Euro Paper Talk: City snub leaves Man Utd free to sign £50m Brazilian

Manchester United have emerged as favourites to land a £50m Brazil midfielder this summer, while Liverpool have been linked again with Gareth Bale, all in the Euro papers.

 

CITY SNUB SEES MAN UTD EMERGE AS FAVOURITES FOR BRAZIL STAR

Manchester City have reportedly cooled their interest in Fred, leaving the door open for United to sign the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder.

City had appeared in pole position to land the 25-year-old this summer, after being unable to complete a deal for the highly-rated Brazilian in January.

However, the chances of Fred now joining the runaway Premier League leaders are understood to have diminished and United are now the frontrunners to land a player who will give them a major boost in a central midfield area that will be without Michael Carrick and almost certainly Marouane Fellaini next season.

Asked about Fred’s future on Tuesday, Sergei Palkin, the Shakhtar chief executive, confirmed the £40million-rated star would leave the Ukrainian outfit this summer and said he expected he would move to Manchester.

“Fred will leave this summer,” Palkin told Corriere dello Sport. “If not to Manchester City, then to Manchester United. He is ready for the best championships. In addition to being very good, Fred is very professional.”

 

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LIVERPOOL IN FOR GARETH BALE

LIverpool are just one of several clubs keen to sign Gareth Bale in the summer, claims a report.

Spanish paper Sport via Calcio Insider suggest Jurgen Klopp is keen to get the 28-year-old Wales star on board as he hunts for a replacement for Philippe Coutinho.

Per the Catalonia source, Real want around 100 million euros (£88million) from the sale of Bale as they look to raise some cash to fund a potential move for Neymar.

A report from Don Balon in January claimed Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs were in the race to sign Bale and Sport have suggested Liverpool are intending on making a move for the player.

The Wales attacker faces an uncertain future amid reports that Real president Florentino Perez is willing to sell him, and a host of the other club’s top stars, at the end of the season.

Zinedine Zidane has shown support for Bale though and recently claimed after the two-legged Champions League win over PSG: “I respect all the players, including Gareth Bale. He wasn’t a starter in either leg, but he’s a very important player who causes lots of trouble to the opposition.

“We have to stay united, as we were tonight,” said Zidane.

 

UNITED GIVEN CHANCE TO COMPLETE DEAL FOR TWO RAIOLA CLIENTS

Chelsea and Manchester United continue to monitor Gianluigi Donnarumma’s situation at AC Milan and could look to sign him if they lose Thibaut Courtois or David De Gea, according to reports in Italy.

La Corriere dello Sport claims super-agent Mino Raiola is keen to get his client out of Milan this summer, despite the club’s current revival under caretaker coach Gennaro Gattuso, and is eager to offer him to United.

United of course would have no need to sign the Italian given David De Gea’s undisputed selection as their No 1, but amid talk PSG could launch a huge bid for the Spaniard, Jose Mourinho’s side have once again been linked with Donnarumma.

The teenager is rated at around €110million by Milan and it would take a world-record fee for a goalkeeper to sign him; however that fee would be dwarfed by the money PSG are said to be ready to offer for De Gea.

All the talk, however, looks pie in the sky given Mourinho has issued another warning over De Gea’s future on Tuesday, with United in no hurry to sell their prized asset.

Nonetheless, Raiola is clearly keen to get his client out of Milan this summer, though Chelsea’s chances of signing him would also hinge on Courtois’ future and the Blues’ apparently-thinning chances of securing Champions League qualification next season.

Meanwhile, more reports in the Italian press claims another Raiola client, Blaise Matuidi, is also high up on Mourinho’s wanted list.

According to Rai Sport, the Red Devils are looking at a possible move for France international, who is valued at a modest €20million (£18million) by Juventus – a fee that is unlikely to scare United off.

The 30-year-old only moved to Italy last summer, joining from Paris Saint-Germain, and has been a key cog in Max Allegri’s side this season.

It’s reported that Raiola has offered United the chance to sign the midfielder this summer; an option the club are keen to pursue with Michael Carrick retiring and Marouane Fellaini likely to leave on a free transfer.

The report adds that Juventus though will “fight hard” to keep Matuidi at the Allianz Stadium and may even try push United for a higher fee if they do decide to sell.

 

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AND THE REST

Arsenal have opened negotiations to sign Corinthians midfielder Maycon, 20, (UOL Esporte)

Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco are both interested in luring Liverpool target and Roma goalkeeper Alisson (Tuttosport)

Juventus have registered an interest in Arsenal midfidler Jack Wilshere, who could leave for free (Tuttosport)

Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio will scout Shakhtar Donetsk pair Bernard and Marlos tonight (Tuttosport)

Real Madrid could swoop to sign Marco Verratti after Lionel Messi was reported to have told Barcelona’s hierarchy that the PSG midfielder is not good enough to replace Andres Iniesta in their midfield (Diario Gol)

Pepe Reina underwent a medical with AC Milan on Monday and is thought to have agreed a two-year contract with an option for a further year. The deal is worth €3m a season (Corriere dello Sport)

Manchester United are in advanced talks to sign Valencia defender Jose Luis Gaya (RAI Sports)

On-loan Liverpool striker Divock Origi is “not happy” with his current plight at Wolfsburg but intends to stay and fight for his place (Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung)

Man Utd and Juventus target Thomas Meunier remains open to the possibility of leaving PSG this summer after admitting he has not been approached over a new deal

Newcastle are interested in Besiktas midfielder Tolgay Arslan (Haberler)

Jose Mourinho has made things clear to Real Madrid over their long-running interest in Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea (La Sexta)

Antoine Griezmann has committed to a move to Barcelona this summer despite Atletico Madrid wanting to improve his contract (Le 10 Sport)

PSG will demand €400million (£335m) if anyone wishes to sign Neymar this summer (Mundo Deportivo)

Napoli will make a €10m offer for Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont this summer – but the keeper is also on Roma’s radar as they prepare for the possible departure of Liverpool target Alisson (L’Equipe)

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has dropped the clearest indication yet he is ready to continue playing after this season

Real Betis have agreed to sign Eibar midfielder Takashi Inui as a free agent this summer (Marca)

Harry Kane has appeared to close the door on a move to Real Madrid this summer by insisting he dreams of playing for Tottenham in their new stadium 

Philippe Coutinho believes former club Liverpool will sign either Gareth Bale or Thomas Lemar this summer

Athletic Bilbao have reached ‘an agreement’ with Leganes Coach Asier Garitano for a move at the end of the season (Oye Athletic)

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson has surprisingly been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer (Marca)

Atletico Madrid winger Vitolo insists his side will not give up on a title pursuit despite an eight-point deficit to leaders Barcelona (Marca)

 

Planet Sport quiz: Test your knowledge on the career of Pete Sampras. (Tennis365)