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

Man Utd transfer news: Shock move for Bayern signing Renato Sanches

14 July

Renato Sanches only signed for Bayern Munich a few weeks ago but already Manchester United have made inquiries about the size of his release clause.

That's the claim made by Metro, which says that the 18-year-old left Jose Mourinho breathless after his performances at the European Championships. Named young player of the tournament, the teenage sensation is now on Mourinho's wishlist despite the fact he only recently moved from Benfica to Bayern in a £38m deal, snubbing United to choose the German giants.

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

Nonetheless times have changed since then and Metro says United "have checked on the midfielder's contract at the Allianz Arena", and it's believed they will make an attempt to sign 18-year-old Sanches if they fail to prise Paul Pogba from Juventus.

There's been a cheeky bid from Paris Saint-Germain for veteran Ecuador defender Antonio Valencia, claims Spanish outlet Futbal Mercado. It reports that the French champs have tabled a £26m offer for the 30-year-old, who has spent the last seven years at Old Trafford and was a regular under Louis van Gaal last season.

Man Utd transfer news: Cesc Fabregas an alternative to Paul Pogba

13 July

An Old Trafford reunion between Jose Mourinho and Cesc Fabregas could be on the cards as Manchester United consider a move for the Chelsea man.

The pair are old buddies from their time together at Stamford Bridge and according to the Daily Mirror the United gaffer "will capitalise on Chelsea's saturated midfield to sign Fabregas".

The Spanish midfielder is expected to become a victim of Antonio Conte's shake-up at the club, with the new manager hoping to bring in Roma's Radja Nainggolan and Andre Gomes of Valencia to strengthen the midfield.

That will leave Fabregas struggling for game time and the Mirror says that Mourinho "is ready to swoop" for the Spanish international. Former Arsenal captain and Barcelona star Fabregas thrived at the Bridge under the Special One but folded once he left the club in December and apparently Conte wants players with "more steel and energy in the middle of the park".

Fabregas could turn out to be a viable alternative to Paul Pogba if the deal to bring him back to Old Trafford falls through, and the French star, valued at £110m is not necessarily heading to Manchester according to The Independent.

"His talkative agent, Mino Raiola, has now suggested that United are not the only major club interested in signing his client this summer," reports the paper.

Man Utd transfer news: Focus switches from Pogba to Gerard Pique

12 July

A big name is on his way back to Old Trafford but it's not Paul Pogba. In recent days speculation has been mounting that the France and Juventus playmaker was edging close to rejoining the club he left in 2012. But The Sun claims that it is former Red Devil Gerard Pique who's on the brink of leaving Barcelona for a reunion with United – eight years after the Spanish centre-back left the club.

A callow Pique made only 12 appearances for United but in the last decade at the Camp Nou he has become one of the most accomplished defenders in the world. According to the Sun the 29-year-old "is in line to make a sensational return" to Manchester United, news that will come as a blow to Manchester City who had also been hoping to entice Pique back to the Premier League.

But it is still impossible to avoid talk of Pogba, even when there is nothing to say, and Goal.com proves the point by reporting that the player's agent, Mino Raiola, has called on everyone to stop speculating about where his client might end up next month.

"There is a lot of talk about Paul's future, but maybe he will not leave Juventus," Raiola said. "He is in no rush to leave, and Juventus do not want him to go. They want him to renew his contract... we are very happy at Juventus and they are a club that want to keep their star players."

According to the Daily Mirror United "are stepping up their efforts" to sign West Ham starlet Reece Oxford. The 17-year-old midfielder was in action for England under-19s against Holland in the European Championship last week and Jose Mourinho had his scouts in attendance. The Mirror claims that United "have already made strong enquiries" about Oxford and an offer is imminent.

Man Utd transfer news: £110m Paul Pogba deal prompts clear-out

11 July

A day after the Sunday Times reported that Man United would have to fork out a record £110m for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba - £25.6m of which will allegedly go to the Frenchman's agent, Mino Raiola - The Sun has hopped on the bandwagon to claim that Jose Mourinho is prepared to "axe eight players" in order to accommodate the 23-year-old.

