Man Utd transfer news: Schweinsteiger in Deadline Day stand-off
United try to offload unwanted German on a free transfer, but he wants to stay - latest Man Utd transfer news and gossip
Man Utd transfer news: Oxlade-Chamberlain is shock target
26 April
He's been injured for so long that Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has taken to wrong-footing the papers rather than his footballing opponents, as rumours fly about his future.
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It was at the weekend that stories emerged linking the 22-year-old to West Ham, with the Hammers said to be lining up a move for the injury-prone Gunner who's been firing blanks for months.
But now The Sun claims that Oxlade-Chamberlain is "a shock summer transfer target" for Manchester United. Quoting broadcaster ESPN, the tabloid says that sources close to the Ox have let slip that he's being stalked by the Red Devils. What's more, Arsenal "are prepared to cash in" on the player while his stock is still high, even if that means selling to one of their fiercest rivals.
The Sun doesn't hazard a guess as to what United are willing to pay Arsenal for Oxlade-Chamberlain but it's believed the north Londoners asking price is around £25m.
And another youngster believed to be on United's radar is Adam Ounas. Described by Talksport as a "Bordeaux teen sensation", the 19-year-old midfielder has been on fire this season and has scored six goals in 25 matches. Talksport reports that United scouts have been on his tail since early January, as have Monaco, but apparently Bordeaux have no intention of selling Ounas to a fellow Ligue 1 outfit.
Man Utd transfer news: Game over for lazy Memphis Depay
25 April
Memphis could soon be singing the blues according to The Sun, which claims that Manchester United "look set to offload controversial Dutchman Memphis Depay".
The young winger arrived at Old Trafford last summer from PSV Eindhoven in a £25m move but things haven't worked out for the 22-year-old and the Sun reveals that United are now "looking at other clubs who would take a punt on him for a cut-down price".
It's an open secret that both Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs have had words with Depay this season about his underwhelming performances, and now it appears the pair have run out of patience. With just two goals to his name, Depay may be sold back to PSV, who are said to be mulling over such a move for the player who scored 22 goals for them last season.
They may have reached the FA Cup Final on Saturday with their last-minute win over Everton but it wasn't all good news for United over the weekend. According to the Daily Star the Red Devils have suffered a "huge blow" in their pursuit of Benfica ace Renato Sanches with Real Madrid joining the chase for the midfield magician.
The Star says that United have been monitoring the teenager for six months and a bid for the 18-year-old is going to be tabled as soon as the summer transfer window opens. But the Spanish press reports that Real gaffer Zinedine Zidane is confident he can lure Sanches to the Bernabeu, particularly as Real are willing to meet Benfica's mammoth £46.8m asking price while United are "reluctant" to do so.
To complicate things further, the Sunday Times believes that Manchester City may also join the hunt for Sanches with the club's interest "being driven by Pep Guardiola". The incoming City manager recently described Sanches "as one of the best young players in Europe, for his dynamism and personality".
Finally the Daily Express says that United have definitely lost out in their plan to prise Andre Gomes from Valencia. The 22-year-old was said to be close to agreeing terms with United, thanks to his agent Jorge Mendes, but it seems the sacking of Gary Neville has changed the situation and with the Old Trafford connection gone, Juventus have sneaked in and "signed him in a deal worth £23m for next season."
Man Utd transfer news: Joao Mario hint, but no Cristiano Ronaldo
22 April
Portugal midfielder Joao Mario has been making eyes at Manchester United, reports The Sun, claiming that the 23-year-old Sporting Lisbon ace has given the Red Devils a "major boost" in their ambition to land the midfielder.
Rumours emerged at the weekend that Mario and team-mate William Carvalho were both on United's wishlist and scouts were seen in the stands when Sporting played Moreirense last week. The Sun says that when Mario was asked about rumours linking him to United, he replied: “The league I like the most and I've always liked the most is the English league." Though he wouldn't be drawn on the likelihood of a move to Old Trafford, the Sun believes that Mario's words were nothing short of a come-and-get-me plea.
Talking of hints, website Goal.com says another United target has intimated that he could be open to a move to England.
