Man City eye Chelsea target Simons – Thursday’s gossip

Manchester City could rival Chelsea for RB Leipzig forward Xavi Simons, Brighton want more than £100m for Manchester United target Carlos Baleba, Roma in talks to sign Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey.

Manchester City are considering hijacking Chelsea’s move for RB Leipzig’s 22-year-old Netherlands winger Xavi Simons. (Talksport)

Brighton will demand more than £100m for Carlos Baleba after Manchester United expressed an interest in the 21-year-old Cameroon midfielder. (Telegraph – subscription required)

Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund is more open to leaving Manchester United this summer as AC Milan try to negotiate a loan deal with an option to buy. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian)

Manchester City have added Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche to their list of targets and will rival Bayer Leverkusen for the signature of the 23-year-old French winger. (Florian Plettenberg)

Roma are in talks with Aston Villa over a deal for Leon Bailey but have yet to make a formal bid for the 28-year-old Jamaica winger, who is also attracting interest from Besiktas and Saudi Pro League clubs. (Athletic – subscription required)

Fulham are willing to break their transfer record of £34m to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s 22-year-old Brazilian winger Kevin. (Sky Sports)

Southampton have made a second counter-offer to Everton for Tyler Dibling after rejecting three bids from the Toffees for the 19-year-old England Under-21s winger. (Florian Plettenberg)

Manchester United expect Chelsea to bid for Alejandro Garnacho, but the Blues hope to get the 21-year-old Argentina winger for significantly less than United’s asking price of £50m. (Sky Sports)

Nice are advancing in talks with Crystal Palace over a deal for 27-year-old French forward Odsonne Edouard. (Footmercato – in French)

Bayern Munich have offered £52m, add-ons and a share of any resale for Germany striker Nick Woltemade, but Stuttgart are demanding £65m. (Sky Sports Germany)