Man Utd transfer news: Schweinsteiger in Deadline Day stand-off

Man Utd transfer news: Gareth Bale sparks City war, Giggs in despair

13 April

Bale is coming back and there's a battle royal brewing in Manchester. According to The Sun Welsh wizard Gareth Bale is angling for a move out of Real Madrid and City and United "are ready to go to war this summer".

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The paper claims that the 26-year-old former Tottenham star is not happy since Zinedine Zidane replaced Rafa Benitez as coach. Why? Because he's "been forced back to the wings" by the Frenchman and as a result he wants to leave the Bernabeu and head to a club where he'll once again be given a more central role.

The Sun says that Zidane is relaxed about releasing Bale because he's already lined up Chelsea's Eden Hazard as his replacement, and all that remains is for the two Manchester clubs to slug it out for Bale's signature. Of course, the Welshman won't come cheap and the Sun says whichever club wins the battle will have done so by offering the Spanish giants "an eye-watering fee".

Meanwhile Metro reports that Ryan Giggs has "lost all faith in £25m Dutch winger Memphis Depay". United's assistant manager allegedly had a word with Depay about his attitude earlier in the season, but the Dutchman has failed to pull up his socks and as a result Metro says his days could be numbered at Old Trafford. With Giggs said to be in "despair" with Depay, United will listen to offers this summer and put the money made on his sale into their bid for Bale.

Man Utd transfer news: £35m to 'hijack' Kostas Manolas

12 April

With the Red Devils defence leakier than a Panamanian law firm, might Kostas Manolas be the answer to their prayers? The Sun believes so, the paper claiming that United intend to "hijack the chase" for the Roma centre-back who has been linked to both Arsenal and Chelsea in recent weeks.

The 24-year-old Greek defender has developed into one of Serie A's stoutest blockers and according to the Sun he was on Jose Mourinho's radar long before he got the boot from the Bridge last year. But with the Special One rumoured to be favourite to replace Louis van Gaal at the Old Trafford helm in the summer, the paper claims that Mourinho will relaunch his pursuit of Manolas.

As United demonstrated in losing 3-0 to Tottenham on Sunday, their defence is in disarray and Roma will exploit their plight by demanding no less than £35m for Manolas.

And if Mourinho does ease himself into the Old Trafford hotseat might he soon be going head-to-head with his arch rival Arsene Wenger in the tussle to sign Benfica star Renato Sanches? According to the Daily Star the Gunners are "looking to beat Man United to the £60m international star", having heard that the Red Devils are stalling over the fee demanded by the Portuguese club.

United are reportedly ready to offer just £40m for the 18-year-old playmaker and that could leave the door open for Arsenal to nip in and sign Sanches if they stump up the asking price.

Is United's interest in Sanches the reason Michael Carrick remains "in limbo" over his future at Old Trafford? The Daily Mail claims that the 34-year-old midfielder, now in his 11th year at the club, is "unsure where his future lies". His contract expires at the end of the season and the Mail says that with no new offer on the table Carrick could head Stateside and end his days in the MLS.

Talking of ageing players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's future is once more under the spotlight with Sky Sports claiming that the 34-year-old PSG striker is open to a move to United "but only if Louis van Gaal leaves the club this summer". The broadcaster adds that the Swede has received a £56m offer from a Chinese Super Club but he could snub that for a deal with United though only under his terms.

Man Utd transfer news: Van Gaal goes cold on Zlatan Ibrahimovic

11 April

Has Zlatan Ibrahimovic's sloppy performance against Manchester City cost him the chance of moving to Old Trafford next season? The Daily Mirror believes so, and claims that United boss Louis van Gaal will "snub any opportunity to sign" the stringy Swedish sharpshooter in the summer even though the club is in desperate need of goals as Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Tottenham showed.

Zlatan missed a penalty and a couple of sitters in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-2 Champions League draw with City last week, and that's apparently convinced Van Gaal that his best days are behind him.

Arsenal and West Ham have also been linked with the 34-year-old in recent weeks, but reports in the French media on Sunday suggested that Ibrahimovic will see out his career in Paris with the club's Qatari owners ready to offer him €50m next season if he extends his contract for a final year.

Talking of PSG, the future of their Brazilian defender Marquinhos has created some excitement in the British press over the weekend with claims that he is frustrated in the French capital with his lack of game time. According to the Mirror, United and Arsenal are both circling although they'll need to table bids well in excess of £25m if they're to get their hands on Marquinhos.

Man Utd transfer news: £20m battle with Arsenal for N'Golo Kante

08 April

Who's the most sought after star in English football right now? It's Leicester's pint sized playmaker N'Golo Kante, who is said to be in the sights of Arsenal and Real Madrid. And now, according to website Caughtoffside, none other than Manchester United have joined the hunt.

