Football gossip: Wirtz, Guimaraes, Zubimendi, Kerkez, Vlahovic, Leon

Manchester City identify Florian Wirtz and Bruno Guimaraes as transfer targets, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in Milos Kerkez, and is Dusan Vlahovic heading to Arsenal in January?

Bayer Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, 21, and Newcastle’s Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 27, have emerged as transfer targets for Manchester City. (Times – subscription required), external

Man City boss Pep Guardiola will also get the backing to sign 25-year-old Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi. (ESPN), external

Chelsea and Liverpool are set to target defender Milos Kerkez, 21, but Bournemouth will fight to keep the Serbia international. (Football Insider), external

Mikel Arteta wants to add Juventus and Serbia forward Dusan Vlahovic, 24, to his Arsenal squad in January. (Caught Offside), external

Real Madrid have withdrawn from the race to sign AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez, 27, clearing the way for Manchester United to sign the France international. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Gary O’Neil has Saturday’s match against Ipswich Town to save his job as Wolves manager. (Football Insider), external

Manchester United have reached a verbal agreement with Cerro Porteno for 17-year-old Paraguay left-back Diego Leon. (Fabrizio Romano), external

RB Leipzig want to sign Paris St-Germain’s Dutch forward Xavi Simons, 21, on a permanent deal, but face competition from Liverpool. (Caught Offside), external

Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, 32, could be sold by Manchester United in January if a suitable offer arrives. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Everton are plotting a move for Lyon and Ghana winger Ernest Nuamah, 21, in January. (Football Insider), external

A group led by Dan Friedkin is closing in on a deal to buy Everton, with a takeover set to be completed next week. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Everton manager Sean Dyche is not expected to be dismissed immediately following the Friedkin Group’s takeover. (Football Insider), external

Tottenham are not planning to take up their option to sign on-loan Germany striker Timo Werner, 28, permanently from RB Leipzig at the end of the season.(GiveMeSport), external