Ole eyes Werner
According to The Sun, Manchester United are “lining up a move” for RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to beef up his side’s striking options.
Having scored just ten goals in nine Premier League games this season, United are in desperate need of a proven goalscorer.
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The Sun says the 23-year-old Werner fits the bill with 68 goals in 124 games in the three seasons he has been with the Bundesliga outfit.
United have been linked with a January move for Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic, but he has more than a decade on Werner and Solskjaer apparently considers the Leipzig ace a “more viable long-term option”.
But the Sun says the German club are “keen” to hold on to him until the end of the season and so United might have to show patience until June.
Maddison move soon
United are confident that they will sign James Maddison from Leicester City within the next year.
The Daily Express is one of several outlets to claim that Solskjaer is confident he will remain in his post and be allowed therefore to “continue his revamp at Old Trafford”.
Maddison is one of his January targets as the Norwegian looks to reunite the 22-year-old with former Foxes team-mate Harry Maguire.
The Express says “sources close to the club expect a deal to get over the line within the next year”, although it’s believed that Leicester will demand a hefty sum for the midfielder.
Maddison arrived at Leicester from Norwich two years ago for £20m and is now thought to be “worth triple that figure at £60m”.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers was phlegmatic about Maddison’s future when quizzed on the subject.
Rodgers said: “If you’re at one of the so-called top clubs, you’ll always look elsewhere for the best players, and when you’re a club like Leicester you’ll always be in danger of losing your top players. That’s football.”
Evra confirms talks
Manchester Evening News carries comments by United legend Patrice Evra concerning rumours he could be set to return to Old Trafford in a coaching capacity.
The former French defender explained he was not working for United but was simply “doing my coaching badges”. But in an interview with Sky Sports, Evra did admit that a position with United may be in the pipeline.
“I am having some important talks behind the scenes so we will decide whether I work for the club in a certain role,” he said. “A role where I can put my hands dirty. If I come back to the club, it’s not just to put my face on it, it’s because I want my club to go back to the best club in the world.”
