JOSE Mourinho’s Mkhitaryan alternative sure to anger Arsenal fans, Zlatan’s secret deal, Cesar Azpilicueta in demand, Liverpool eye Lucas Moura, and more.

The Euro 2016 group stage might be over, but Rumour Mill is never done.

RAMBO TO UNITED

Well this would be something, wouldn’t it? Reports in The Sun are linking Jose Mourinho and Manchester United with a shock midfield target - Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey. The report claims Mourinho will turn his attentions to the Welsh midfielder if he is unable to secure the signature of his number one target - Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Arsenal would likely demand a fee in the region of £50 million for Ramsey, who Jose reportedly sees as United’s answer to Frank Lampard. Any deal would likely inflame tensions between the two clubs that have been simmering for years, with Ramsey potentially becoming the first player to swap the Emirates for Old Trafford since Robin van Persie’s unceremonious switch back in 2012.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Mkhitaryan remains high on Mourinho’s wish list, but Dortmund are playing hardball over a fee for their attacker. United have reportedly tabled an improved bid of £28 million for the Armenian, but Mourinho fears Dortmund will dig in over the player who has starred in Germany since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.

One player who it appears definitely won’t be joining United is young Swiss striker Breel Embolo, with Di Marzo reporting that the 19-year-old FC Basel forward is close to agreeing a deal to join Bunsdesliga outfit Schalke.

ZLATAN SECRET

Sweden’s loss to Belgium at Euro 2016 brought down the curtain on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s international career, but don’t expect the striker to be out of the headlines for too long. Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri has reportedly told TalkSPORT that a deal is already in place for the giant Swede to finally confirm his long-awaited move to Manchester United.

“He’s signed for Manchester United,” Palmeri reportedly told TalkSPORT. “He signed an agreement in early June. It was sent to him at the pre-Euro 2016 training camp in Sweden, he signed it and sent it back.”

All it appears we’re waiting for is the official confirmation of the worst kept secret in football.

JOSE GETS DEFENSIVE

Staying with United, and although the club have already secured the services of Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly from Villareal, it appears Mourinho is chasing further defensive reinforcements.

Tuttosport is reporting that both United and Inter Milan are eyeing off Argentina and Zenit St Petersburg central defender Ezequiel Garay, who has impressed in Russia since switching from Benfica in 2014.

It is believed a figure of around £15 million will be enough to secure the defender.

CESAR IN DEMAND

Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague reports that Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta is a player in high demand, drawing interest from Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

Balague said: “Some of the top clubs in Europe are after Azpilicueta’s signature, not least because of his versatility in being able to play in both full-back positions with equal confidence.

“If Chelsea were willing to sell, the front runners would be Atletico Madrid, although they have recently cooled on the idea, turning their attentions instead to Croatian full-back Sime Vrsaljko, who will soon confirm that he is moving to the Spanish club.

“There are, however, a host of clubs and top-flight managers that would love to see the Pamplona-born defender join their ranks, not least Unai Emery who is on the verge of taking over from Laurent Blanc at PSG.”

Another team that is apparently keen on Azpilicueta is Manchester United, with the Blues defender the latest player being linked with an Old Trafford reunion with former Chelsea boss Mourinho. The Mirror report that Azpilicueta is keen on a move as he could find his position under threat at Chelsea, with rumours linking new Blues boss Antonio Conte with a move for Juventus left-back Kwadwo Asamoah.

Another defender who could be heading for the Stamford Bridge exit door is Andreas Christensen, with the Daily Mail reporting that Borussia Monchengladbach have made an £18 million offer for the player. The 20-year-old Christensen is one season into a two-year loan with the Bundesliga club, and had such an impressive first term that fans voted him their Player of the Season ahead of Arsenal-bound Granit Xhaka. But, it is highly unlikely the Blues will part with Christensen, who is seen as the natural successor to John Terry.

BUSY TIMES AT ARSENAL

Don’t expect Arsene Wenger and Arsenal to stop with just the signing of Swiss midfielder Xhaka, with reports linking the club with two tantalising attacking options.

Starting with Sky Sports, who report that Wenger is eyeing off a move for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku in what would be a major statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League. Many believe that Arsenal are a top, clinical striker away from being a thoroughly devastating side, and Lukaku certainly fits that bill, having scored over 50 league goals for West Brom and Everton. Lukaku is on record as saying he wants to play Champions League football, something Arsenal offer season after season.

Il Corriere dello Sports also link the Gunners with a move for former Manchester City attacker Stevan Jovetic. Reports suggest that Jovetic, who joined Inter Milan only 12 months ago, is not in Inter manager Roberto Mancini’s plans at the San Siro, fuelling speculation of a move, with Wenger a known admirer of the Montenegro international.

KLOPP’S MOURA MOVE

More now from Sky Sports, who are linking Liverpool with PSG’s highly-rated Brazillian Lucas Moura. The 23-year-old, who scored 13 goals in France last season, wouldn’t come cheap and Liverpool would likely face fierce competition for his services - he has previously been linked with Manchester United, who may insert themselves into proceedings should Moura be made available for transfer. Moura joins Mario Gotze and Southampton’s Sadio Mane as highly-fancied attacking talents being linked with Liverpool.

