Chelsea increase their offer for Stones; Man Utd closer for Romero

TOP STORY: Chelsea up their Stones bid

Jose Mourinho is not one to be put off easily. Following Everton's rejection of a £20 million bid from Chelsea for defender John Stones earlier in the week, the Mail says that Jose's men are set to return to Merseyside with an improved offer of £26 million.

Which, of course, will go down like a tonne of bricks at Goodison Park, where Everton manager Roberto Martinez is trying desperately to quash any talk of a potential move away for the 21-year-old centre-back.

Hopefully, Martinez isn't fond of reading the papers then, because pretty much every outlet is running an increased bid story. The Guardian says that Chelsea may be willing to pay £30 million to get their man, while the Telegraph puts the figure at a rather robust £34 million.

Romero deal nearly done?

The Manchester Evening News says that Man United are on the brink of signing Victor Valdes' replacement despite the fact that the former Barcelona keeper is still at the club!

Manager Louis van Gaal dropped the bombshell last week that Valdes' time at Old Trafford is most likely coming to an end, branding him unprofessional for refusing to play for United's reserves last season.

Chief in line to replace the Spaniard is Argentina custodian Sergio Romero, who worked under LVG at AZ Alkmaar and is currently a free agent.

With all of the grandiose spending going on at Old Trafford, signing a 28-year-old who has 62 caps for Argentina on a free could represent somewhat of a coup for the Red Devils, and the MEN says that United are homing in on their man.

What effect will Romero's signing will have on the David De Gea saga remains to be seen.

Mathieu bidding adieu

If Fenerbahce are shaping up as the "Turkish Manchester United" following the recruitment of Old Trafford old boys Nani and Robin van Persie, then Istanbul rivals Galatasaray might now become known as the Gunners!

According to the London Evening Standard, Mathieu Flamini is set to follow in the footsteps of former Arsenal front man Lukas Podolski and join the reigning champions of Turkey.

Flamini, 31, has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates after the emergence of Francis Coquelin and didn't make a single Premier League start in 2015.

A transfer fee of £2.8 million is being bandied about, which should please Arsene Wenger after he missed out on any compensation last time Flamini left the club.

Arsenal and Manchester United going head-to-head in a genuine rivalry? It feels like 2003 again! Here's hoping Gala sign Martin Keown.