Man Utd transfer news: Marc Bartra in, Marouane Feillaini out
12 February
All it took was a photo of a coffee shop and suddenly the football world went crazy. The snap in question, as the Daily Star reports, was posted by Carles Puyol, the former Spain international turned agent who counts among his clients Barcelona defender Marc Bartra, now tipped to be joining United.
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Rumours have been growing that 25-year-old Bartra wants to leave the Camp Nou and Old Trafford was high on the list of possible destinations. The fact that Puyol uploaded the picture of himself having a coffee in Manchester has only increased speculation he is in town to discuss the possibility of Bartra moving to Old Trafford next season.
The Star claims Bartra comes with a modest £9.5m price tag and that he's decided to quit Barcelona for regular game time after falling behind Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique in the thoughts of coach Luis Enrique.
Meanwhile, website Caughtoffside reports United are "keeping a close eye" on former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra. Citing French paper L'Equipe as its source, it says the 30-year-old has been in good nick for Marseille this season and remains as fit as ever, despite the passage of time. However, it's believed Diarra is being eyed up by a number of clubs in Spain and Italy, and even Paris Saint-Germain are believed to be keeping tabs on the veteran playmaker.
Over in Italy, AC Milan are "expected to make a £12m bid" for Marouane Fellaini in the summer. The Daily Express says the Italian outfit will offer the Belgian midfielder a three-year deal, although he might have to take a drop in his current £100,000 weekly wage. That seems a goer, with the paper saying Fellaini is "keen on the move" because he doesn't think he'll have a future when Jose Mourinho arrives as manager.
Man Utd transfer news: Mourinho makes Varane top target
11 February
He hasn't even been appointed Manchester United's manager but already the world's media is speculating as to who Jose Mourinho will sign the moment he slides into the Old Trafford hot seat.
It has been widely reported that Mourinho has already agreed terms with United to replace Louis van Gaal at the end of the season and, according to Spanish rag AS and passed on by Caughtoffside.com, the Special One will "make Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane his top transfer priority".
It was Mourinho who took the French international to Real Madrid in 2011. Apparently, he remains "a big admirer" of the defender and sees him as just the sort of no-nonsense player to bolster the fragile back four at United.
Still with Spain, Metro would have us believe the Red Devils are gearing up "to offer Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega a contract" for next season. It's claimed the 27-year-old was eyed up by Van Gaal last month, but no transfer was forthcoming and consequently, the deal will be pushed through in the summer. Metro says United will offer the Argentine playmaker a £3.5m-a-year contract, which is far superior to the £2.7m-a-year bid Inter Milan are planning to table.
Finally, the International Business Times says United "have rekindled their interest in Nicolas Gaitan", with a summer bid likely to be tabled to Benfica. The 27-year-old midfielder was linked to Old Trafford last year and while IBT says they have so far failed to land the Portuguese international, the club's chief executive, Ed Woodward, has "prioritised the signing" this summer regardless of who might be manager.
Citing Portuguese rag Record, IBT says United are "ready to match a £35m ($50m) release clause in Gaitan's contract" and are confident they'll beat Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg and AS Monaco to his signature.
Man Utd transfer news: summer bid for Mauro Icardi planned
10 February
Manchester United have not been put off their pursuit of Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, says Metro, despite being turned down by the club during the transfer window.
The paper claims the Red Devils tabled a £23.1m bid for the 22-year-old hitman last month, but were told in no uncertain terms where to stick their offer. Inter, who welcomed the Argentine ace to the San Siro in 2013, have seen him score 41 goals in 79 Serie A appearances.
So highly do Inter value Icardi that they appointed him captain last summer. But that won't stop United making another approach at the end of this season. Metro says the club "are expected to return with an improved bid for Icardi", which is likely to be nearer the £30m mark.
Meanwhile, the man they call "the new Eden Hazard" has been given a hefty price tag of £15.6m, according to the Daily Express. The paper says that Lille winger Sofiane Boufal is being targeted by United, Arsenal and Liverpool, but the 22-year-old won't come cheap.
Having also been linked to Inter Milan and Juventus since his move from Angers in January 2015, Boufal is one of France's most exciting talents and Lille sporting director Jean-Michel Vandamme knows it.
