Dani Alves snubs Man Utd as Premier League's stock falls

(Image credit: David Ramos/Getty)

published 19 March 2015

With no English clubs left in the Champions League following Manchester City's exit at the hands of Barcelona on Wednesday, is it any wonder players appear to be turning their noses up at the Premier League? Dani Alves is the latest allegedly having second thoughts about England.

•Ten million or take a hike: that's the message from Benfica to the admirers of Joao Cancelo, who hope that their asking price of £10.8m will deter a quartet of Premier League clubs from making a bid. According to the Daily Star Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool are all trailing the 20-year-old, who is currently on loan with Spanish outfit Valencia. The Portuguese full-back has been scouted by United in recent weeks and Louis van Gaal remains the favourite to sign Cancelo in the summer, though the Star says it might come down to a bidding war.

• Manchester United look like they've come a cropper in their pursuit of Barcelona right-back Dani Alves. In recent weeks speculation has been growing that the veteran defender was poised to move to Old Trafford in June but Metro claims he'll "be offered a new contract at Barcelona". Arsenal and Liverpool were also mentioned as interested parties but reports from Spain indicate that the 31-year-old Alves will be offered a contract extension after all, and unless it's derisory the Brazilian is expected to extend his stint at the Camp Nou.