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

Man Utd transfer news: Ibrahimovic in, Mkhitaryan and Pogba next

01 July

The ego has landed... at Old Trafford. To nobody's great surprise, Zlatan Ibrahimovic confirmed on Thursday that he will be playing for Manchester United next season with The Guardian reporting that he "will fly to the UK on Friday to sign a one-year contract".

The 34-year-old – a free agent since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in May – has apparently agreed personal terms worth £220,000 a week, and he used Instagram to announce: “Time to let the world know. My next destination is @manchesterunited #iamcoming.”

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Ibrahimovic and United gaffer Jose Mourinho have worked together before, at Inter in 2008-09, and the pair, who have been singing each other's praises in the past few weeks, are now set to rekindle their relationship.

Meanwhile the Guardian adds that United fans may have further cause to celebrate in the coming days with the club "hopeful" of signing the Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The 27-year-old is on Mourinho's wishlist but his first offer was thrown out by the German club. But Dortmund have said they have received "a much improved" offer for the Armenian ace and an agreement is close to being reached.

That's not the case with Raphael Varane, the Real Madrid centre-back who earlier in the week was linked to Old Trafford. Talksport reports that the Frenchman has "decided to snub interest" from Mourinho and pledge his future to the Spanish giants.

French publication Le 10 Sport claims that Real boss Zinedine Zidane has "reassured" the 23-year-old that he will get game time next season despite the presence of Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

Talking of Real Madrid, according to the Daily Telegraph the Spanish side have pulled up in the race for Juventus playmaker Paul Pogba allowing United "a clear run" at snaring the 23-year-old. The Telegraph says that Real, like Manchester City, baulked at Juventus's £80m asking price but that's not the case with United who have already tabled a bid in that region. What's more, Mourinho is "prepared to go substantially higher to secure the France international" as he sees him as an integral part of his plan for rebuilding the Red Devils.

Man Utd transfer news: Varane and Ibrahimovic poised to sign

30 June

Manchester United are in pole position to sign Raphael Varane and The Sun says that the Red Devils "have been given the green light" to make a move for the Real Madrid defender.

Described by the tabloid as "unsettled", the 23-year-old Frenchman has found game time hard to come by in the Spanish capital and that's come to the attention of United boss Jose Mourinho.

The Sun declares that the Special One is "a huge fan of the France international" - currently sidelined with a knee injury - and is ready to pay whatever it takes to bring the centre-back to Old Trafford.

Spanish sources reports that Real have concluded "it may be better off-loading him for around £30m" rather than keeping him in the squad simply to warm the bench. That will be to the liking of Varane with the Sun claiming that he is "a life-long United fan" and nearly signed for them when Alex Ferguson was gaffer in 2011.

But before United fans start celebrating they should pay heed to the report carried in French rag Le Parisien, which claims that Bayern Munich are also pursuing Varane. Apparently new coach Carlo Ancelotti has made the capture of the Frenchman a "prime objective" as he takes the helm at the German champions following the departure of Pep Guardiola to Manchester City.

Finally, the latest update concerning Zlatan Ibrahimovic comes in the Daily Express with the paper reporting that his much-anticipated move to Old Trafford "will be completed by this Sunday". It will be a one-year deal and one which will net the gangly Swedish goal machine £300,000-a-week.

Man Utd transfer news: Zlatan Ibrahimovic set for medical

28 June

Manchester United have moved a step closer to signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic with the Daily Star saying that the 34-year-old Swedish striker is "set to undergo a medical next week" ahead of his move to Old Trafford.

The Star claims to have the inside track on the story and is now boasting that it has it on good authority that the former Paris Saint-Germain ace is poised to pen a deal with United. The medical should be a formality, allowing Ibrahimovic to then get down to the serious business of banking his £275,000-a-week wages. As to when he'll link up with the United squad, the Star says he'll arrive in Manchester on 1 July but won't start training until later that month.

