Arsenal will step up efforts to keep Arsene Wenger at the Emirates to ward off interest from Paris Saint-Germain, the Mirror reports.

Wenger has been a long-term target for the French club, whose contract with Arsenal expires next year.

PSG have appointed former France international Laurent Blanc as manager to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who has joined Real ­Madrid.

But, significantly, Blanc has been given just a one-year rolling contract – which means PSG can move for Wenger next year, if he fails to agree to extend his stay without a massive ­compensation payout to either Arsenal or Blanc.

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Barcelona are set to make a move for Brazilian central defender Thiago Silva.

The Spanish champions want to strengthen their back four and see in the former Milan player the ideal man to replace the ageing Puyol.
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Chelsea are close to signing £9million Vitesse Arnhem's Marco van Ginkel after the Holland midfielder was reassured he will feature in Jose Mourinho's starting line-up, The Mail on Sunday reports.

Van Ginkel, who has been watched by Manchester United, made his senior debut for Holland last year and played for the Under-21s in the European Championship in Israel, where Holland reached the semi-finals.

He has been told by Holland manager Louis van Gaal he needs to play regularly next season to make the World Cup squad and Vitesse would prefer him to move to Chelsea rather than Ajax.

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Carlo Ancelotti's first signing at Real Madrid will be Isco, Marca reports. Real Madrid will pay €24 million, plus up to €3m more depending on the results and objectives achieved.

'Los Blancos' were optimistic after negotiations with Málaga to reach a deal for the player. On Saturday, Real Madrid finally reached an agreement with Málaga.

Moayad Shatat - Málaga's executive vice-president - had a meeting with Real Madrid's executive general director, José Ángel Sánchez, in order to negotiate a transfer.

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Stoke boss Mark Hughes is ready to offer Stephen Ireland an ­escape route from Aston Villa, The Sunday People reports.

But he could face serious competition from new Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who is also showing an interest in the former Republic of Ireland midfielder.

Ireland, 26, played some of the best football of his career under Hughes when the pair were together at Manchester City, winning the 2008-09 ­player of the year award.