The 25-year-old Frenchman has been outstanding for the Foxes in their extraordinary rise to the top of the Premier League table, and it seems that the Red Devils "may try and jump to the front of the line" in order to beat Arsenal to the player.

With Michael Carrick now looking his age, United see Kante as the ideal replacement for the former England international, particularly as recent rumours suggest Ander Herrera could also be on his way out of Old Trafford.

Caughtoffside claims that if United do want to whip Kante from under the noses of the Gunners they'll have to stump up £20m for the player who cost Leicester a mere £5.6m when they signed him from French club Caen less than 12 months ago.

Let's hope United have more luck luring Kante that have with Jeison Murillo, the Colombian international who on Thursday rubbished suggestions he was on the brink of leaving Inter Milan for the Red Devils. The no-nonsense 23-year-old defender was asked by the Inter Channel about his future and, as reported by Goal.com, announced that he was "not thinking about leaving Inter any time soon".

Man Utd transfer news: Ronaldo wage demands within budget

07 April

Man United's hopes of re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo appear to be growing, after the Real Madrid superstar's wage demands were revealed.

After it emerged that the Portuguese preener was available for a knockdown £48m this summer, it now seems that he would command a wage not dissimilar to that of Wayne Rooney, and one that is within United's means.

"Ronaldo would demand between £16m and £20m a season in wages," reports the Daily Express, picking up on claims in Spanish newspaper Sport. "That boils down to between £300,000 and £384,000 a week, which is well within United's budget considering captain Wayne Rooney is on the former figure," it says.

The summer transfer merry-go-round is cranking into life and the future of Ander Herrera could hinge on whether Chelsea are successful with their mammoth bid for Paul Pogba.

According to The Sun, the Blues have made the Juventus midfielder their priority in the summer transfer market, despite interest from Real Madrid. And it seems that while Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is willing to meet the Italian club's asking price of £97m, Madrid president Florentino Perez is not.

As a result, says the Daily Express, the Spanish giants will target Herrera with Real coach Zinedine Zidane an admirer of the playmaker. The 26-year-old Herrera spent five years in La Liga, first with Real Zaragoza and then Bilbao, and his knowledge of the Spanish game is an additional reason why Real have made him their plan B in the likely event of missing out on Pogba.

Man Utd transfer news: Cristiano Ronaldo on offer for 'bargain' £48m

6 April

Manchester United have their eye on a bargain in the summer sales this year - and it's none other than Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to The Sun, via Spanish publication Sport, the Real Madrid marksman is "being offered out to the biggest clubs in Europe but not for as much as you would imagine". So how much is Ronaldo on the market for? A mere £48m, says the Sun, the paper describing the fee as "staggeringly low", particularly in light of his match-winning performance in Real's 2-1 defeat of Barcelona at the weekend.

But Real know what they're doing. Ronaldo's contract doesn't expire until 2018, but the Spanish giants "want to cash in on the Portuguese before his value halves by next summer". Paris Saint-Germain are known to have expressed an interest in the 31-year-old frontman but the Sun says that United "are still in the frame to bring the player back that they reluctantly sold in 2009".

And it seems United are also in the hunt to sign Sergio Busquets. According to Metro, the veteran midfielder doesn't see eye-to-eye with Barcelona about a contract extension and as a result he's considering his options.

Metro, taking Spanish outlet Fichajes as its source, says the Red Devils "are ready to pounce" for the 27-year-old Busquets and, bizarrely, the deal could be given a boost if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season. That would leave them as less as a threat in Barca's eyes and they would have a "better chance of signing him for a reasonable fee"

There's nothing reasonable about the fee that United will have to fork out if they're to beat Chelsea to the signature of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. According to Dutch rag De Telegraaf, and turned into English by Talksport, United "are ready to splash £50m" on Lukaku after deciding that he is a better bet than Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani. Apparently Louis van Gaal approves of the Belgian because "he has already proven his ability in the Premier League", and he's determined to beat off the Blues in the race to sign Lukaku.

Man Utd transfer news: £60m to land James Rodriguez

05 April

Real Madrid have blinked first in the stand-off with the Red Devils over James Rodriguez.

United have long had their eyes on the Colombian attacking midfielder but for months the Spanish giants refused to countenance selling him to one of their fiercest European rivals.

But the Daily Express claims that Madrid are now willing to offload Manchester United target James Rodriguez for £60m, presumably because there is little chance they two teams will meet in Europe next season.

Rodriguez arrived at the Bernabeu after starring for his country in the 2014 World Cup, but he's struggled to impose himself in Spain and has started just 13 of his team's 31 La Liga games this season. Real have now decided that he has no future in Madrid and are prepared to let United have him - provided they meet their asking price.

The Express adds that the fact Rodriguez is now on the market could attract other interested parties, with Chelsea, another side unlikely to feature in the Champions League any time soon, known to have expressed an admiration for his silky skills in the past as they look for possible replacements for the unsettled Eden Hazard.