Manchester United are in contact with Cody Gakpo with the PSV star emerging as their next top target, West Ham are ready to break the bank for a world-class midfielder, while Tuesday’s Euro Paper Talk has details of Arsenal interest in a Fiorentina star.
CODY GAKPO EMERGES AS NEXT TOP MAN UTD TARGET
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has a new name at the top of his wanted list in PSV winger Cody Gakpo.
It’s been a frustrating summer so far for Ten Hag with the new Red Devils boss only making three new signings to date. After chasing Frenkie de Jong for most of the summer, they appear no nearer securing the signing of the Barcelona man.
As a cut-price alternative, they now look ready instead to move for Adrien Rabiot. He is nearing a move to Old Trafford with Juventus not standing in his way if the price is right.
Rabiot, at around £17.5m, will cost some distance less than De Jong, for whom they were willing to spend up to £73m on.
As a result, Ten Hag will use the additional funds to strengthen other areas of his side.
And his next priority after the midfield was always going to be his attack.
With Cristiano Ronaldo top-scoring with 24 for the Red Devils last season, Bruno Fernandes (10) was the only other player to make double figures for the club.
Indeed, that is an obvious concern for Ten Hag, who wants more goals from his other attackers.
Manchester United interest in Antony has been well documented. However, with Ajax seemingly holding out for £75m, his price is beyond what they are willing to pay.
Cody Gakpo wanted by Man Utd
As an alternative, Ten Hag is reportedly now hot on the trail of Cody Gakpo.
The PSV star is the reigning Eredivisie Player of the Year and a player well known to the United boss.
Gakpo scored 21 times in all competitions last season, weighing in with 13 assists. One of those strikes was a wonder free-kick in the KNVB Beker Cup final, which denied Ten Hag’s Ajax a domestic double.
Now, as per ESPN, United have registered an interest in Gakpo to determine whether he’d be keen on the deal.
While no official offer has been made, it’s speculated one could arrive soon, with the player very much in Ten Hag’s thinking.
PSV rate the winger at around the £35m (€42) mark – a fee United can now reach.
Indeed, his record of a goal involvement every 1.3 games last season underlines his obvious qualities.
Still only 23 and standing at 6ft 3in, he would surely prove a shrewd investment for Manchester United.
He would prove a big upgrade for Marcus Rashford. The homegrown star only managed five goals last season and appears massively short on confidence in front of goal.
WEST HAM EYE CLUB-RECORD LUCAS PAQUETA SWOOP
West Ham are ready to launch a club-record bid worth £67m to beat Arsenal and Newcastle to the signing of Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta. (CBS Sport)
Sporting Lisbon midfielder Matheus Nunes has rejected an offer from Wolves as he is holding out for a move to Liverpool. (Correio da Manha)
Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic is Liverpool’s No 1 contract for the rest of the summer window as they look to plug their midfield gaps. (Sport)
Newcastle are ready to launch an official bid for Luis Muriel, with Juventus also keen on the Colombian striker. (Tuttosport)
Arsenal are one of four teams to have seen an offer for Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic fail this summer. (Corriere dello Sport)
AC Milan are back in talks with Chelsea over a move for Hakim Ziyech. Stefano Pioli wants the Moroccan to play on the right of his attack. (various)
Manchester United are in direct contact with Adrien Rabiot with only personal terms preventing them from sealing his signing. (Fabrizio Romano)
ROMA READY APPROACH FOR JAPHET TANGANGA
Roma are ready to launch a bid for Japhet Tanganga and beat AC Milan to the Tottenham star’s signature. (Calciomercarto)
Bologna director Marco di Vaio insists his side have no intention of selling Marko Arnautovic amid a bid from Manchester United. (Fabrizio Romano)
Frenkie de Jong has again told Barcelona he wants to stay at the club and is not interested in a move to England. Were the situation to be forced, Chelsea are more favourable to him than Manchester United. (Mundo Deportivo)
Valencia are pushing hard to sign Nico Gonzalez from Barcelona which may impact on De Jong’s future at Barcelona. (Fabrizio Romano)
Simone Inzaghi has told Inter’s owners he is desperate to keep hold of Milan Skriniar and Denzel Dumfries amid strong interest in the duo. (Corriere dello Sport)
Liverpool are stepping up their hunt for Matheus Nunes after reportedly losing Thiago Alcantara for six weeks with a hamstring injury. (Mundo Deportivo)
BARCELONA DESPERATE TO OFFLOAD UNWANTED PAIR
Barcelona president Joan Laporta is urging unwanted duo Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite to find new clubs as soon as possible. (Sport)
Nottingham Forest are looking to buy Atalanta’s Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler, 30, with Steve Cooper seeking more signings. (Tuttosport)
Gerard Pique is in advanced negotiations with Barcelona to reduce his salary at the Nou Camp. (Mundo Deportivo)
West Ham will sign one of Abdou Diallo or Thilo Kehrer from PSG as a replacement for Fulham-bound Issa Diop. (Foot Mercato)
Monaco are the latest side to express an interest in signing unwanted Manchester United defender Eric Bailly. (L’Equipe)
Sergio Busquests will decide in the coming days whether to renew his Barcelona contract or leave for pastures new. MLS sides are among those keen on the 34-year-old midfielder. (Sport)
Tottenham’s lowball proposal of a loan with an obligation to buy for £20m to Roma for Nicolo Zaniolo has fallen well short. (various)
