Man Utd transfer window 2015: from Memphis to Martial
Van Gaal did good business early in the summer, but the window closed amid confusion over De Gea and an unheard of teenager
Man Utd transfer news: £27m bid for Ramos as De Gea frets
30 June
Manchester United have tabled a £28.6m bid for unhappy Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, while wantaway goalkeeper David de Gea, tipped to be heading in the other direction has been ordered to return to Manchester for pre-season training.
The Daily Star is bullish about United's chances of pulling off the transfer says that the Spanish defender is "unhappy at the club and United want to give him a way out".
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Rumours have been strengthening in recent days that a deal was in the offing and the Star says United have made their first official approach even though they know Real are reluctant to sell Ramos. Nonetheless the club is aware of the 29-year-old's disquiet with life at the Bernabeu, particularly concerning contract negotiations over a new deal.
The Star says Ramos is "looking at one last payday" before he enters the twilight of his career but the paper surmises that United might have to up their offer if they're to get their man.
The move for Ramos does not involve David de Gea, the Spanish goalkeeper who was expected to move from Manchester to Madrid this summer. And the stopper is getting increasingly antsy about his future, says the Daily Mirror, which reports that he has been ordered to report for pre-season training with United.
"De Gea had hoped his transfer to Real would have been done by now, but the Spanish giants are refusing to pay United’s £25m asking price," says the paper. But it leaves the 24-year-old in an awkward situation. "De Gea said his goodbyes to some staff at Old Trafford at the end of last season and does not want the embarrassment of having to face them again with his move to Real Madrid still up in the air."
Meanwhile, the London Evening Standard claims that United have got next to no chance of signing Bastian Schweinsteiger. Speculation has been mounting in recent weeks that the Bayern Munich ace could move to Old Trafford this summer, but the 30-year-old midfielder pooh-poohed that idea. "I feel good and I'm ready to play for the next three years," he said when asked about his feelings towards Bayern Munich.
Then again, one can never be too sure of anything in the topsy-turvy world of Transfer Talk, and the Daily Mirror has a different take on the Schweinsteiger saga. Noting that the strapping German was at Wimbledon yesterday, the paper said the "Manchester United speculation continues" as a result.
It did add, however, that the main reason Schweinsteiger was at the tennis was to watch girlfriend Ana Ivanovic in action.
Man Utd transfer news: deal for Schneiderlin, Cillessen next
29 June
The papers seem agreed that Manchester United have struck a deal with Southampton for Morgan Schneiderlin. According to the Daily Mirror the Frenchman will be unveiled as a United player on Wednesday when the summer transfer window officially opens. Apparently United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward finalised the move when he met the French midfielder's agent in Paris on Friday to agree personal terms.
The Daily Star says that United were given a clear run at the 25-year-old when Arsenal pulled out of the race of sign him because they "didn't consider him value for money". Reporting that Schneiderlin has agreed a four-year contract with the Old Trafford club, the Star says that Arsenal seriously considered making a play for Schneiderlin but that the Saints' "£25m fee was deemed too steep". In addition Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that the emergence of Francis Coquelin last season lessens the need for a player of Schneiderlin's capabilities.
Meanwhile the Star also says that Manchester United are "willing to offer" Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain – in a straight exchange for Edinson Cavani. According to the Star the United board do not want to sell the 27-year-old Di Maria to either Barcelona or Bayern "amid fears he will prove an instant hit for their rivals". Instead Di Maria, who cost United a British record of £59.7m 12 months ago, will be offered to PSG. In return, if all goes according to plan, United will take delivery of Cavani from the French champions. The Uruguayan forward has been linked with Arsenal for much of the year but it looks like the Gunners will now miss out on the South American sharpshooter.
Meanwhile, both the Mirror and Star agree that having wrapped up the signing of Schneiderlin, United boss Louis van Gaal will now turn his attention to Jasper Cillessen. The 26-year-old goalkeeper is currently on the books of Ajax but Van Gaal will make a £20m move for his compatriot as soon as the transfer window opens. Though United are playing hardball with Real Madrid over the fee for David De Gea, the club is resigned to losing the Spanish shotstopper in the summer and have identified Cillessen as the man to replace him between the sticks next season.
Over at Sky Sports, there are rumours doing the rounds that United are "interested in signing defender Seamus Coleman from Everton". Though no offer has yet been made to the Toffees, the Republic of Ireland star's reliability has not gone unnoticed by Van Gaal, who is known to be worried by a position that was filled by Antonio Valencia last season without much success.
