Saul for sale
Manchester United are the latest club to enter the race to sign Atletico Madrid and Spain midfielder Saul Niguez.
Better known as Saul, the 24-year-old was last month linked to Manchester City with Pep Guardiola regarding him as a long-term successor to Fernandinho.
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But the Daily Mirror, citing ESPN as its source, now state that the Sky Blues have cooled in their interest in Saul and are instead zeroing in on Rodri Hernandez, who plays alongside Saul at Atletico.
That’s opened a window of opportunity for their neighbours, and United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has identified playmaker Saul as the perfect complement to Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic.
The problem, however, might be the asking price with United unwilling to meet Atletico’s £128m release clause, particularly as they won’t make any money when Ander Herrera moves to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer next month.
Tielemans a target
Another midfielder said to be on Solskjaer’s summer shopping list is Leicester City’s on-loan star Youri Tielemans.
Metro claims that Tielemans has caught United’s eye since joining the Foxes on loan from Monaco in the January transfer window.
Apparently Leicester have also been impressed with the 21-year-old and while they are “in talks with Monaco about a permanent deal” the £38.3m asking price presents a problem for manager Brendan Rodgers.
Not so for United with the Belgian’s modest price tag far more appealing to Solskjaer than Saul’s. If a deal for the latter fails to come to fruition, United are expected to pinch Tielemans from under the noses of Leicester.
Cost for Costa
There could be another cheap deal looming for Solskjaer with the Daily Star’s claim that United may be able to land Juventus winger Douglas Costa “for £30m less than rivals Manchester City offered last summer”.
Apparently City attempted to sign the Brazilian last year but their £68m bid came to nothing with Juventus refusing to listen to offers. But Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri has now had a change of heart and decided that with Cristiano Ronaldo well settled Costa is surplus to requirements.
Italian outlet Il Bianconero report that Juventus “will not receive anywhere near the £68m that was offered just eight months ago”, and may be prepared to sell Costa to United for between £34m and £42m.
Who else is on the wish-list?
Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, 19, and Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, 18, are also on the Old Trafford wish-list says the Daily Mail. However, United may have to shelve their plans to sign the England wingers as Dortmund and Chelsea do not want to sell.
Independent reports that United and Paris-Saint Germain have both made initial enquiries for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane. The 25-year-old was a Fifa World Cup winner with France last summer.
Six set for the exit
Solskjaer’s intention to go shopping this summer is bad news for some of the existing squad, says The Times, and the paper claims that he “could discard as many as six players”.
Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian will be sold while Juan Mata and Ander Herrera are also out of contract in the summer “and the club are not close to agreeing deals with either player”.
The sixth player whose time at Old Trafford could soon be up is Alexis Sanchez. According to the Times the United board will not stand in Solskjaer’s way if, as expected, he decides he wants to get shot of the Chilean flop.
The problem, however, is that it “will be hard to find a club willing to pay his wages of £350,000 a week”.
Rivals eye De Gea
One player that Solskjaer wants to keep at Old Trafford is star goalkeeper David de Gea. The Daily Mirror says that United will not be forced into selling the Spanish No.1 this summer even if they fail to agree a new contract with him.
De Gea’s current deal expires in summer 2020 and United risk losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season. The Daily Express says that Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are “all monitoring the situation”.
Premier League results
Tuesday 2 April
- Watford 4 Fulham 1
- Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Manchester United 1
Wednesday 3 April
- Chelsea 3 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
- Manchester City 2 Cardiff City 0
- Tottenham Hotspur 2 Crystal Palace 0
Premier League fixtures and TV guide
Friday 5 April
- Southampton vs. Liverpool (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
Saturday 6 April
- AFC Bournemouth vs. Burnley (3pm)
- Huddersfield Town vs. Leicester City (3pm)
- Newcastle United vs. Crystal Palace (3pm)
Sunday 7 April
- Everton vs. Arsenal (2.05pm, live on Sky Sports)
Monday 8 April
- Chelsea vs. West Ham United (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
FA Cup semi-final fixtures
Saturday 6 April
- Manchester City vs. Brighton and Hove Albion (5.30pm, live on BBC One)
Sunday 7 April
- Watford vs. Wolves (4pm, live on BT Sport)
