Transfer Gossip: (Saturday, July 2) Barnsley set for Stones windfall? | Fulham want £15m for Ross | Beattie joins Leeds

The Daily Telegraph says new City boss Pep Guardiola is keen to bolster his team’s defensive options ahead of his debut season in the Premiership and sees Stones as the perfect signing.

Having spent the last few weeks as an unused substitute with the England squad in France, Stones is reported to be keen on a move to one of the top clubs in the country and could even secure his switch in time to join pre-season training.

Stones was all set for a £30m move to Chelsea last summer but the deal fell through. It sparked a move from the Goodison Park club to try and ‘buy-out’ the sell-on clause attached to the former Barnsley defender, understood to be 15 per cent.

It is thought that Barnsley turned down the deal, but it remains to be seen just how much of a windfall they will receive once Stones makes his big-money switch.

If the Oakwell club does still have a 15 per cent interest in the player then they stand to make a very handsome £7.5m, although this has not been confirmed by the club.

Stones will comfortably become the most expensive defender in English history, as his fee will outstrip the £34m Manchester United paid Leeds for Rio Ferdinand in 2002... and the cash will come in very handy for a Barnsley team recently promoted back to the Championship and looking to make an impact under manager Paul Heckingbottom.

Fulham have told fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday to pay £15m for striker Ross McCormack, 29, after rejecting a £11.5m offer for the player.

The Owls snapped up Scotland international Steven Fletcher yesterday on a free transfer, but manager Carlos Carvalhal is keen to add fellow countryman McCormack as well to bolster his attacking options.

The Mirror says that while Fulham seem keen to sell, they are looking to make a profit on the £11m they spent on taking him away from Elland Road two years ago.

Wednesday made an initial £10m bid for McCormack back in January and it remains to be seen whether they will be willing to go any higher than their latest £11.5m offer.

The Daily Star suggests five clubs from the Premier League and Championship are keen on signing Manchester United striker James Wilson on loan.

The 20-year-old spent the 2015-16 campaign at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he scored five Championship goals in 24 appearances.

Wilson returned to United at the end of the season with the aim of racking up more minutes in the first team, but with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial standing in his way, the England Under-21 international is likely to be loaned out again.

According to the Star, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Burnley, Hull City and Middlesbrough are all keen to recruit Wilson this summer with Boro boss Aitor Karanka and Villa assistant coach Steve Clarke hopeful of edging the race as they both have close relationships with United manager Jose Mourinho.

Manchester United striker Ashley Fletcher, 20, has rejected the club’s offer of a new contract and will undergo a medical at West Ham says The Sun.

Having spent last season on loan with Barnsley, Fletcher was a target for Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City. but has chosen to join the Hammers instead.

Leeds United manager Garry Monk has brought in former Southampton, Sheffield United and Everton striker James Beattie to join his coaching set-up.

Beattie, 38, told The Yorkshire Evening Post that United had “untold potential” as he was appointed first-team coach, working alongside Pep Clotet who was unveiled last month as Monk’s assistant head coach.

Beattie, Clotet and Monk all worked together at Swansea City and United’s newest addition said the sky was the limit upon the latest job of his new coaching career.

“It’s a huge club and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead,” said Beattie. “I’ve worked with Garry and Pep before and I know how they work with the high standards and the values that they’ll bring to the club.

“This club has got untold potential to be whatever it wants to be, and we see that as a challenge. I feel that the level of training and coaching we can bring to the club is of a very high standard.

“We’ve got a young squad that we are looking forward to developing, coaching and providing guidance.

“We need to get them playing in the right way and try to help everyone create something really special.”

Leeds United also snapped up defender Kyle Bartley yesterday as Monk looks to re-build the United squad.

Bartley joins from Monk’s former club Swansea on a year-long loan and he follows the arrival of striker Marcus Antonsson earlier in the week.