Euro Paper Talk: Mourinho wants £40m target signed this month; Barcelona plot swap for Man Utd target

Barcelona are to beat Manchester United to a major target by offering a €130m star in exchange, while Jose Mourinho is ready to sign a £40m-rated Brazilian, according to Tuesday’s European papers.

 

BARCELONA PLANNING SHOCK €235M SWAP DEAL

Barcelona are ready to ditch €135million summer signing Ousmane Dembele, according to fanciful reports in Spain.

The France forward joined the La Liga pacesetters in what was then a club-record deal over the summer, but the former Borussia Dortmund man was sidelined by a hamstring in just his second game for the club.

Having just made his comeback, Dembele has once again been struck down by a hamstring problem and faces a another month on the sidelines – much to Barca’s frustration.

And according to a bold claim in Don Balon, Barcelona are ready to ditch their summer signing and have already contacted Atletico Madrid in an effort to use him as a makeweight in a €100m deal for Antoine Griezmann.

France forward Griezmann has long been on Manchester United’s radar, but the player appears to be leaning towards a move to the Nou Camp, given the gathering speculation in Spain.

And the claims – albeit quite fanciful – that Barcelona are ready to offer Dembele in a €235m swap deal for Griezmann, will only heighten claims that the player is bound for the Nou Camp, as opposed Old Trafford.

 

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AND THE REST

Manchester United are plotting a fresh bid to take Brazil midfielder Fabinho to Old Trafford and could launch a £40m move to bring him to Old Trafford this month (Don Balon)

AC Milan star Suso has refused to rule out a return to Liverpool

Everton are emerging as serious rivals to Sevilla in the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt Omar Mascarell (Marca)

Lazio president Claudio Letitia has again insisted he has no desire to sell €90m-rated midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, amid talk he is wanted by Man Utd, Man City and Juventus (Corriere dello Sport)

Real Madrid have agreed to pay the €110m exit fee in Mauro Icardi’s contract, with the Argentine due to move after the 2018 World Cup (Corriere dello Sport)

In-demand Brazilian Malcom is “asking questions” about his future, Bordeaux manager Jocelyn Gourvennec has revealed

Barcelona have rejected a €20m offer from Inter Milan for Rafinha Alcantara but both clubs are confident of a deal this month (Marca)

Real Madrid have confirmed once and for all they intend to sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga this month (Marca)

Schalke have reiterated they are still confident of keeping midfielder Leon Goretzka, who is a target for Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United

Khouma Babacar: Attracted interest from a host of clubs

Crystal Palace are in talks over a deal for £15m-rated Fiorentina striker Khouma Babacar (Sky Italia)

Swansea are to launch an ambitious double bid for Atletico Madrid pair Kevin Gameiro and Nicolas Gaitan (AS)

Roma have issued a statement to insist Radja Nainggolan will not be sold this month. The Belgian has been linked with a €50m move to China

Emre Can insists he has not yet signed a pre-contract agreement to join Juventus