"Boufal costs at least €20m (£15.6m), that's the minimum," he said. "In June, there's a possibility that he may leave... there are Premier League clubs after him."
Man Utd transfer news: City battle ahead over Mahmoud Dahoud
There looks like being a transfer tussle in Manchester this summer, with German rag Bild reporting that both United and City have Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud "in their sights".
The 20-year-old is enjoying his breakthrough season in the Bundesliga and his form has come to the attention of the Manchester clubs. But Bild says Italian champions Juventus have also been circling Dahoud with a view to a summer buy.
One potential obstacle is that according to Bild, the Monchengladbach playmaker has no exit clause in his contract, which, as it stands, keeps him at the club until 2018. However, it is believed Monchengladbach is prepared to sell if a bidding war erupts.
Another youngster linked with Old Trafford is Aymeric Laporte, with Talksport reporting United "have been given hope" in their pursuit of the Athletic Bilbao defender. Barcelona were favourites earlier in the season to land Laporte, but the France under-21 international has told French media that contrary to popular belief, no pre-agreement has been signed and he was by no means certain of moving to the Camp Nou this summer. "There hasn't been contact," he said, leading Talksport to speculate that United could yet make a pitch for Laporte.
Talksport also claims that Bayern Munich are in talks with Robert Lewandowski over a new contract. Aware of interest from the Red Devils - and also Paris Saint-Germain - the German champions have moved to tie down the Poland international. "Yes, we have started talking [about a new contract], I can confirm this," agent Cezary Kucharski told Polsat Sport.
Man Utd transfer news: Red Devils move for Odion Ighalo
08 February
There are conflicting reports concerning the future of Watford striker Odion Ighalo, with some outlets suggestingArsenal are favourites to sign the prolific frontman this summer while others, such as Metro, believe Manchester United are "in pole position".
Ighalo, who has scored 14 goals in 24 appearances this season, is being eyed up by the two Premier League powerhouses and according to Metro, United were "in talks to sign him on transfer deadline day". Nothing materialised, however, but it's believed Ighalo, who reportedly rejected a £300,000-a-week deal to move to China, will be the subject of a transfer tug-of-war between United and Arsenal in June, with the bidding likely to begin at £12m.
Michael Carrick could yet have a future at Old Trafford despite rumours linking the veteran to a summer move. The 35-year-old is out of contract in May and there have been suggestions he could follow the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to the MLS for a lucrative swansong.
But Metro says Carrick "is in talks to sign a one-year extension to his current deal", before joining Ryan Giggs in the coaching staff. The paper says the midfielder has "impressed " United's assistant manager and Giggs believes they would work well together.
Man Utd transfer news: record Neymar bid failed last summer
5 February
Manchester United tried to sign Neymar in the summer and were prepared to smash the world record transfer fee to do so. The confirmation came from the player's father, who told a judge in Spain that an offer had been made and later confirmed to radio station COPE that it had come from Old Trafford.
As reported earlier in the week, rumours have been growing that the eye-watering bid came from United and now, says Metro, the gossip has become fact.
Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City have all been heavily linked with the Brazilian ace but Neymar's father says that United are the side that put their money on the table and offered €190m for Neymar. Though he pointed out his son has two years remaining on his contract, the recent tax fraud allegations could yet lead him to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, it has also been claimed that United made a deadline day offer of £30m for 18-year-old Benfica star Renato Sanches but were knocked back. But Talksport says they "will return in the summer".
Taking Portuguese rag O Jogo as its source, the British broadcaster says that United's generous offer was rejected on Monday as it did not meet Benfica's £45m valuation.
Nonetheless the English club rate Sanches so highly that they will up their offer in June and bring the midfielder to England.
Man Utd transfer news: Neymar set for Barcelona exit
04 February
Fears are growing in Barcelona that the sands of time are running down on Neymar's time at the Camp Nou.
According to International Business Times the Brazil international, who has release clause of £143.3m written into his contract, is being eyed up by both Manchester United and Real Madrid who are "considering a sensational move for the 23-year-old".
As the IBT explains Neymar's father has confirmed that United tabled a bid for him during last summer's transfer window. And following his appearance in a Madrid court this week on fraud allegations relating to his transfer to the club in 2013, United are cautiously optimistic they will be able to entice Neymar to Old Trafford in the summer.
