Thursday’s news and rumour roundup.
Arsenal are looking at the free-transfer market in a bid to ease their defensive problems. Former Everton defender Joseph Yobo, 34, and ex-West Brom centre-back Diego Lugano, 33, are among the players they have discussed –(Daily Mail)
The Gunners are also plotting to re-sign their former midfielder Lassana Diarra, 29, who is a free agent after leaving Lokomotiv Moscow – (Daily Express)
Chelsea and Liverpool are both keen to sign 18-year-old German midfielder Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen – (Daily Mirror)
Juventus have cooled their interest in Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, 26, and will instead compete with Arsenal and Liverpool to sign 27-year-old Barcelona playmaker Pedro – (Daily Express)
Ipswich are set to sign free agent Jack Collison, 25, after the midfielder was released by West Ham – (Sky Sports)