Man Utd transfer news: Mourinho loses patience with Inter over Perisic deal

Man Utd transfer news: Antoine Griezmann casts doubt on move

16 February

The will-he-won't-he saga surrounding Antoine Griezmann's possible summer move to Manchester United has taken another twist, reports the Daily Express.

Last weekend the French frontman was said to be ready to leave Atletico Madrid for Old Trafford - with the Spanish club willing to do business with the Red Devils provided they meet his £86m release clause. But now the 25-year-old Griezmann appears to be having second thoughts, at least judging by his comments to French broadcaster RMC Sport.

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"I have a lot of doubts about moving to England," said Griezmann when interviewed by the radio station. "I have a lot of doubts about my private life. Everything like rain, bad weather... I need to feel happy outside."

He was similarly dismissive of Germany and ruled out a move to France or another Spanish club, raising the possibility that despite all the rumours to the contrary he may stick with Atletico Madrid. "Who knows how the season will finish," said Griezmann. "If it finishes badly, maybe I will ask myself the question. For the moment, it is not relevant."

To further dismay United fans, the Express also notes an interview the Frenchman gave to Fifa in which he said: "I feel great at the club and in Madrid. On a personal level I'm very happy, and in football terms we're about to move to a new stadium, which is very important. We'll just have to see what the future brings, but for now I'm very happy here and I hope to win trophies with this club."

Meanwhile the Daily Mirror says that Napoli have got their greedy eye on Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of a possible summer pounce for the stringy Swedish sharpshooter. In conversation with Napoli Today, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis admitted his dream is to sign the "giant who is at Manchester United". Although he wouldn't be drawn on whether they would table an offer to United, De Laurentiis's interest is believed to be genuine as they look to re-establish themselves after a few lean seasons.

Man Utd transfer news: Milan Badelj to replace Carrick

15 February

Has Jose Mourinho found the man to replace Michael Carrick for next season? The Sun thinks so with the paper reporting that the Special One has sent his scouts to Italy to check out Milan Badelj plying his trade for Fiorentina "ahead of a potential bid".

Explaining how Badelj likes to operate as a deep-lying playmaker, the Sun says that the Croatia international could "be set for a stunning summer move" to Old Trafford as Old Father Time puts a paternal arm around Carrick.

The veteran England star is expected to leave United at the end of the season and Mourinho reportedly sees Badelj as the man to "strengthen his midfield options". Fiorentina are said to be keen to keep hold of the 28-year-old but a big money offer from United would likely weaken their resolve.

Meanwhile, Metro reports that United look set to miss out on Paulo Dybala with the Juventus star poised to pen a new deal at Juventus.

The Red Devils, along with Chelsea and Manchester City, have pursued the 23-year-old striker for a number of months but Metro reports the comments of Juve CEO Giuseppe Marotta to Mediaset in Italy. Asked whether there was any truth in rumours linking the Argentina international to England, Marotta said: "Dybala's entourage is in Argentina right now. There is no reason to worry. They will arrive at the end of the month and that is the moment we will sign the contract."

Finally, the Daily Star reports that United have denied rumours suggesting Marcus Rashford is close to leaving the club. The young striker is said to be "frustrated" at his failure to nail down a starting spot under Jose Mourinho this season and has been linked to Chelsea and Arsenal in recent months.

But the Star quotes a United source saying: "It's absolute nonsense to suggest Marcus wants to leave. He's making good progress under one of the greatest managers of all time and has a massive future ahead of him at United. There's no chance he would be sold."

Man Utd transfer news: £300k a week for Griezmann and De Gea

13 February

The stakes are being raised in the pursuit of Antoine Griezmann, reports the Sunday Mirror, with the paper claiming that United will offer the French frontman "a deal worth £60m to become their marquee summer signing".

Speculation has been mounting in recent weeks that the Atletico Madrid ace will leave La Liga at the end of the season with Paris Saint-Germain and United the clubs most frequently linked to the 25-year-old Frenchman.

Aware that the Gallic goal machine "idolised" United as a youngster, the Old Trafford club believe they are in the box seat to land his signature but they want to table an irresistible offer to blow the opposition out of the water.

