Man Utd transfer window 2015: from Memphis to Martial

Man Utd transfer news: Brazil forward Firmino 'agrees deal'

16 June

The agent of Hoffenheim forward Roberto Firmino has confirmed that the 23-year-old will be plying his trade in England next season. Roger Wittmann didn't specify which club would have the honour of employing the striker but the safe money is on Manchester United, who have long been linked with the Brazilian international.

"All I can say is that he's moving to England," Wittmann told German rag Bild. The youngster is currently playing for his country in the Copa America and therefore, claims Talksport "it may take a while before a deal is announced". But the broadcaster is convinced it will be to Old Trafford that Firminio heads, with the fee likely to be between £18m and £21.7m, which would make it a record deal for Hoffenheim.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Meanwhile the Daily Mirror reports that United "have been told they must pay the full £35m release clause" if they wish to land Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia. Louis van Gaal is said to be a keen admirer of the Argentine Otamendi and the feeling is mutual with the South American defender having told Valencia "of his desire to leave". They for their part are adamant he won't go unless the full release clause is honoured, which could be an issue. According to the Mirror the Red Devils "want to pay a maximum of £25m" for Otamendi, but such is their determination to sign the 27-year-old they are expected to raise their bid to meet Valencia's evaluation.

Man Utd transfer news: Martinez battle looms, Firmino deal is on

12 June

Everyone wants a piece of Jackson Martinez at the moment. Arsenal, who were thought to be favourites to sign the striker this summer, are smarting from the news that Man City are also interested in the player, but they now have to contend with claims that Man United are also joining the chase.

According to Metro, Louis van Gaal is "set to hijack Arsenal's transfer move" for Martinez. The paper says they will offer him £56,000-a-week and are confident a deal will be reached.

And the paper clearly has its pulse on the goings in at Old Trafford, as it claims that United have "reached a deal worth £13.1m" for Hoffenheim midfielder Roberto Firmino.

The Brazilian ace has plumped for United before Liverpool, who were also tracking the 23-year-old, declares Metro. Firmino was first linked to Old Trafford last year and according to media reports coming out of Brazil, terms have been agreed and an official announcement will made early next month.

Man Utd transfer news: is Bale key to De Gea Madrid switch?

11 June

Has David De Gea reached a decision on his future? The Manchester United goalkeeper declared last month that he would mull over his options on holiday and according to Spanish newspaper Marca he's done just that and decided to return to Spain.

In reporting Marca's comments, Talksport says that "De Gea has made up his mind" that he will leave Old Trafford in a deal that will net United £18m "with add-ons set to increase the transfer by an additional £3.5m based on performances".

The 24-year-old will be the first signing of Rafael Benitez's era and the Real manager is expected to officially announce the transfer when the window officially opens in July.

But might it be that simple? According to the Evening Standard, United will only sell De Gea if Real are prepared to offload Gareth Bale. The Welshman has been rumoured to be unsettled in the Spanish capital and the Standard says that while publicly he's going nowhere the possibility that Bale will form part of the transaction which sees David de Gea move is "not entirely out of the question".

United have already rejected Real's suggestion of taking Karim Benzema as part of the De Gea deal but they would be willing to do business if Bale's thrown into the bargain.

Meanwhile have one of United's sponsors let the cat out of the bag? The Manchester Evening News reports that Bwin, the Red Devil's 'official online gaming and betting partner' took to twitter on Wednesday to welcome Ilkay Gundogan to Old Trafford. According to the MEN the tweet "was deleted moments later, but not before it caused a stir among United fans on Twitter".

The 24-year-old German midfielder is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer after knocking back a contract extension and United have long been linked with Gundogan, along with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. But Bwin's bullish tweet suggest Gundogan is going to be at United next season.

Man Utd transfer news: Cavani or Higuain to replace Van Persie

9 June

Paris Saint Germain striker Edinson Cavani is the player Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal wants to partner Wayne Rooney next season. According to the Daily Star, a big money bid is being lined up for the Uruguayan with United ready to offload Robin van Persie in order to free up space in the Old Trafford dressing room.

Van Persie, who turns 33 in August, has one year left on his contract and is looking increasingly surplus to requirements at United as injury and old age take their toll. Nonetheless the Star claims Italian champions Juventus are “believed to be lining up a £10m bid” for the former Arsenal striker. They want van Persie as a replacement for Carloz Tevez, who is being linked with PSG and Liverpool.

If Tevez does go to PSG then the French champions will happily sell United Cavani. The Star says that Cavani would cost United in the region of £60m, a manageable sum for the Red Devils, who have apparently got a £200m summer war chest.

But could United be about to unveil another striker? Metro believes that Gonzalo Higuain is about to move to Old Trafford and has even agreed terms with the Argentine.

The Napoli striker is set to quit the Serie A club this summer, and Metro announces that, according to reports in Italy, United have agreed a contract with Higuain for him to move to Old Trafford once the small matter of a transfer fee has been sorted out.

Man United transfer news: De Gea deal hinges on Benzema

08 June

Real Madrid will increase their efforts to strengthen their squad ahead of next season, after being forced to watch their hated rivals Barcelona win the Champions League and claim a historic treble. And according to the Daily Star, one of their first moves will be to offer Manchester United Karim Benzema as part of a deal that will see them take goalkeeper David De Gea to the Bernabeu.

The Star, taking Spanish rag AS as its source, says that thus far United boss Louis van Gaal is "playing hardball in negotiations" with the Spaniards. Apparently he's told Real that the 24-year-old gloveman is not for sale and that "he could even force De Gea to stay another year at Old Trafford". But the Star says United could change their tune if Real to throw Benzema into any potential deal. The French striker has been linked to Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks but it looks like he could be heading to Manchester next season.

But according to the Daily Express the player's agent, Karim Djaziri, insists that Benzema is going nowhere. "I haven't met with any club," he told Spanish paper Marca. "Not with United and not with anyone else... He's happy in Madrid. He doesn't want to leave."

Meanwhile Metro claims that United target Nicolas Otamendi has "held crunch talks with Valencia officials to push through his £36.4m transfer" to Old Trafford. The Argentine centre-back was first linked to United last month and the Metro says Otamendi is so "desperate" to join the Red Devils that he's taken matters into his own hands.

But according to Spanish source Fichajes, Valencia will only listen to offers if they meet their valuation of £36.4m. But if the Metro is to be believed Van Gaal is increasingly confident "of pushing through a deal in the coming weeks".