Man Utd transfer news: Robert Lewandowski, Yerry Mina, Paul Pogba
Bayern striker Lewandowski and Barcelona defender Mina are on United’s hit list while Juventus want Pogba to return
Transfer doldrums
Jose Mourinho was more morose than usual at the weekend after seeing his Manchester United side thrashed 4-1 by Liverpool in front of 100,000 fans in the US.
The United gaffer used the post-match press conference to warn the Old Trafford board that his squad needs strengthening between now and the close of the transfer window at the end of next week.
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“I gave my club a list of five names a few months ago, I wait to see if it’s possible to have one of these players,” he told reporters. “I would like two more players. I don’t think I’m going to have two. I think it’s possible I’m going to have one.”
Yerry Mina on the radar?
And who might the one be? The Sun says that having failed to persuade Leicester City to part with Harry Maguire last week, Mourinho is now planning a “£35m move” for Barcelona’s Colombian World Cup defender Yerry Mina.
Apparently the 23-year-old is now surplus to requirements at the Camp Nou since the arrival of Frenchman Clement Lenglet. Consequently the Spanish giants are willing to talk business with United.
The Sun claims that Barcelona were “looking for £50m” when initial interest started but they’re now willing to drop their price by £15m if United pay up quickly. That still represents a healthy profit for Barca, who bought Mina for just £10.5m from the Brazilian outfit Palmeiras in January. The player is desperate for the deal to go through and will “plead for the Catalan giants to take less and let him have his dream move to Old Trafford”.
£70m or shut up
The Daily Star, on the other hand, believes that if Mourinho will land anyone in the next ten days it’s likely to be Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski. They and Real Madrid remain interested in the 29-year-old Polish frontman. According to reports from Germany, Bayern will “listen to offers of over £70m”.
Anything under that will be laughed out of Munich. It’s also said by the Star that Lewandowski is open to the idea of Old Trafford but only if he earns the same wages as Alexis Sanchez.
Currently on £300,000-a-week at Bayern, Lewandowski has demanded that he wants to be paid the same as Sanchez – a more respectable £505,000-per-week salary.
The Star says United are mulling over the ultimatum as are Real Madrid who see Lewandowski as the man to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juve in pole position for Pogba
Not content with signing Ronaldo from Real, Juventus are also chasing Paul Pogba, claims the Metro, and have even made contact with Manchester United about re-signing the French World Cup winner.
Apparently the Italian champions have told Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, they want him back and the feeling is mutual. The midfielder has let it be known that he’d be “open to a move back to Serie A”.
The Manchester Evening News claims that Juventus will sell four players to raise the necessary funds for Pogba – Miralem Pjanic, Gonzalo Higuain, Daniele Rugani and Mattia Caldar – and that United are ready to accept their £200m bid.
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