To that effect, United are "ready to give Griezmann a four-year deal worth £300,000 a week", claims the Mirror. That works out at more than £15m-a-season and they believe that sort of cash, as well as the chance to play alongside friend and international teammate Paul Pogba will be too good to turn down.

What's more, says the paper, Griezmann is "so desperate to join" the club of his childhood dreams that he wouldn't change his mind even if they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star says that United "plan to ward off interest" in David de Gea from Real Madrid by offering him a new deal that the paper describes as "bumper".

Rumours began emanating from the Spanish capital last week suggesting that Real were back in the hunt for the 26-year-old United gloveman, and United don't want a repeat of the drama that pursuit entailed in 2015 when only a last-minute cock-up prevented the keeper quitting United

The Spaniard has two years remaining on his current £200,000-a-week deal and the Star says that United "hope to keep him at Old Trafford by increasing his weekly pay to almost £300,000."

Man Utd transfer news: De Gea tight-lipped over Real Madrid

10 February

Tight-lipped is the best way to describe David de Gea's response to rumours that he being courted by Real Madrid.

The United gloveman is apparently the number one target for the European champs - with Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois their plan B - and reports from Spain suggest that Real are quietly confident they'll be able to prise De Gea from Old Trafford in the summer.

As Goal.com says, the Spain international was close to moving back to La Liga in 2015, only for the transfer to break down at the last minute, but Real are now said to be more determined than ever to sign De Gea with the club president, Florentino Perez, the driving force in the plot.

Spanish rag AS has been in contact with De Gea and the paper quotes the United keeper saying: "The future nobody knows. The future is the future. I'm very happy here, it's a great club. In England, football is enjoyed a lot."

Asked straight out if he was considering a move to Madrid, De Gea snapped: "I'm not going to talk about that. I will not talk about that subject any more. I just have to keep focused on my club."

Man Utd transfer news: Real Madrid back in for David de Gea

9 February

Real Madrid want a new goalkeeper and the news has set off alarm bells in the Premier League because the Spanish giants want to it to be either David de Gea of Manchester United or Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois.

That is what The Sun claims, citing sources in Spain who report that Real boss Zinedine Zidane "is determined to upgrade on Costa Rica World Cup hero Keylor Navas". Since joining the European champions, Navas has produced some inconsistent displays and Zidane believes he needs a more reliable shotstopper between the sticks next season.

Apparently Chelsea keeper Courtois has "already put the feelers out" over a move to the Spanish capital but it's De Gea who remains Real's number one target. The club were first linked to the United keeper two years ago and he was within minutes of signing for the club only for botched paperwork to scupper the deadline day deal. Presumably there is now a new fax machine at the Bernabeu and Real are ready to launch a concerted effort to finally lure him from Old Trafford.

The Sun says that United will not let De Gea "leave without a fight", but Real president Florentino Perez is "keen" on De Gea and "ready to make a £60m bid".

Man Utd transfer news: Rooney, Martial and Smalling axed

8 February

Manchester's removal men will be busy this summer claims The Sun, which reports that Jose Mourinho is ready to call time on the careers of at least five of his current squad.

The paper says that Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian are "fighting for their Manchester United careers" as the Portuguese coach prepares to give his under-performing squad a makeover ahead of his second season in charge at Old Trafford.

Mourinho inherited the current squad from Louis van Gaal and the more he's seen of it, the more he's realised he needs to stamp his own mark on the club by axing several players and bringing in more of his own men.

He's reached that conclusion despite the fact that he spent more than £150m on new recruits last summer and began a first team clearout in January, offloading Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin.

But it seems the bloodletting has only just begun. Rooney, Martial and Darmian have been linked with an exit for a while but the Sun says Chris Smalling will be sold to make way for Swedish centre-back Victor Lindelof in the summer.

As for left-back Shaw, his future hangs in the balance and he could be back at Old Trafford next season if he makes the most of his opportunities between now and May.

But the Sun says that Mourinho wants to see a lot more from the 21-year-old if he expects to make the left-back spot his own.

Arsenal and Liverpool were rumoured to be sniffing around the two England defenders last year but according to the Daily Express Tottenham are the new favourites to sign Shaw.