A major midfield addition will force two Man Utd players out this summer, while Real Madrid are preparing to test Chelsea’s resolve with a £90m raid for a player they cannot afford to lose – both in Monday’s Euro Paper Talk.
ONE IN, TWO OUT OF MAN UTD MIDFIELD
Man Utd have drafted a three-man shortlist of midfield targets, with whoever they sign poised to force a homegrown player and a £35m flop out, per reports.
All eyes will be on who Man Utd sign to lead their line next season. A new centre-forward is known to be their top priority, though according to the Athletic, is not the only position that will be addressed.
They claim a new No 8 (box-to-box midfielder) is wanted, while an attacking upgrade at right-back is third on the agenda.
Regarding the midfielder pursuit, the Manchester Evening News previously reported Jude Bellingham and Frenkie de Jong were in United’s sights.
A fresh report from the Daily Mail reiterates the Dortmund and Barcelona talismans are indeed wanted at Old Trafford, though add the name of Declan Rice to the mix too.
Rice looks primed to leave West Ham this summer with the Hammers understood to be resigned internally to losing their star man.
The 24-year-old has rejected multiple offers to extend his stay with the club. The latest and most lucrative offer would’ve seen him pocket £200,000-a-week.
Arsenal and Chelsea are known admirers of Rice, though they’ve now been joined by Man Utd.
All three of Rice, Bellingham and De Jong will be difficult to sign, not least because of the size of the fees they’ll cost.
Competition for Rice will come from Arsenal and Chelsea, while Bellingham is Liverpool’s primary target this summer. The teenage sensation is also on Man City and Real Madrid’s radar.
United may be the only club seriously exploring a move for De Jong, but the issue there lays in the player’s continued desire to remain at Barcelona.
Regardless, in the event United are able to lure one of the trio to Old Trafford, two current stars could make way.
McTominay, Van de Beek facing the axe
A report out of Spain puts £35m flop Donny van de Beek in the sights of Inter Milan.
They claim the Dutchman’s misery in Manchester will conclude at season’s end and if Inter sell Marcelo Brozovic this summer, a move for Van de Beek could quickly take shape.
Elsewhere, the Mail echo the growing claims Scott McTominay will be ousted this summer.
Newcastle are the primary candidate to bring his 21-year affiliation with Man Utd to an end. Indeed, after seeing an approach for the Scot rejected in January, the Mail add they’re ‘expected to try again’ six months on.
McTominay has tumbled down the pecking order this term thanks in large part to moves sanctioned by Ten Hag.
Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are the manager’s preferred midfield pairing when fit. January loanee Marcel Sabitzer has also been favoured over McTominay, while Fred can always be relied upon to do the dirty work in midfield.
If Sabitzer is signed outright and one of Bellingham, Rice or De Jong joins too, both McTominay and Van de Beek could be axed.
CHELSEA UNDER ATTACK FROM REAL MADRID
Real Madrid are prepared to offer £90m to snatch Reece James from Chelsea. However, the Blues are ‘confident’ he’ll stay after James signed a deal running until 2028 in September. (Football Insider)
Liverpool are weighing up a move for electric Athletic Bilbao winger, Nico Williams. The 20-year-old is also on Aston Villa’s radar and his current deal contains a €50m release clause. (AS)
Arsenal hopes of landing either Ferran Torres or Raphinha from Barcelona this summer have been dashed. The LaLiga giant will not part with either player in 2023. (Football Espana)
Newcastle could lodge a second approach for Lyon sensation Rayan Cherki this summer having failed to lure him to England in January. Competition for the 19-year-old attacker will come from PSG. (L’Equipe)
Bayern Munich have zero intention of triggering Joao Cancelo’s €70m buy option. However, the Man City star may still move to Bavaria outright if Bayern can negotiate a lower fee over the summer. (Fabrizio Romano)
Liverpool plan to loan out luckless right-back Calvin Ramsay next season. The Scotland international’s first campaign since joining from Aberdeen has been ravaged by injury. (The Sun)
NAGELSMANN PICKS BETWEEN CHELSEA, TOTTENHAM
Chelsea are the “preferred” destination between they and Tottenham for recently axed Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann. (BILD)
However, Chelsea are casting a wider net and Frankfurt’s Oliver Glasner is the second of three names on their managerial shortlist (Nagelsmann and one more as yet unnamed manager). (Christian Falk of BILD)
Man Utd have held ‘exploratory talks’ with Bayern Munich and France right-back, Benjamin Pavard. If signed, he’d replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka. (The Athletic)
Real Madrid want either Jude Bellingham or Gabri Veiga added to their midfield ranks this summer. Los Blancos are prepared to fork out €150m to beat Liverpool and Man City to Bellingham. (Marca and Diario AS)
Newcastle look set to lose out to Borussia Dortmund over the free agent signing of Daichi Kamada. The Japanese attacking midfielder will leave Frankfurt when his contract expires at season’s end. (Fabrizio Romano)
Everton have slapped a colossal £70m asking price on Arsenal and Chelsea-linked midfielder, Amadou Onana. However, their bargaining position will be significantly weakened if they’re relegated. (Football Insider)
PSG THREATEN MAN UTD STRIKER DEAL
PSG are determined to beat Man Utd to the signing of Victor Osimhen having installed him as their No 1 summer transfer target. (RMC Sport)
Leicester have compiled a four-man shortlist of Brendan Rodgers successors. The quartet are Rafael Benitez, Jesse Marsch, Ralph Hasenhuttl and Adi Hutter (most recently of Borussia Mönchengladbach). (Daily Mail)
Man City’s reluctance to hand Ilkay Gundogan more than a one-year extension could see him join Barcelona. Xavi’s side are willing to stretch to a two-year deal for the impending free agent. (The Sun)
Man Utd will be allowed to forge a permanent deal for Marcel Sabitzer this summer. New Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel won’t stand in Sabitzer’s way, though a deal will have to be negotiated from scratch given his loan doesn’t contain a buy option. (Sport1)
Former Liverpool favourite, Georginio Wijnaldum, has two months to prove his worth at Roma or face being sent back to PSG where he’s unlikely to feature. Wijnaldum’s season-long loan has been heavily disrupted by injury. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)
