Man Utd transfer news: Renato Sanches back on the market
12 May
The Red Devils have "been cleared to sign" Renato Sanches, reports Metro, after Bayern Munich found a suitable replacement for the 19-year-old United target.
German media claim that Bayern have lined up Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka as the man to fill the boots of Sanches having received an offer of £29.5m for the young playmaker. Metro says the offer has come from United and it has been readily accepted by the German champions despite the fact they only bought Sanches from Benfica 12 months ago.
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Unfortunately he's failed to find his feet in Munich but that clearly hasn't deterred Jose Mourinho who has long had his eye on his compatriot.
And might Sanches link up with Cesc Fabregas at Old Trafford next season? The Daily Star says that the 30-year-old Spanish playmaker is still uncertain of his future at Stamford Bridge despite starring for the Blues in their win over Boro earlier in the week. The Star says that United and Liverpool are both tracking Fabregas, as are AC Milan, and whether he leaves Chelsea is likely to depend on whether Antonio Conte can guarantee him a regular starting spot next season.
Elsewhere and the Daily Express says that United have a fight on their hands if they want to sign Bernardo Silva. The Europa League finalists will face competition from the Champions League finalists, claims the paper, with Real Madrid in pursuit of the 22-year-old Monaco midfielder.
It had been reported that Barcelona were preparing to swoop but the Spanish press say that Silva is edging towards a big money move to the Bernabeu next month.
Man Utd transfer news: Napoli striker to 'snub' Old Trafford
11 May
It seems that Dries Mertens has slipped through United's fingers with Talksport reporting that the striker is poised to pen a new deal with Napoli and "snub" interest from Old Trafford.
Gossip first appeared linking the 29-year-old to United earlier in the season and the rumours have gathered pace as Mertens took his season's tally to 24 goals in 32 Serie A matches. With his current deal expiring at the end of the 2017-18 season this summer had been seen as the make or break moment in his Napoli career, but the Belgian is ready to commit himself to the Italian club.
In conversation with Corriere dello Sport, club president Aurelio de Laurentiis was asked to describe the progress of the negotiations. "I believe that we are close and therefore the signature should arrive shortly," said De Laurentiis. "Let's just say that in a week we should achieve what we have been talking about."
There is better news for the Red Devils in the Manchester Evening News, which claims that Bordeaux forward Malcom is hoping for an approach from Manchester United this summer.
The 20-year-old moved to the French club from Brazilian outfit Corinthians although he was linked to Old Trafford even before he signed terms with the French side. The MEN claims that Jose Mourinho is "intent on reinforcing" his squad in the close season and in addition to Malcom, described by the MEN as a potential right back, St Etienne's Kevin Malcuit and Celtic teenager Kieran Tierney are among those being watched.
The same goes for Malcolm, capped by Brazil at Under-23 level, and when asked about the rumours by Gazeta Esportiva, he replied: "I have a calm mind about that. I have a focused thought on the pitch and I leave it to my agent and my family to take care of… if a bid comes up I'll think of leaving, but now I'll just playing football."
Man Utd transfer news: Lukaku could snub Chelsea for United
9 May
Chelsea might be cruising towards the Premier League title but they might miss out in the fight to sign Romelu Lukaku, with Manchester United poised to gazump the Londoners at the last minute.
According to The Sun the Everton striker "could snub a potential return to Chelsea" in favour of a move to Old Trafford. It's been well documented in recent weeks that the 23-year-old Lukaku has refused to sign a new deal at Goodison Park and the Sun claims the despite the fact Chelsea have been on his tail he is looking favourably on a move to Manchester.
The paper goes on to say that the reason for Lukaku's reluctance to return to Stamford Bridge is "the playing style of manager Antonio Conte". It seems that the Chelsea gaffer expects his frontmen to help out in defence, "wanting them to constantly press their opponents while off the ball", and that's not much to Lukaku's taste.
As a result he is more tempted by United's interest with Jose Mourinho a long-term admirer of the Belgian and a manager who apparently won't ask so much of him in terms of defensive duties.
And another player being linked to Old Trafford is Burnley centre-half Michael Keane. The Daily Mirror says that United, who sold the 24-year-old to the Turf Moor outfit in 2015 for £2.5m, want him back because Jose Mourinho "believes he could be an ideal partner for Eric Bailly at the heart of his defence".
Keane remains a United fan and according to the Mirror "would jump at the chance" to rejoin the Red Devils. However, there is also interest from Liverpool with manager Jurgen Klopp an admirer of Keane and apparently he is "is confident of closing the deal" for the £25m-rated defender.
Man Utd transfer news: Shock £55m raid on City for Sergio Aguero
8 May
Is Jose Mourinho planning an audacious raid on neighbours Manchester City? The Sun says so with the paper reporting that the Man Utd gaffer is ready to launch a "shock £55m swoop to sign Sergio Aguero".