One player who could be on the way out at Anfield is Joe Allen, who has turned in three sterling performances for Wales at Euro 2016, and it appears teams are taking notice. The Sun is reporting that both former club Swansea City and Europa League champions Sevilla are eyeing up a move for the player who is believed to be surplus to requirements at Liverpool.

Reports indicate that Sevilla were highly impressed by what they saw from the Welshman during his substitute appearance against them in Liverpool’s Europa League final defeat. The La Liga side reportedly value Allen at around £10 million, and see him as a replacement for Ever Banega, who has joined Serie A side Inter Milan on a free transfer.

SPURS STRIKER CHASE

The Mirror reports that Tottenham have opened talks with Roma for £11.5 million-rated striker Antonio Sanabria. This rumour comes on the back of earlier reports linking Spurs with a move for AZ Alkmaar forward Vincent Janssen as boss Mauricio Potchettino seeks to find a partner and support for Premier League golden boot winner Harry Kane.

Sanabria, a Paraguay international, spent last season on loan at Spain’s Sporting Gijon, where he scored 11 goals in La Liga.

Spanish giants Barcelona have expressed interest in bringing the player back to Catalonia - Sanabria previously spent time with the Barcelona B side - but reports indicate the player is keen on a move to the Premier League.

NANI THE TOFFEE

Everton’s new owner Farhad Moshiri reportedly wants a marquee signing this summer, with the Daily Mail reporting that the club have turned their attention to former Manchester United man Nani. The Portuguese attacker, who has scored two goals at Euro 2016, currently plays for Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce and reportedly and has a £6.5 million release clause in his contract. If Everton are to secure the deal, they will reportedly have to see off competition from

Valencia and Inter Milan, with the Spanish side considered favourites to land the player.

New Everton manager Ronald Koeman is also set to look closer to home for new signings, with the Dutchman reportedly targeting a move for countryman Wesley Sneijder. Turkish outlet Haberler are reporting that Everton could sign Sneijder from Galatasaray for a cut-priced €7.5 million (£5.7 million), while Mourinho reportedly remains keen on bringing the 32-year-old, who he previously worked with at Inter Milan, to Manchester.

ZAZA IN DEMAND

Don’t expect Leicester City to rest on their laurels with a Champions League campaign coming next season, with the Foxes one of a host of clubs linked with Juventus striker Simone Zaza.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claims both Leicester and Chelsea are keen on landing the 24-year-old, who is valued at around £23 million, while Stoke, West Ham and Southampton are also interested in the forward.

The Times is also reporting that the Premier League champions are set to complete the signing of midfielder Nampalys Mendy from Nice for £13 million. The 23-year-old, who is similar in stature and style to N’Golo Kante, was reportedly in the East Midlands early this week for further talks and medical checks and now appears likely to become the Premier League champions’ third signing of the summer behind goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler and Spanish centre back Luis Hernández.

NEYMAR GOING NOWHERE

Brazilian superstar Neymar will remain with Barcelona if the club’s sporting director, Robert Fernandez, is to be believed, telling the club’s website the Brazil captain would be staying with the Catalan giants.

“He will reach an agreement with Barca and he will be here for a long time. The club will make it public when the extension is to be made,” Fernandez said.

Those sentiments have been echoed by Barca’s financial vice-president Susana Monje, who told a recent news conference that the club have not considered the sale of Neymar.

“Neymar’s [contract] renewal is a sporting matter,” Monje said. “Economically, you have already known the margins for a while. We have not studied the impact of a hypothetical loss of Neymar. We do not contemplate it.”

ODEGAARD A ‘PR EXERCISE’

Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard was at the centre of a transfer battle last year, as a host of Europe’s top clubs sought the 17-year-old’s signature. Liverpool came close, but ultimately it was Real Madrid who won the race for his signature, with the player since spending most of his time with the Real second team, making just one appearance for the senior side.

Now, Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti has weighed in on the situation, saying Real’s signing of the youngster was nothing more than a “PR exercise”.

Ancelotti, who was Real head coach at the time of the signing, says club president Florentino Perez was behind the transfer.

“When Florentino buys a Norwegian footballer, you simply have to accept it,” Anceoltti writes in his book Quiet Leadership.

“Furthermore, the president decided that he would play three games with the first team as a public relations exercise.

”He could be the best player in the world, but I don’t care because he was not a player who I asked for. That signing was to do with PR.”

Ouch.

DONE DEALS

Benjamin Mendy has joined Monaco on a 5-year deal from Marseille. The 21-year-old left-back told his new club’s website: “I am very proud to get involved with AS Monaco. It’s a new challenge for me. I hope to progress and turn a corner with this great club.”

Mendy made more than 80 appearances during his three years with Marseille, representing the club in both the Champions League and Europa League.

BITES

- Sky Sports are linking Arsenal with a move for Atletico Mineiro left back Douglas Santos.

- The Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce has claimed that the Reds have no interest in signing Newcastle United’s English winger Andros Townsend.

- The Mirror reports West Ham are prepared to pay the required £30 million to land Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.

- Swansea have reportedly made a £2 million bid for Ajax’s 23-year-old centre-back Mike van der Hoorn, according to De Telegraaf.