United sweet on Sancho
Former Manchester City star Jadon Sancho is being eyed up by the English club’s noisy neighbours, with Manchester United reported to be the “shock favourites” to sign the teenage winger from Borussia Dortmund.
Described by the Daily Mirror as an “18-year-old wonderkid”, Sancho has earned his first England call-up this season after attracting the notice of Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate in the Bundesliga.
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The teenage sensation has scored five times this season and claimed seven assists, and now United are looking to lure him back to the Premier League.
Blossomed in the Bundesliga
Sancho left City for Dortmund in 2017 and has blossomed in Germany, scoring twice last weekend in the 2-2 draw against Hertha.
Jose Mourinho is said to have sent his scouts to run the rule over the wideman, and a bid is expected next year - possibly as early as January.
The Mirror says that City included a buy-back clause into Sancho’s Dortmund deal, but United are still “the favourites to secure his services”.
Could Conte be bad for United?
Real Madrid have sacked Julen Lopetegui - and that could have ramifications for the Red Devils.
The Daily Star reports that now Lopetegui has got the Bernabeu chop, the favourite to replace him is Antonio Conte.
The former Chelsea manager is believed to be in discussions with the Real board, and the Star says that he’s already drawn up his wishlist - and that it includes the names of four Manchester United players.
The quartet are Paul Pogba (whom Conte coached at Juventus), Alexis Sanchez, Ander Herrera and Romelu Lukaku, and Real is expected to give him the money to fulfil his ambition.
Metro echoes the Star’s claim that Conte will be the new Real manager but makes no mention of his targeting United players, only declaring that the Italian has demanded a new striker and central defender.
Toby or not Toby
The Manchester Evening News (MEN) says that Mourinho’s priority in the January transfer market is a centre-back and that this time he won’t be denied.
It’s no secret that the Special One was the seething one in August when he was unable to persuade the board to sanction a move for a defender, but with United struggling at the back, he should get his way in January. According to the newspaper, Toby Alderweireld is United’s first choice.
Approaching the last six months of his Tottenham contract, the Belgian blocker is believed to be after a fresh challenge, and the MEN says that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy “will be under pressure to cash in in the new year”, given the cost of rebuilding White Hart Lane.