Mauro Icardi "has been heavily linked" with a move away from San Siro next month and United, Chelsea and Arsenal have all been loitering in the background. According to Goal.com the frontman has backtracked on a previous promise to remain in Italy and "has now opened the door to a potential exit, should an acceptable bid be tabled".
Finally, the Daily Star slams shut once and for all any hopes United retained of enticing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford. Citing media outlet Don Balon as their source, the Star says that Real Madrid "have prepared a bumper deal to keep their star at the Bernabeu". How bumper? Brace yourselves, but according to the Star Ronaldo will receive "£15.8m-per-year to remain in La Liga."
Man Utd transfer news: Crunch talks for flop Memphis Depay
20 April
It's the time of year when "crunch talks" are held and according to The Sun that that could spell trouble for Manchester United flop Memphis Depay.
The Dutch winger arrived at Old Trafford in a £25m move from PSV Eindhoven last summer but the Sun claims that both Louis van Gaal and his assistant, Ryan Giggs, feel that Depay "has lost his way" in recent months. Indeed it has been claimed that Giggs, in particular, is "in despair" over his attitude.
That has led to rumours that Depay could be headed to Spain but the Sun says there is still hope for the winger, and adds that United are "prepared to be patient" in the hope he will come good next season.
There is rarely much good news from Barcelona, when it comes to the Premier League, and United will not be pleased to hear that the Catalan club have joined the hunt for Matts Hummels.
The Borussia Dortmund captain is said to be high up on the Old Trafford shopping list but according to German rag Bild - and processed by Talksport - Barcelona are determined to sign the German centre-back.
Barcelona have suffered something of an implosion of late and apparently the board are going to overhaul the squad in the summer in a significant rebuilding process. Talksport says Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique could both be on their way out of the Camp Nou with Hummels prised from Dortmund with a big money offer.
The Daily Star reports that United scouts were in Italy on Saturday, taking notes on Amadou Diawara's performance in Bologna's 1-0 defeat to Torino. The 18-year-old midfielder has been linked with a posse of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea, and while Bologna want to hang on to Diawara the Star says they "may be willing to cash in if they receive an offer in the region of £23m".
Finally, Caughtoffside brings news from the Italian paper Corriere dello Sport that United are "the frontrunners" to land Lazio defensive midfielder Lucas Biglia. With Michael Carrick poised to leave Old Trafford next month after ten years of service, the club are known to be in the hunt for a reliable replacement and its said they have agreed to meet the Italian club's £20m asking price.
Man Utd transfer news: Scouts watch Carvalho and Mario
19 April
Jose Mourinho is not the only Portuguese being linked with Manchester United at the moment and, according to Talksport, Sporting Lisbon pair Joao Mario and Wiliam Carvalho are wanted at Old Trafford.
The broadcaster claims the Red Devils despatched some of their scouts to Portugal at the weekend to report back on the duo.
Despite the uncertainty over who will be in charge at Old Trafford next season, it is clear that the United midfield needs freshening up with Talksport saying that Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini are "expected to depart" next month.
Carvalho was linked with a move to Arsenal 12 months ago but Portuguese paper A Bola reports that United are now chasing the holding midfielder.
As for Mario, Atletico Madrid are known to have made enquiries about the 23-year-old playmaker but Sporting's demand of £48m for his services has deterred the Spaniards.
Talksport says that United scouts were "impressed with the duo" during Sporting's win over Moreirense and a double offer is expected to be made in the summer.
Man Utd transfer news: £95m for Higuain, Rashford to stay
18 April
Will Jose Mourinho be heading to Old Trafford this summer? It remains a matter of intense speculation with The Sun claiming that he's all but agreed terms with Manchester United, while the Daily Star would have us believe that the Special One is poised to replace Roberto Martinez at Everton.
If it is the former, then according to the Sun one of Mourinho's first moves will be for Napoli’s prolific striker Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine has been linked with most of the Premier League powerhouses in the past year but his £95m price tag has put paid to most of their aspirations. But the Sun says Mourinho will persuade United chief executive Ed Woodward to splash the cash and bring the South American to Old Trafford.