United might also be worried to read claims in the Mirror that Manchester City "are looking to take advantage" of United's stand-off with Real Madrid over the transfer of Sergio Ramos. United have already had two bids rejected by Real, who are demanding £64m for the defender, and the Mirror claims that City are "monitoring" the situation and may meet the Spanish club's asking price.
Man Utd transfer news: Ramos deal does not involve De Gea
25 June
Manchester United are serious about poaching Spanish defender Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, and want him to play alongside keeper David de Gea at Old Trafford.
The Daily Mirror claims that United have offered Real Madrid £30m in cash for Ramos, and explains that the move does not involve goalkeeper De Gea, who was widely expected to head in the opposite direction if any deal was to go through.
Real remain hopeful of landing the United goalkeeper but in the interim it looks like Ramos could be heading in the other direction with the Mirror reporting that the 29-year-old centre-back has "asked Real officials to consider the offer and open talks with United".
So desperate are the Red Devils to land Turkish playmaker Arda Turan that they'll cough up £29m for the Atletico Madrid star.
The startling claim comes from Metro with the paper quoting Italian journal Gazzetta dello Sport as the source of its story. Turan is said to be keen on a move to Old Trafford and Metro says he has "a £29.1m release clause in his current contract". Apparently United boss Louis van Gaal has identified Turan as a player who can fit into his style and the Dutchman is confident he will beat both AC Milan and PSG to the talented Turk's hand.
Man Utd transfer news: United hunt Ramos and Schweinsteiger
22 June
Manchester United have made an audacious bid to poach defender Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, in return for goalkeeper David de Gea, and are also hunting German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The 29-year-old central defender is a key figure at the Bernabeu and has a £128m buy out clause in his contract, according to The Guardian, but he only has two years left on his contract "and United are believed to think they have a chance of signing Ramos without having to meet that figure."
Ramos has been at Real Madrid for ten years and has made more than 400 appearances for Los Blancos, and has also been a mainstay in the all-conquering Spanish team, with 128 caps for his country.
Madrid have been caught off guard by United's demand after trying to lure goalkeeper De Gea away from Old Trafford, says the Guardian. Representatives from the two clubs met last week.
"Madrid remain convinced they will eventually sign De Gea, who has one year left on his contract and wants to return to Spain, and anticipated a meeting that would be a formality. Instead they met a counter-bid: you want De Gea, we want Ramos."
If Ramos left Madrid it would be a "shock" says the Daily Telegraph, which notes that the 29-year-old defender is a senior dressing room figure and a media darling.
Politics at the Bernabeu can be a murky business, adds the paper, noting that Ronaldo used United to get a better contract offer from the club two years ago. But "the signs are that Ramos is serious in his intent on leaving Real if a deal can be offered to him and he is attracted by the possibility of moving to United".
Landing 31-year-old Schweinsteiger would be less of a coup, says the Telegraph. He has become a less influential figure at Bayern and is believed to be available for transfer for less than £10m.
"He represents the kind of dominating central midfielder that Van Gaal has targeted as his key signing this summer as he re-shapes his squad ahead of what has to be a stronger title challenge by United and a return to Champions League football next season."
The ages of the two players means they will not have much re-sale value "but the club are determined to sign players who can go straight into their team and have a significant influence".
Man Utd transfer news: Bale and Kane rule out moves
19 June
Gareth Bale has given his clearest indication yet that he won't be heading to Old Trafford this summer. The Daily Star reports that the Welsh winger has been modelling the new Adidas Real Madrid strip and he used the occasion to speak "of his desire" to remain at the Bernabeu next season.
"New kit, new season! Looking forward to meeting up with these boys @SergioRamos @MarceloM12 @Cristiano @Benzema," tweeted Bale on Thursday evening along with a picture of himself and some of his Madrid team-mates in the Adidas outfits. The Star says his message is a blow to United who have been linked with a "massive £80m bid" for the Wales star.
The paper says that new Real boss Rafa Benitez is a "big admirer of Bale" and will entrust him with greater responsibility next season.
And according to BBC Sport, United won't be getting their hands on Harry Kane any time soon. The England striker, who scored 31 goals for Spurs in all competitions last season - earning him the PFA Young Player of Year award – has been mooted as a possible United target this summer. But asked about the likelihood of a move to Old Trafford, Kane replied: "I am happy at Spurs and I look forward to the future with Spurs."
Describing United's interest in him as "flattering", the 21-year-old Kane nonetheless rubbished suggestions he should leave the Lane for a so-called big club. "Tottenham are one of the big clubs," he replied. "That is the way people have to see it. I am at a big club."
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