The players most at risk of being shown the door, says the Sun, are Adnan Januzaj, Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Daley Blind and Juan Mata. "Jose has made it clear he wants to work with 22 key players," an Old Trafford insider informed the Sun. "It means up to eight players heading out."

According to the Daily Mirror Mourinho will look to sweeten Juventus ahead of his move for Pogba by offering the Italian champions Juan Mata. The paper says the Special One doesn't believe the Spanish midfielder possesses "the physicality and dynamic presence" he wants and is ready to offload him ahead of the new season. But Italian outlet Tuttosport says Juventus are more interested in Memphis Depay and are ready to negotiate his transfer to Turin as part of the Pogba deal.

Finally, ESPN want us to believe that United are close to signing another French midfielder, Blaise Matuidi from Paris Saint-Germain, believing that he will jump at the chance to play alongside Pogba at Old Trafford, perhaps as a way of getting over their Euro 16 heartbreak.

Initially, says ESPN, Matuidi was Mourinho's Plan B in the event of Pogba giving him the brush-off but "Mourinho's wish to revitalise the midfield could see both arrive this summer".

Man Utd transfer news: Mourinho 'confident' of signing Paul Pogba

08 July

Jose Mourinho is increasingly "confident" he will get his hands on Paul Pogba this summer, claims the Daily Express.

It's likely to cost the Red Devils £100m to sign the France midfielder, who once again demonstrated his talents on Thursday by helping his country brush aside Germany en route to the Euro 2016 final.

Real Madrid are also chasing the 23-year-old, who famously left Old Trafford in 2012 because Sir Alex Ferguson didn't believe he had the skill set to flourish on the big stage.

According to the Express, United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward "has begun negotiations with Juventus" to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford - and the Frenchman is coming round to the idea.

Although attracted by the prospect of playing at Real under French legend Zinedine Zidane, Pogba "has been impressed by Jose Mourinho’s determination to land him" and this, along with the possibility of a five-year contract worth £250,000 a week, has caused a shift in his thinking.

Man Utd transfer news: Henrikh Mkhitaryan move is 'a dream come true'

07 July

It's a hat-trick of summer signings for the Red Devils, with the club's official website confirming they have agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The Armenian ace joins Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as new additions to Old Trafford and couldn't hide his delight at his decision.

"I am very proud to join Manchester United, this move is a dream come true for me," announced the 27-year-old, who has signed a four-year deal.

"I am excited to play for a club with such an illustrious history and hope to be part of it for a long time. I thank the trust the club and Jose Mourinho have put in me."

Mkhitaryan, voted Bundesliga Player of the Season for 2015/16 by his fellow professionals, has been on United's radar for weeks. "Henrikh is a very talented footballer who has been in such prolific form for both his club and his country," said Mourinho. "I believe he will make an impact on the team very quickly as his style of play is suited to the Premier League."

According to The Sun the playmaker cost United £26m – but the deal only happened after he "got angry" with Dortmund over their reluctance to accept the Red Devils offer.

It's alleged Mkhitaryan told Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel "that he would not return to training" if his move to Manchester didn't come off.

Man Utd transfer news: Is Mkhitaryan heading to Old Trafford?

6 July

Has Jose Mourinho let slip that Manchester United have bagged and tagged Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan? The Daily Mirror thinks so.

The paper says the manager gave the game away in an off-camera exchange on Tuesday at his first United press conference since taking over at Old Trafford.

Mourinho has already signed Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and were questioned about any further additions. "The third player is already official or not yet?" he asked the club's PR assistant. "No," she replied, to laughter in the room. As to when the news "will be official", he was told "soon".

According to the Mirror, that signing is Armenian ace Mkhitaryan, although the Daily Express mentions in passing that United and Chelsea are both interested in signing Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid. Super-agent Jorge Mendes, who is said to be on good terms with Mourinho, is allegedly working behind the scenes on what the Express says is a £68m deal.

The gifted midfielder was one of Atleti's standout stars last season and Mendes "is pushing to get the 21-year-old a big-money move to the Premier League".