Transfer gossip round-up: Man Utd & Arsenal eye Porto's Costa - Tuesday's gossip

The BBC gossip digest served up a busy batch of Premier League chatter on Thursday, with a mix of big‑club scouting and free‑agent dramas.

Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly keeping tabs on Porto’s 22‑year‑old Portuguese right‑back Alberto Costa, but both sides are said to face competition from Paris St Germain, according to Caughtoffside. In a parallel lane, Manchester City’s financial future is being linked to a speculative price increase for Norway striker Erling Haaland, 26, should the club ever find itself relegated over rule breaches, as reported by Football Insider. That same uncertainty has sparked a wider interest in Haaland, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona all said to be monitoring the situation, per Fichajes.

Turning to the free‑agent market, former Chelsea and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling, 31, has allegedly been offered to two Ligue 1 sides, yet neither appear interested, according to Foot Mercato. Meanwhile, Talksport says Besiktas president Serdal Adali has vowed to secure Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock, 27, in January, claiming the Englishman has already picked Turkey as his next destination.

Managerial speculation also featured prominently. The Telegraph reports that former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is not looking to return to Premier League management with a lower‑ or mid‑table side such as Crystal Palace or Fulham; instead, he would prefer an opportunity at an underachieving big club.

Finally, on the continental front, Teamtalk notes that Liverpool remain interested in Real Madrid’s French midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, 26, despite the Frenchman having signed a new long‑term deal with the Spanish giants over the summer.

All in all, the day’s rumour mill keeps the transfer market buzzing, from young prospects to seasoned internationals, while clubs and managers alike weigh their options amid a landscape of uncertainty.