from Fellaini's knock-down.