Insane rumour
Manchester City star Leroy Sane has laughed off rumours that he might be open to a move to Old Trafford.
Claims that the German winger was ready to head to Manchester United surfaced last week, with bookmakers slashing the odds on his turning traitor. But the 22-year-old insists there is no truth to the reports, Metro reports.
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.
Asked if he was ready to swap the Etihad for Old Trafford, Sane said: “That won’t happen… that won’t happen at all.”
On the right side
According to the London Evening Standard, Sane is in negotiations over a new contract at Manchester City and is “adamant his future lies with the Premier League champions”.
Asked to reaffirm his allegiance to the Sky Blues, the German youngster said: “I am really happy here and I’m on the right side.”
With City and United set clash in the Manchester derby on Sunday, the newspaper says the transfer speculation has “stoked up rivalries” ahead of a clash that would leave the Red Devils 12 points adrift of their noisy neighbours if they lose.
Milan to bid for Bailly?
Meanwhile, ESPN has broken the news that AC Milan are “planning a January move for Eric Bailly”.
The Ivory Coast defender has become “increasingly unsettled by his lack of opportunities under Jose Mourinho”, according to the broadcaster, which says that the Italian giants are confident they can strike a deal with the Red Devils in the new year.
Bailly, who arrived in a £30m deal from Villarreal in June 2016, is expected to be on the bench for United against Juventus tomorrow night, but he is said to believe “he has lost Mourinho’s faith”.
As a result, he will look favourably on any approach from a European powerhouse that can offer him regular game-time.
As for Mourinho, ESPN says he intends to beef up his back four in January, “with Inter Milan centre-half Milan Skriniar and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld the prime targets”.
Benatia on the radar
Another defender on United’s target list is Juventus star Medhi Benatia. Metro reports that United “are poised to make a move” for the defender in January.
The paper claims that the Benatia is fed up with warming the Turin bench and wants to move to a club where he’ll see more action.
Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the 31-year-old Moroccan centre-back, but Metro - citing Italian outlet Tuttosport - says United “have made their interest in Benatia known”.
-
August 16 editorial cartoonsCartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include football season anticipation, and Donald Trump angling for Putin's autograph
-
5 hilariously cold cartoons about the Alaska summitCartoons Artists take on the Alaskan totem pole, a peace flag, and more
-
Journalists killed in Gaza: a chilling assaultIn the Spotlight Anas al-Sharif and three of his Al Jazeera colleagues were targeted by the IDF
-
How do new stadiums affect football clubs?In the Spotlight Everton's decision to move its men's team out of Goodison Park could be a catalyst for vital change, but there are cautionary tales too
-
Liverpool's Anfield redemption: how did they do it?Talking Point Arne Slot's blueprint and standout player performances guide the Reds to record 20th league title
-
Where are all the English football managers?Talking Point Eddie Howe's Carabao Cup success underlines absence of homegrown coaching talent in the Premier League
-
New Trafford: can it fix Manchester United's footballing problems?Talking Point Plan for £2 billion stadium despite staff job losses and lack of success on the pitch
-
Denis Law obituary: fond farewell to 'the King of the Stretford End'In the Spotlight Scottish footballer who was one of Manchester United's 'Holy Trinity' has died aged 84
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten HagTalking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
-
The wit and wisdom of Sven-Göran ErikssonIn Depth The first foreign coach to manage England on football, life and death
-
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