According to Catalunya Radio, Neymar's father has this week "reiterated the player had received a multi-million pound offer from an unnamed club". Spanish rag Marca claim that club is Real Madrid with president Florentino Perez "ready to meet Neymar's £143m release clause", but that is contingent on the Spanish giants having their transfer ban lifted by Fifa.
If they don't then United are in pole position to make the signing that would be a statement of huge intent.
Man Utd transfer news: summer bid for Arsenal man Debuchy?
2 February
Manchester United made a daring deadline day bid to sign Mathieu Debuchy from Arsenal, reports the Daily Mirror, only to have the move blocked by Arsene Wenger.
The 30-year-old right-back has had a miserable time of it at the Emirates since arriving in 2014 from Newcastle and he's desperate for regular game time so he can win a place in France's 2016 Euro 2016 squad. The Mirror says United boss Louis van Gaal "was willing to offer him a chance at Old Trafford", while also bolstering the Red Devils' injury ravaged back four.
But any hopes that Debuchy entertained of resurrecting his career at United were undone by the intervention of Wenger. The Gunners gaffer "categorically refused to sanction any deal which would have seen the Gunners strengthening a rival in the Premier League". Instead Wenger agreed to let Debuchy go on loan to Bordeaux for the rest of the season, though it's rumoured United may come back for a second bid for Debuchy in the summer.
To add insult to injury, Metro reports that United's attempts to give their failing youth academy an overhaul have suffered a setback after Oxford United boss, and former United trainee, Michael Appleton turned down the chance to return to the club as academy chief.
Man Utd transfer news: Paul Pogba awaits medical after £89m deal
[Leave out Paul]
A world-record deal for the former Old Trafford trainee has finally been agreed - latest Man United transfer news and gossip
There were two reasons for United fans to celebrate on Sunday with their 2-1 victory over Leicester in the Community Shield overshadowed by the news that the club had finally got their hands on Paul Pogba.
The summer's most protracted transfer saga reached its denouement on Sunday, starting with a brief statement on the [1]official United website that ran: "Paul Pogba has been granted permission to have a medical in order to finalise his transfer from Juventus to Manchester United."
Within hours, Jose Mourinho was telling the press that he was excited at the prospect of working with the 23-year-old midfielder, who arrives from Juventus four years after he walked out of Old Trafford and headed for Turin.
"He comes because he knows the club, knows the city, many of the players and wants to be an important part of the project," said the United manager, not long after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had scored the winner against Leicester.
The BBC says United will pay Juventus "a world record £89m" but Mourinho was unrepentant about the fee, saying: "What is expensive and not expensive in football? I don't know any more. I just know he is a big player... Football is crazy and the market has become crazy. What you think this season is crazy, you realise three years later it's not crazy any more." According to the BBC, Pogba "will have a medical in the next few days with the deal due to be completed in midweek."
Meanwhile the [3]Daily Star says that Galatasaray are closing in on United outcasts Bastian Schweinsteiger and Antonio Valencia. German veteran Schweinsteiger has been, in the eyes of some, [4]bullied by Jose Mourinho[4] since the latter's arrival at Old Trafford. And while there have been calls in some quarters to detain the Special One at Her Majesty's Pleasure, it seems the more probable outcome is the departure of Schweinsteiger.
The Star, taking Turkish newspaper AMK as its source, claims that "Galatasaray are readying a bid for both players". Not that the bid amounts to much with the Turks prepared to pay £3m for Schweinsteiger and £1.25m for Valencia. Small though the bid is, United could accept just to get shot of the pair.
Valencia joined United in 2009 from Wigan for £16m but the Ecuador international has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons and the Star expects him to move to Galatasaray on a four-year deal.
[1]http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Aug/Paul-Pogba-given-permission-for-medical-at-Aon-Training-Complex-ahead-of-transfer-to-Man-United.aspx
[2] http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37003293
[3] http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/535834/Galatasaray-Manchester-United-double-deal-Antonio-Valencia-Bastian-Schweinsteiger
[4] https://www.theweek.co.uk/manchester-united/75257/jose-mourinho-should-be-jailed-for-bullying-bastian-schweinsteiger
Manchester United, Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bastian Schweisteiger, Antonio Valencia, Galatasaray. Juventus
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