The rumours circulating about Manchester United's interest in Eric Dier just won't go away, and the Daily Star says the versatile Tottenham star has told friends he is “excited" by the prospect of working with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
The United boss is urgently looking for a holding midfielder and has turned his attentions to Dier because his attempts to sign Nemanja Matic from Chelsea seem doomed.
Matic looked set for a £40m move from Stamford Bridge but Chelsea are now playing hard ball after United hijacked their attempts to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton.
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The Star says that the United hierarchy, including executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, are keen on Dier but it will be difficult to lure him away from White Hart Lane. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is known to drive a hard bargain and will be reluctant to lose one of his star names.
Levy values England international Dier at £60m which, The Star says, is about £20m more than United are prepared to pay. It could be that a compromise of £50m is reached, especially if United offer to double Dier's wages.
Dier has not always been able to play in his preferred position in midfield following the arrival of Victor Wanyama at White Hart Lane and a move to Old Trafford could suit him.
Should a move for Dier come to nothing, United will turn their focus to Roma's £40m midfielder Radja Nainggolan, says the Daily Mail.
Nainggolan, 29, is a powerful midfield player and Belgian international. He was a target for Chelsea and Antonio Conte registered an interest in him last summer.
Finally, there is a bit of bad news for United fans concerning the future of Ivan Perisic, says the Daily Express.
United have been heavily linked with a move for the Inter Milan winger and a deal was expected to go through.
But the Express, citing Sport Italia as its source, use quotes from sporting director Piero Ausilio which appear to pour cold water on the deal. Ausilio said: “It's not happening. Perisic is training with us and so far we have not taken into consideration anything that Manchester United have offered us."
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