Man Utd transfer news: Lukaku, Pogba, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, De Ligt
Reports in Italy claim that Romelu Lukaku has ‘agreed terms’ with Inter Milan
Lukaku on his way to Italy?
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku appears to be closing in on a move to Inter Milan with reports in Italy suggesting he has “agreed terms” with the Serie A club.
According to the Daily Mirror he would earn a £6m bonus payment in the move, although other details still seem rather sketchy.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“The two clubs are yet to agree a fee with United looking for around £70m for the Belgium striker,” says the paper. “But he made no secret of his desire to play under [Antonio] Conte, who has returned to management with Inter.”
The Belgian made headlines earlier in the week by waxing lyrical about his admiration for former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, his love of Italy and his desire to play in Serie A, adding that he had already taken a decision about his future.
The 26-year-old was signed from Everton in 2017 but has proved a divisive figure among the Old Trafford faithful and has been erratic in his two seasons at United.
Deja vu for Pogba
Not for the first time in his career Paul Pogba may be experiencing a sense of deja vu – with talks under way over a possible return to Juventus.
The mercurial French midfielder is reportedly available for anything between £100m and £150m this summer and Sky Sports claims that the Italian champions are interested.
So interested in fact that Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici has travelled to England for face-to-face talks over the potential transfer.
“Negotiations are at an early stage, with Juventus right-back Joao Cancelo understood to be part of discussions,” Sky Sports reports.
Pogba isn’t the only player on Paratici’s radar, and the prospect of a deal could be clouded by the threat of a ban hanging over the Frenchman’s agent Mino Raiola, who is currently barred from doing business in Italy.
Real Madrid have also been linked with the United star, but Pogba is already familiar with life in Turin.
Juventus first signed him from Manchester United in 2012. On that occasion he joined on a free transfer, before rejoining United for £90m in 2016.
Wan-Bissaka wants deal
In-demand Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is keen on a move to Old Trafford, but his club are less enthusiastic and are holding out for a mammoth £70m fee.
A £40m offer was rejected by the south London club last week but the Daily Mail says United are “determined” to land their man.
“Palace will not sell for less than £50m but their valuation of the 21-year-old is closer to £70m,” the paper reports, adding that Palace hold the aces as “they are under no pressure to cash in on one of their prized assets”.
The defender is under contract until 2022, but United “want a fresh face to come in at right back”, says the Mail. Long-serving winger-turned-defender Antonio Valencia is leaving and the club also want to cash in on Matteo Darmian.
United will break bank for Maguire
If Wan-Bissaka does sign for United he could find himself lining up at Old Trafford alongside Harry Maguire.
The Evening Standard reports that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prepared to “break the bank” to land the Leicester City and England centre-back, who they tried and failed to sign last summer.
The Foxes are demanding £90m for Maguire, a figure that United consider “excessive”, according to the Standard. But it has not put them off.
“Solskjaer wants a top-class central defender as part of his Old Trafford rebuild this summer,” says the paper, which adds that United “accept they will have to break their transfer record for a defender” to land him.
“United walked away from Maguire 12 months ago – believing Leicester’s valuation of £60-70m was inflated by his impressive World Cup. But they will almost certainly have to pay in excess of that to land him now.”
De Ligt PSG deal is ‘fake news’
United may still be in with a chance of landing Ajax prospect Matthijs de Ligt after his agent, the ubiquitous Mino Raiola, dismissed as “fake news” reports that he was on the verge of signing for Paris Saint-Germain.
Raiola was pictured in Paris with a French journalist, who said that he was there to conclude the deal with PSG. Not so says Railoa, who declared: “He asked me to take a picture together, but I did not know who this gentleman was. I have never spoken with him.”
According to the Daily Mirror that simple denial has “handed a boost to Barcelona and United that they could still land the Dutch teenager”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published