His decision to quit international football has been welcomed by United, who were concerned that he would want to represent Sweden at the Olympic Games.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Valencia teenager Ferhat Cogalan is also apparently interesting United. The Daily Mail says that the club invited the 14-year-old forward to Manchester last Wednesday "for talks at the club's Carrington training complex".

Arsenal, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund have been linked with the teenage striker and the Mail quotes Ferhat's father, Sedat, saying: "When a club like Manchester United invites us, it is logical that we study the proposal, right?"

Man Utd transfer news: £30m move for Draxler not Mkhitaryan

27 June

Just a few days after Wolfsburg issued a hands-off warning, Manchester United have reportedly "made a £30m move" for Germany midfielder Julian Draxler, as an alternative to Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The 22-year-old is being lined up, says the Daily Star, because United's attempts to land Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund are proving more difficult than the United boss had hoped.

Mkhitaryan was expected to be available for £28m, but it seems that his club want more than that. The Sun says Mourinho may be prepared to increase his offer, but if Dortmund don't play ball then he's weighing up a bid for Draxler.

The Star claims that talks "were held in the last week" between United and the attacking midfielder's people and those discussions are said to be progressing well with German sources at Euro 2016 saying United's "interest in Draxler is strong". Wolfsburg will do their utmost to resist the Red Devils advances but a big money offer could prove too much to turn away.

Talking of turning away, Metro reports that United have told Marcos Rojo "to seek a transfer" this summer with the Argentine defender said not to be part of Mourinho's plans for next season. Apparently Rojo - who arrived at Old Trafford last season - is "not rated by the new boss" and there has been interest in him recently from Spain, Italy and China. Metro adds that United could "accept as little as £9.7m" for the 26-year-old, who cost the club £16m.

Man Utd transfer news: Real Madrid give up on David de Gea

24 June

Good news for United fans with Sky Sports reporting that Real Madrid have given up the ghost on signing David de Gea.

A saga that began nearly 12 months ago when a last-minute move at the end of the summer transfer window fell through now seems finally over. Sky Sports claims that Real "have now accepted the Spain number one will stay put and work under Jose Mourinho". Had United kept faith with Louis van Gaal in all probability De Gea would have returned to his homeland, with allegations that the pair had a poor working relationship. But with Mourinho replacing Van Gaal last month the Spain international intends to stay at Old Trafford.

But the news isn't so good as far as Julian Draxler is concerned as Talksport reports that Wolfsburg will fight tooth and nail to keep the Germany international. There has been talk in the last two months of United triggering a release clause in the winger's contract, but in conversation with German magazine Kicker, Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs rubbished the suggestion that United were set to offer £45m for the forward. "This [rumour] is wrong," he stormed. "Julian will remain at Wolfsburg."

And without wishing to go into the weekend on a downbeat note, it's reported by the Daily Star that United have come up short in their attempt to lure Kostas Manolas from Roma. According to Italian paper Corierre dello Sport the Red Devils tabled a £28m offer for the Greek defender but were rebuffed by the Serie A side, who are determined to hang on to the tough-tackling Manolas.

Man Utd transfer news: £28m for Mkhitaryan or Aaron Ramsey

23 June

It's new and improved, and according to the Daily Star the fresh offer tabled by Jose Mourinho to Borussia Dortmund for Henrikh Mkhitaryan is bang on £28m. The United boss is hopeful that will be enough for the German outfit to part with the midfielder with the Star describing Mourinho as "desperate" to sign the 27-year-old.

The Red Devils' initial bid of £18m was kicked into the long grass by Dortmund earlier in the month, but Mourinho has persuaded United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward "to return with a second bid". The Star says consequently United are quietly confident they'll get their man even though it remains £2m shy of Dortmund's asking price.

Mkhitaryan, who scored 23 league goals last season, has just 12 months of his current deal remaining at Dortmund and the club are likely to cut their losses and sell rather than see the Armenian ace leave on a free transfer in 12 months.