There is news for the United faithful with Metro reporting that Red Devils revelation Marcus Rashford is "ready to increase his salary ten times by signing a new contract". Rumours emerged last week that the 18-year-old could be sold by United despite his sensational form in recent weeks, but Metro says that Rashford is ready to accept the club's "bumper offer of around £13,800-a-week after negotiations were initially stalled".
Talking of youngsters, the Daily Star says that United have moved a step closer to landing 20-year-old Ajax ace Kenny Tete after the defender rejected a contract offer from the Dutch club. Juventus have also been linked with Tete but the Star predicts that United will win the race to sign the precocious blocker.
Man Utd transfer news: Will Marcus Rashford move to Italy?
15 April
It's the news that every United fan is dreading - and we're not talking about a contract extension for Louis van Gaal. According to the Daily Star Marcus Rashford could be offloaded to Fiorentina in what the paper describes as a "shock swap deal".
Apparently the Italian outfit have been so impressed by the 18-year-old striker, who scored a sensational goal in Wednesday's FA Cup defeat of West Ham, that they have told United they want him in exchange for 22-year-old Federico Bernardeschi.
The Red Devils have long been tailing Bernardeschi and the Florence-based daily paper, La Nazione, says that the Old Trafford club could use Rashford "as a makeweight to land the Italian winger".
The Star goes along with the somewhat fantastical claim, saying that United recently offered £22m for Bernardeschi and are so desperate to land him they're giving serious thought to packing off Rashford.
And it's not just the Star that harbours fears for Rashford's future. The Sun claims that Rashford "is being kept waiting over a new United contract" and has yet to meet executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to discuss a new deal when his existing contract ends in 14 months. The youngster picks up a basic wage of just £1,500 plus a £5,000 bonus for each appearance, and this may leave him susceptible to a big money offer from abroad.
An Old Trafford old timer could be on his way to Everton this summer with the Sun reporting that Everton "plan to step up their efforts to sign Michael Carrick" at the end of the season.
Arsenal were at one stage linked with the 34-year-old midfielder, and there were also reports earlier in the year that the former England star could head across the Pond to the MLS, but apparently the Toffees are stuck on Carrick. There's still no sign of a contract extension from United and Carrick knows that he needs to sort out his future before the end of the season.
According to the Sun Everton's biggest challenge will come from West Ham with the Hammers "considering offering a one-year deal" to bring Carrick back to the club where he started out way back in 1999. But Everton boss Roberto Martinez believes Carrick could play an important role for the club in the next season or two, and the prospect of remaining in the north-west appeals to the veteran because it would entail less disruption for his young family.
Man Utd transfer news: No Gomez but Ibrahimovic move 'on'
14 April
It's a sign of Manchester United's recent decline that they look like losing out to Besiktas in their bid to sign Mario Gomez. According to the Daily Express, the Turkish outfit are bullish in their belief that they will turn the German striker's loan spell with them into a permanent deal in the summer.
The 30-year-old Gomez was farmed out to Besiktas by Fiorentina and his 21 league goals this season have underlined his status as a hitman of the highest order. The Express says that United want "to hijack Besiktas' plans to sign him" in the summer but the Turks have different ideas with board member Metin Albayrak declaring: "We are going to hold talks with Mario before Euro 2016 and he will be a Besiktas player before the tournament."
Eighteen-year-old Marcus Rashford proved that there are already strikers at Old Trafford as he helped United past West Ham on Wednesday night and into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, but rumours continue to circulate that the Red Devils may turn to the 34-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic next season. The Guardian carries comments made by the PSG striker when asked what he intends to do when his contract with the French champions expires next month.
"I have had lots of offers from English clubs," he replied. "I have won a lot of trophies but I still want to win a lot more." Though he didn't specify which clubs, Metro claims that "United are the bookies' favourites" to sign the veteran sharpshooter, noting that Sky Bet have cut the odds of this transfer to 3/1, "putting the Red Devils ahead of other Premier League clubs"
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