Bailly to Arsenal
Manchester United will part company with defender Eric Bailly next month.
The Daily Mirror says the Red Devils are prepared to let him join Premier League rivals Arsenal. There is a caveat, however, with the Old Trafford board insisting that the Gunners “stump up” £30m.
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That’s what it cost United to sign the centre back from Villarreal in 2016 and they expect to recoup that fee having decided that the 25-year-old has no future at the club.
The Mirror says there is also “expected to be interest in the Ivorian from La Liga clubs”, and United hope competition for Bailly’s signature will drive up the price.
Fernandes hunt back on
Pep Guardiola has called off the chase for Sporting Lisbon playmaker Bruno Fernandes. According to The Sun the Manchester City boss has instead turned his attention to Rodri at Atletico Madrid and that means the way is clear for United to table a bid for Fernandes.
The Sun says that United are serious in bringing the 24-year-old to Old Trafford and they believe they can get him for as little as £50m now that City have pulled out of the race.
Sporting had hoped a bidding war between the two Manchester clubs would result in them netting Fernandes’ £86m buyout clause, but now it seems more likely that they will have to settle for less.
Fab four
The Daily Express reports that Fernandes is in fact one of four midfielders on United’s radar with the others being West Ham’s Declan Rice, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and Leicester’s on-loan Monaco star Youri Tielemans.
With Ander Herrera set to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer intends to use his departure to shake up his midfield. The Express says that the Spaniard will be “the first of several big names to leave United this summer”.
Lukaku talks
Another player who could be leaving Old Trafford is Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku with the Daily Star saying that Solskjaer “plans to hold heart-to-heart talks” with him next week.
In recent weeks Lukaku has admitted he would be up for a stint in Italy’s Serie A and with his form falling away this season he could get his wish.
Premier League final day fixtures: Sunday 12 May (3pm)
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Manchester City (live on Sky Sports)
- Burnley vs. Arsenal
- Crystal Palace vs. AFC Bournemouth
- Fulham vs. Newcastle United
- Leicester City vs. Chelsea
- Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (live on Sky Sports)
- Manchester United vs. Cardiff City
- Southampton vs. Huddersfield Town
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton
- Watford vs. West Ham United
