Saturday’s gossip: Phil Neville, Raphael Varane, Jean-Clair Todibo, Luis Suarez

Portland Timbers are in advanced talks to hire former England defender Phil Neville, 46, as their head coach. He was previously in charge of Inter Miami. (Athletic)external-link

Prospective new Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans to replace manager Erik ten Hag with Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi if he completes a deal to buy 25% of the Old Trafford club. (Football Insider)external-link

Several Saudi clubs including Al-Nassr are keen on signing Manchester United’s French centre-back Raphael Varane, 30, in the January transfer window. (Teamtalk)external-link

Newcastle United are interested in Atalanta and Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, 25, and Genoa and Romania centre-back Radu Dragusin, 21. (Tuttomercatoweb – in Italian)external-link

AC Milan are looking at Arsenal’s Polish defender Jakub Kiwior, 23, and Bournemouth’s English defender Lloyd Kelly, 25. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian)external-link

Nice have told French centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, 23, they are willing to sell him at the end of the season. Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan and Atalanta are all said to be interested. (90min)external-link

Inter Miami have agreed a deal with Gremio and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, 36, where he will be reunited with several old Barcelona team-mates including Lionel Messi. (ESPN)external-link

Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara, 32, is expected to leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Football Insider)external-link

Manchester City want Manchester United’s 18-year-old English midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. (FourFourTwo)external-link

But United are relaxed about City’s long-standing interest in Mainoo. (Manchester Evening News)external-link

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says the January transfer window is “an important one” and wants Spurs to get any business done as early as possible when it opens. (Goal)external-link

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has played down a move for the club’s former Germany defender and free agent Jerome Boateng, 35, after Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, 24, suffered a knee ligament injury. (Fabrizio Romano)external-link