Transfer gossip: Kane, Eriksen, Mourinho, Allardyce, Weigl, Koulibaly

Tottenham striker Harry Kane, 24, and playmaker Christian Eriksen, 25, were being watched by Barcelona during Spurs' Champions League match against Real Madrid. (Mundo Deportivo via TalkSport)

Leicester City will not rush to appoint a new manager as they seek a big name to succeed Craig Shakespeare who was sacked on Tuesday. (Daily Mirror)

Sam Allardyce has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Leicester job but is interested in taking charge of the USA team. (TalkSport)

Amanda Staveley is expected to launch a quick bid for Newcastle United after the British businesswoman held a constructive meeting with the club's hierarchy. (Times)

Southampton were the first club to bid for Naples defender Kalidou Koulibaly, 26, this summer despite interest from other Premier League and Serie A clubs. (Calcio Mercato - Italian)

Juventus have joined Barcelona and Manchester City in the race for 22-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl. (CalcioNews24 via TalkSport)

Reading manager Jaap Stam has confirmed the club are interested in signing 21-year-old Manchester United striker James Wilson in the summer. (Reading Chronicle)

Inter Milan are tracking Manchester City midfielder Brahim Diaz, 18. (Tuttosport via TalkSport)

Arsenal and Liverpool have been boosted in their pursuit of Monaco forward Thomas Lemar, 21, after Bayern Munich ended their interest. (football.london via Kicker)

Newcastle and Stoke have sent scouts to watch 19-year-old striker Nordine Ibouroi, who plays for French non-league side FC Martigues. (The Sun)

Midfielder Rafinha, 24, a target of Arsenal and Chelsea, has no interest in leaving Barcelona. (TalkSport)

Aston Villa offered to pay Paris St-Germain defender Thomas Meunier, 26, more money than the French champions when he switched clubs in 2016. (Birmingham Mail via SportFoot)

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has dismissed rumours that West Brom and Wolves target Benik Afobe, 24, may be allowed to leave the club in January by insisting that the striker remains part of his plans. (Birmingham Mail)

West Ham goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel, 30, is looking for a move away from the club in January having lost his place to Joe Hart. (Marca - English)

Manchester United have opened contract talks with defender Phil Jones, 25. (ESPN)

Crystal Palace have increased their interest in Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun, 23, after he impressed in the Champions League. (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente, 32, failed to deny he would be interested in a return to Juventus. (Calcio Mercato - Italian)

Twenty-year-old striker Henry Onyekuru's immediate Everton future remains in doubt after claims the summer buy from Belgian side Eupen will not be allowed to move to Goodison in January. (Liverpool Echo via owngoalnigeria)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says summer signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, is not ready for a central midfield role at Anfield despite signing with the intention of playing there. (Daily Mail)

And Oxlade-Chamberlain, who moved from Arsenal in the summer, has admitted he will have to fight for a place in the starting line-up at Liverpool. (Daily Star)

Mesut Ozil has become "angry" over Arsenal's lack of spending in recent transfer windows, according to the club's former player Robert Pires. (London Evening Standard)

Meanwhile...

West Ham could soon have a royal following after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given replica football shirts for their young children. (Telegraph)

But despite being the right colours, Aston Villa fan Prince William was not too keen on the shirts in question... (Birmingham Mail)

Northern Ireland, who play the first leg of their World Cup play-off match against Switzerland in three weeks, have produced a video displaying their qualifying campaign so far in the form of a Super Mario game. (Twitter)

British musician Stormzy voiced his opinions on the hearing which involved the FA following allegations from Chelsea Ladies striker Eniola Aluko. (Twitter)

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard admitted he "couldn't believe it" when Chelsea let Nemanja Matic join Manchester United this summer. (Mirror)

Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believes the club's current manager Antonio Conte looks stressed and unhappy. (BT Sport - via Daily Star)

And ex-Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle has criticised midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, insisting the summer signing has "got to do more". (Metro)

Manchester United defender Antonio Valencia has become a "wonderful" right-back according to the club's former defender Gary Neville. Upon seeing the tweet, Valencia replied: "Thank for your kind words! You are a football legend and set a very high standard at that position." (Twitter)

The best of Wednesday's gossip

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 32, wants 19-year-old Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford at the Bernabeu. (Don Balon in Spanish)

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, 29, has turned down £375,000-a-week, after tax, to join a team in the Chinese Super League. (Daily Mail)

Former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is not being considered as a candidate to take over at the club after Craig Shakespeare's sacking. (Leicester Mercury)

Burnley boss Sean Dyche, 46, is top of the Foxes' shortlist. (Daily Express)

Wales manager Chris Coleman, 52, who is out of contract next month, would be open to talks about the vacant position at the King Power Stadium. (The Sun)