Apparently the Special Once had concluded that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not return to Old Trafford in the wake of his serious knee injury and therefore he needs a world-class striker, particularly given that Wayne Rooney is once again being tipped to make a move to China this summer.
The Sun says that Mourinho will "test the resolve" of City vis-a-vis Aguero with a big money bid next month, although whether he is successful may depend on whether United are in a position to offer the 28-year-old Argentine Champions League football next season. That is likely to be more of an obstacle to United than City's opposition with the Sun claiming that Pep Guardiola is ready to part company with Aguero even if it means offloading him to their neighbours.
Yet despite the reputed interest of Mourinho in Aguero, The Sun still maintains that United are tailing Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann. The paper even quotes Spanish outlet Diario Gol which say that the French forward "has reportedly told Real Madrid he will be joining Manchester United this summer".
If that's the case, it means that United must have triggered Griezmann's £89m buy-out clause and have agreed to pay him a "stunning contract worth £280,000-a-week".
Then again they may have spending money this summer. The Daily Express says that Wayne Rooney "will quit" Old Trafford next month and United can expect to make a pretty penny on his departure given that he still has a year to run on his existing deal.
China is his destination, says the Express, although it can't say for certain where. Four clubs are interested - Guangzhou Evergrande, Beijing Guoan, Jiangsu Suning, and Tianjin Quanjian - and apparently if Rooney accepts the invitation to join the Chinese Super League it "will net him £32m a season"
Man Utd transfer talk: Schmeichel or Oblak to replace De Gea
05 May
If Jose Mourinho thinks Kasper Schmeichel is signed, sealed and delivered he better think again because Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare has said he expects his gloveman to clock in for duty next season.
Wth David de Gea tipped to quit Old Trafford in the summer, Mourinho wants to install 30-year-old Schmeichel in the same jersey that his old man wore with such distinction during his days as a Red Devil.
Talksport says that the stories have "gained traction in recent weeks after Schmeichel changed agents", now being represented by Italian Luca Bascherini, a man with "strong ties to United". But when Shakespeare was asked if he expected the Dane to be back at the King Power Stadium next season he said: "I do… I have no problem with players wanting to progress [but] ultimately I think Kasper's happy here. We have had no offers."
Perhaps then, that's why The Sun says that Mourinho has set his sights on Jan Oblak, the Atletico Madrid keeper who comes with a £85m release clause. The Sun says that United will try and haggle the Spanish side down a few bob in their attempt to prise the Slovenian from the the Vicente Calderon.
Another player being linked to Old Trafford is Willian with Goal.com reporting the latest rumours on the Chelsea winger who is apparently high on Mourinho's shopping list. Although the South American loves London he wants to be playing regular football and that isn't happening at Stamford Bridge. Goal alleges he "has grown quietly frustrated with his lesser role" and the fact he still has "a positive relationship" with Mourinho could convince him to accept United's overtures in the summer.
And that is not the only reason for Blues to be worried about the intentions of their former manager with Goal.com also claiming that Mourinho is "considering making a summer approach for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata".
Although Morata is not a Chelsea player, but Antonio Conte is believed to be tailing the marksman after resigning himself to the summer departure of Diego Costa to China, and a battle between the two Premier League big guns is on the cards.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's anterior cruciate ligament injury has all but ended his time at Old Trafford and Mourinho is desperate to sign a proven sharpshooter in the summer. With Morata not seeing as much action as he'd like at the Bernabeu, he could be persuaded to renew an acquaintance with the man he worked with at Madrid several seasons ago.
Man Utd transfer news: Kasper Schmeichel to replace David de Gea?
02 May
They're already locked in a fight for the Premier League's all-important fourth place and Manchester United and City are also ready to scrap over Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel, reports The Sun.
The paper says that, with David de Gea being linked to a move to Real Madrid, United boss Jose Mourinho has put the Dane "high on his shortlist of replacements". And that has sparked a "major transfer scramble" between United and City.
Sky Blues manager Pep Guardiola has apparently been keeping a close eye on Schmeichel as he looks to sign a new shotstopper to replace the error-prone Claudio Bravo, and the Sun claims there "is the intriguing possibility of Joe Hart being offered to Leicester in exchange".
The Foxes are interested in the England gloveman who is currently on loan with Torino after Guardiola decided he didn't quite cut the mustard at the Etihad. The Sun says that Guardiola could offer Hart to Leicester if in return they hand over Schmeichel. But the paper believes United remain favourites to sign Schmeichel because he's just changed agents, linking up with Italian Luca Bascherini, "who has strong links with Old Trafford."
The Sun also says that United "have joined the race" to sign Ryan Sessegnon, the Fulham prodigy who is rated highly by the club and who in recent weeks has been linked to Liverpool.
The 16-year-old left-back is a regular for the Cottagers and the Reds have been tracking his progress for several months with manager Jurgen Klopp believed to be ready to table a summer bid. But United are now circling with Mourinho impressed by his maturity and composure.
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