Liverpool's big-money bid to land rising star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been derailed by troubling questions over his ownership, The Mirror reports.

On Thursday, Russian news agency Tass was reporting the Aremenia international was preparing to fly to Merseyside for a medical.

But official sources at Liverpool moved swiftly to dismiss the suggestion, and privately pointed towards growing issues raised during the negotiation process.

Liverpool thought they had secured an agreement with the attacking midfielder’s club Shakhtar Dontesk, for around £23million, but it transpires the Ukrainians only hold a portion of his rights.

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Manchester United face competition from Bayern Munich for the signature of Thiago Alcantara, the Mirror reports.

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, who gave Alcantara his first professional contract at Barcelona, wants to bring the 22-year-old to Germany.

Thiago's release clause dropped to £15 million after he failed to play over 30 minutes in 60 per cent of Barca's league games last season.

Chelsea are also said to have made their interest known, although it appears United and Bayern will battle it out for the playmaker's signature.

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Gareth Bale will not be leaving Tottenham this summer despite Real Madrid's very public interest, Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas insists.

Real Madrid club ambassador Zinedine Zidane has made a series of flattering comments about the Welshman, who netted 31 times for club and country last season.

Despite rumours of a world record transfer bid, Daniel Levy has pledged not to sell any of the club's top stars and Villas-Boas believes his chairman will be true to his word.

"We have the pledge of the chairman that Bale is not going to leave the club," Villas-Boas is quoted as saying in Madrid-based newspaper Marca.

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Southampton are ready to splash out a record £12million for Celtic’s midfield dynamo Victor Wanyama.

Cairman Nicola Cortese has been haggling with the Scottish champions for weeks, and sources close to the situation claim a fee will be agreed and Wanyama cleared for talks over a much-anticipated move to the Premier League.

Wanyama made his name in last season's Champions League, where Celtic beat Barcelona in the group stage.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham have watched the 6ft 2in Kenyan closely, but neither would pay the required fee and offer the player a regular game.

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Mark Hughes is battling Hamburg to be reunited with Roque Santa Cruz for a second time.

New Stoke manager Hughes is ready to rival the Germans' offer to former Bayern Munich striker Santa Cruz, who is a free agent after being released by Manchester City.

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Juventus are closing in on Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez, after Serie A rivals Milan are finding it hard to come up with the required cash unless they sell one of their more-prized possessions.

Juventus are said to be offering €10 million for the Argentina star, and although Milan have reportedly agreed terms with Tevez, they cannot make an official offer to City before they sell either Robinho or Boateng.

Milan are also finding the same financial problems to sign a central defender they need to boost their squad. Cagliari’s Astori is their first preference but no deal can be reached as yet.

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Alessio Cerci is now wholly-owned by Torino, who paid €4 million to Fiorentina. Torino striker and former captain Rolando Bianchi is seeking to move outside Italy after playing a small part in Torino’s season.