Tyrick Mitchell is the name on everyone's lips this Wednesday morning, with Manchester United and Liverpool both understood to be keeping a close eye on Crystal Palace's dependable left-back. The 27-year-old England international has quietly established himself as one of the more reliable defenders in the Premier League, and the noises out of Selhurst Park suggest he may soon be in demand on a more formal basis.

Mitchell the Prize

According to Teamtalk, both United and Liverpool are tracking Mitchell as they look to bolster their defensive options. With United continuing their rebuild under Ruben Amorim and Liverpool seeking to maintain their title challenge under Arne Slot, a composed, attack-minded left-back holds obvious appeal. Palace will be under no particular pressure to sell, but that calculus changes quickly when two of the division's heavyweights come knocking.

Garnacho Struggling at Villa, La Liga Clubs Circle

Elsewhere, Alejandro Garnacho's loan switch to Aston Villa from Chelsea is not going according to plan. The Argentine attacking midfielder, on a temporary deal at Villa Park, has found first-team opportunities hard to come by, and the Mail reports that La Liga clubs have now taken notice of his situation. Whether Unai Emery integrates him more fully or a January recall becomes the conversation, Garnacho's short-term future looks uncertain.

Julian Ward Set to Return to Liverpool

In a significant piece of off-field news, The Athletic reports that Julian Ward is set to be reappointed as Liverpool's sporting director. The 45-year-old, currently serving as technical director at Fenway Sports Group, would return to a role he briefly held during the 2022-23 season, stepping in to replace Richard Hughes. Ward's return would signal a clear direction of travel for Liverpool's recruitment structure heading into the summer window.

Bayern Circle Gibbs-White and Wirtz

Bayern Munich appear to be active across several fronts. Talksport reports they are interested in Nottingham Forest's England midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, 26, who has been one of the more consistent performers in the Premier League over recent seasons. At the same time, Teamtalk suggests Bayern have sounded out the representatives of Florian Wirtz — only for Liverpool to make clear they remain fully committed to the Germany international and have no intention of allowing any approach to gain traction.

Rice Contract and Chelsea's Teenage Target

Arsenal are set to use the September international break to push forward discussions over a new long-term deal for Declan Rice. The Guardian notes the Gunners hold an option to extend his current contract by a further year, but Mikel Arteta's preference is to tie the 27-year-old to a significantly longer arrangement, in line with the club's policy on key players.

Meanwhile Chelsea are monitoring Adama Jeng, a 15-year-old Gambian midfielder currently at Samger FC. The Mail reports Bayern Munich, Benfica, Sporting and Paris FC are also keeping tabs on the teenager, suggesting a competitive chase could develop for one of the more intriguing young talents on the continent.

Other Stories Doing the Rounds

  • Endrick loan: AC Milan and Roma are reportedly exploring a temporary deal for Real Madrid's 20-year-old Brazilian forward Endrick, though Florentino Perez's willingness to sanction a departure remains the key question, according to Calciomercato.
  • Arthur Dias: Barcelona have scouted Athletico Paranaense's 19-year-old Brazilian midfielder Arthur Dias, a player who previously attracted strong interest from Tottenham, per ESPN Brasil.
  • Vinicius Jr and Arsenal: Spanish outlet Cadena SER claims Arsenal came remarkably close to securing Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid in the summer, with the Brazilian's team-mates at the Bernabeu reportedly convinced the move was a foregone conclusion.

It is a busy Wednesday on the gossip front, with the September international break giving clubs across Europe the space to plan their next moves in what already promises to be a frenetic winter window.

Frequently asked

Is Tyrick Mitchell leaving Crystal Palace?
No deal is in place, but both Manchester United and Liverpool are reported to be tracking the Crystal Palace left-back. Nothing has been formally agreed at this stage.
Why is Alejandro Garnacho not playing for Aston Villa?
Garnacho joined Villa on loan from Chelsea but has struggled to make an impression under Unai Emery. La Liga clubs are now said to be monitoring his situation amid limited game time at Villa Park.
Who is Julian Ward and why is he returning to Liverpool?
Julian Ward is a 45-year-old football executive who previously served as Liverpool's sporting director during the 2022-23 season. He is set to return to that role, replacing Richard Hughes, having most recently worked as technical director at Fenway Sports Group.