But if Mourinho should fail in his attempt to sign Mkhitaryan what will he do? According to The Sun he will "make a shock bid" for Aaron Ramsey. The Arsenal midfielder has been in fine form for Wales in the European Championship, and the Sun claims that the United gaffer "is ready to wind up bitter rival Arsene Wenger by targeting the £50m-rated Arsenal star. There's no love lost between the two managers, stemming from the Portuguese preener's time at Chelsea, and a move for Ramsey would likely infuriate the Nutty Professor.

Man Utd transfer news: Inter Milan join race for Garay

22 June

If United want to sign Zenit St Petersburg defender Ezequiel Garay then they'll have to battle Inter Milan, says Talksport, which claims the Italian outfit have been scouting the Argentine centre-back with more than 70 international caps to his name.

Jose Mourinho is known to have earmarked the 29-year-old South American stopper as one of the essential items on his summer shopping list but Inter have been watching Garay closely since he move to Zenit from Benfica in the summer of 2014.Talksport says the Russian are ready to sell but only for offers in the region of £15m.

Spain and Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets has told reporters that believes club team-mate Neymar will remain at the Camp Nou despite rumours linking him with a big money move to United. The 24-year-old has long been on the radar of the Old Trafford hierarchy but the Daily Mail reports that when asked if he believed the Brazilian might leave for England, Busquets said: "I'm not worried... he has already said he is fine, he is comfortable and I believe he will stay despite the rumours."

Finally, the latest on Paul Pogba's transfer plight comes courtesy of the Daily Star with the paper reporting that United and Real Madrid are the two clubs thought to be in with the best chance of prising the French playmaker from Juventus.

But in conversation with Italian journal Gazetta dello Sport, Juve chief executive Giuseppe Marotta declared that they "have not received any offers". Whether any will be forthcoming is a moot point given that Gazetta dello Sport revealed at the weekend that Juventus will only sell "Pogba for a record-breaking £125m".

Man Utd transfer news: Bonucci and Matic to shore up defence

20 June

Jose Mourinho hasn't finished strengthening the Manchester United defence with new signings, says the Daily Star, who claim that he's circling Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci just a couple of weeks after landing Eric Bailly from Villarreal in a £30m deal.

The 29-year-old Bonucci has the sort of experience that Mourinho feels the United back four needs next season, although the Special One knows he's in competition with Chelsea for the hand of the Italian defender. Incoming Blues boss Antonio Conte has Bonucci on his shopping list, while Manchester City are also weighing up a move after their attempt to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte fell through.

Such is Mourinho's determination to toughen up United that the Sunday People says he wants to swap full-back Matteo Darmian for Chelsea's Nemanja Matic. Though Darmian is currently on duty with Italy at the Euros, he struggled in his first season at United and Mourinho thinks he would be better off giving him to Chelsea - where perhaps compatriot Conte can get the best out of him - and in exchange take possession of Matic. Apparently Mourinho believes the midfielder would give United a greater "physical presence" in the centre of the park.

According to The Sun Wayne Rooney is "ready to sign" a new Manchester United deal and see out his career at Old Trafford. The England skipper is thriving in his new role for England as a midfielder and the Sun says that's where Mourinho will play him next season. "I have a contract at the club that I want to see out and wouldn’t be against extending it," Rooney is quoted as telling the Sun.

Finally, the agent of Henrikh Mkhitaryan has no intention of giving up on the idea of helping his client move from Borussia Dortmund to Old Trafford. The German outfit are playing hardball over the wishes of the 27-year-old midfielder to leave for United this summer but Mino Raiola is quoted telling BBC Sport. "It would be a sin to stop talking. I am a positive guy. If I wasn't confident of reaching some kind of conclusion, I wouldn't try." The Armenian ace, who has a year left on his Dortmund contract, recently rebuffed Arsenal and has his heart set on a move to Manchester.