Cristiano Ronaldo could perform a U-turn over his Manchester United future due to two pieces of recent transfer activity, while Chelsea may have to part permanently with a midfield talent – all in Wednesday’s gossip.
MAN UTD MAY HAVE CONVINCED CRISTIANO RONALDO
Manchester United believe they may have won over Cristiano Ronaldo by buying Antony and Casemiro, according to reports.
Ronaldo’s future has been up in the air ever since Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League. Over the summer, there have been plenty of exit rumours for the multiple Ballon d’Or winner.
However, several of the exit routes suggested have frozen over. For Ronaldo, though, the hope of a move to a Champions League club has not faded.
There is a feeling that many Manchester United staff members want him gone, while Erik ten Hag could move forward without him. Above, though, the board have seemed more inclined to keep him.
With just a couple of days remaining in the transfer window, Ronaldo’s future is still a source of mystery. He is supposedly still holding out for Chelsea, who are not exactly reciprocating the interest; alternatively, he has apparently been offered to a Napoli side he does not particularly fancy.
According to The Sun, though, Ronaldo could now stay put at Old Trafford – doing so of his own accord.
Casemiro, Antony deals could persuade Cristiano Ronaldo
The report claims Ronaldo has been impressed by Manchester United’s spending in recent weeks. After signing Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez earlier in the summer, they have recently added to the ranks with his former Real Madrid colleague, Casemiro.
What’s more, a deal for Ajax winger Antony has been agreed, showing the level of spending the club can commit to after all. Their summer splurge has broken the £200million barrier.
The Sun suggest Manchester United think they have proven their ambition to their number seven. And with no out-and-out striker arriving as of yet this summer, their stance could remain to keep him.
Their hope now – in fact, belief – is that Ronaldo will buy into the project they are building.
BRIGHTON BATTLE FOR BILLY GILMOUR
Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour is being targeted for a permanent transfer by Brighton and Hove Albion.
According to the Daily Mail, Brighton are keen on the Scotland international. However, it is clear they cannot sign him on loan; they already have another player on those terms from Chelsea after bringing in Levi Colwill.
That does not seem to have put off Brighton from the potential risk of buying Gilmour after a disappointing stint with Norwich City. Rather, they see the benefits of bringing the former Rangers academy product to the Amex Stadium.
It is not yet clear how much they may have to pay for Gilmour. His contract with Chelsea was extended until 2024 earlier in the summer.
But Brighton – who finished in the top half of the Premier League last season – are establishing themselves as potential bidders ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.
They lost Yves Bissouma from their midfield earlier this summer to Tottenham Hotspur. Perhaps Gilmour could help fill the void, joining the likes of Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Enock Mwepu among their midfield options.
PALTRY LEICESTER BUDGET AFTER FOFANA SALE REVEALED
Brendan Rodgers has discovered Leicester City will only reinvest one third of the transfer fee they receive for Wesley Fofana into new signings.
Fofana is on the verge of a transfer to Chelsea, having undergone his medical checks. He will leave a significant void in the Leicester defence, although they are trying to sign Wout Faes to replace him.
Leicester have been holding out for a record fee for a defender for Fofana, given his potential. Hence, they could receive a significant windfall from Chelsea, worth an initial £70million. The total fee could eclipse £80million with add-ons.
But according to the Daily Telegraph, Rodgers will only be able to reinvest one third of the initial £70million sum into arrivals of Leicester’s own.
Hence, his remaining budget for the final few days of the transfer window will be around £23million. There have been estimations that Faes will take up around £15million of that.
Therefore, a quiet transfer window for Leicester, which has only seen them sign goalkeeper Alex Smithies on a free, could conclude in similarly uneventful fashion.
