Transfer news: Manchester United and Real Madrid draw swords over Athletic Bilbao prospect

Less than a week to go and we've yet to see one of the Premier League sides dig deeply into their pockets

Manchester United, one would imagine, sent scouts to the four corners of the earth to find competent defenders as soon as Louis van Gaal flew into Old Trafford on a jet-pack fuelled by his own ego. United have trained their sights on La Liga and want Athletic Bilbao's central defender Aymeric Laporte. The France Under-21 international has proven himself a player willing to mix dribbling up-field forays and slick passing with the rib-nudging and ankle-trodding of your traditional central defender. Aged 20, United would hope they unearth a David de Gea-type prospect for a fraction of his future worth. [Daily Mail] Van Gaal's diligent pursuit of Kevin Strootman appears to be over after the Dutch midfielder injured his knee against Fiorentina. [The Sun] Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, due to financial fair play regulations, can only move on a player if they first give an existing player his coat and show him the door. Mo Salah is attracting interest from Serie A suitors and Andre Schurrle could be off to Wolfsburg, who love shopping off Chelsea's bench. If either go, Mourinho will get the green-light to snap up Doughlas Costa from Shaktar Donetsk for about £24m. [Daily Mirror & Telegraph] Southampton coach Ronald Koeman knows the Dutch phone prefix to get through to Feyenoord and ask if they are selling midfielder Jordy Clasie. [Daily Mirror] Liverpool, meanwhile, are set to snap up one of Arsenal's best striking prospects for a sweet, sweet song. Metro reports that Chuba Akpom, 19, is in the final year of his contract with the Gunners and ready to pack his bags for Merseyside. Akpom has played four times for Arsenal this season and has previously had loan spells at Coventry and Brentford without troubling the net. Should fit right in at Anfield.