Euro Paper Talk: Man Utd close to €35m midfielder capture

Michael Graham

Also, Arsenal are plotting a bid for a Schalke midfielder, Borussia Dortmund are after a Barcelona youngster, while Liverpool are plotting a second raid of the summer on Roma, according to Thursday’s European papers.

MAN UTD CLOSE TO FABINHO CAPTURE

Manchester United are reportedly close to sealing a deal for Monaco midfielder Fabinho, according to reports in Italy.

The Corriere dello Sport claim that the Red Devils will seal a deal worth €35million in the coming days for the Brazilian.

However, that could represent something of a u-turn, considering just a few days ago it was also claimed that Jose Mourinho had dropped his interest inthe player.

Juventus and Inter Milan were also thought to be keen on completing a deal.

ARSENAL TO MAKE LEON GORETZKA MOVE

Arsenal are expected to follow up their initial interest in Leon Goretzka by making a firm offer for the Schalke midfielder.

The 22-year-old, who has won six caps for Germany, has enjoyed a brilliant season in the Bundesliga, and is being linked with a host of top clubs.

The box-to-box midfielder was a rare bright spark in a disappointing season for the Royal Blues and reports in Germany suggest the Gunners are primed to make a £21m bid in an effort to beat the likes of Tottenham and Juventus to his signature.

Schalke’s general manager Christian Heidel, however, insisted they won’t let him leave without a fight.

“Leon won’t be allowed to change clubs this summer,” Heidel said. “He will remain at Schalke beyond this summer.”

Arsenal are yet to confirm their reported interest in the player, but any move for the young midfielder would surely cast doubt on the long-term future of Granit Xhaka, who endured a slow start at the Emirates and who has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga.

 

DORTMUND MAKE MOVE TO SIGN BARCELONA YOUNGSTER

Borussia Dortmund have approached Barcelona to discuss the potential signing of promising youngster Lee Seung-woo, the player’s agent has revealed.

Agent Pere Guardiola – the brother of Man City boss Pep – says Dortmund are ready to activate the player’s €3million release clause to take him to the Bundesliga ahead of rival interest fro Schalke.

“Dortmund have enquired about Lee with Barcelona,” Guardiola told Bild.

“Talks are ongoing.”

Lee has a contract with Barca until June 2019, but he is yet to make his first-team debut for the club.

 

LIVERPOOL HANDED PARADES BOOST

Leandro Paredes: A reported summer target for Liverpool

Liverpool could switch midfield targets after Roma issued reported Leandro Paredes with a contract warning.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has made Naby Keita his top midfield target this summer, but RB Leipzig’s refusal to sell the player could force Liverpool to look elsewhere.

One of the players under consideration for Klopp is Argentinian star Parades, who has also been linked with Zenit St Petersburg and Juventus.

Paredes is currently under contract at the Stadio Olimpico until 2019.

But La Gazzetta Dello Sport claims Roma could be willing to sell him this summer.

The newspaper reckon Paredes has been handed an ultimatum – sign a new contract or leave.

Roma will apparently demand £22million from the player’s suitors – and the asking price could trigger Klopp into action.

The Liverpool boss is expected to bag Paredes’ Roma team-mate, Mohamed Salah, in the next 24 hours, and the publication suggests the Reds could launch a second bid of the summer on the club imminently.

 

CUADRADO TOLD HE CAN LEAVE JUVENTUS

Juan Cuadrado: Was eager to leave Blues

Arsenal have received a boost in their efforts to bring Juan Cuadrado back to the Premier League.

The Gunners reportedly saw a £17.6million bid for the Colombian rejected last month, but they could come back in with an improved offer despite the player’s agent insisting the former Chelsea star wants to stay with the Champions League finalists.

However, Arsenal’s hopes of luring him back to London have been lifted by reports in both La Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport, who insist the player can leave Turin for an offer in the region of €30million (£26.4million).

The Old Lady has just made his loan move for Chelsea permanent for just €20million (£17.6m) and selling Cuadrado would allow then to sign two new wingers with Federico Bernardeschi and Douglas Costa on the club’s wish list.

PSG have also been mentioned as suitors for Cuadradro, so Arsenal may have to see off competition from the French giants to land the former Fiorentina man.

Speaking about Cuadrado’s future, his agent said on Wednesday: “Juan does not want to leave Juve and Juve do not want to sell him so there are no ongoing negotiations at the moment.

“Nobody has neither contacted me nor Juventus and I am the only one in charge to talk about the future of Juan.”

Cuadrado has scored eight goals in 85 appearances for Juve since moving to the club in August 2015.

 

AND THE REST

Juventus have moved to sign Manchester United target Fabinho – and see the versatile Brazilian star as a replacement for Dani Alves as right wing-back (Calciomercato)

Chelsea are ready to offer €55million to sign Leonardo Bonucci (Tuttosport)

Torino have made contact to sign Genoa starlet Giovanni Simeone, who is also being linked with Everton and Watford (Tuttosport)

Real Madrid are waiting for Manchester United to bid for striker Alvaro Morata, 24, before the European champions pursue Monaco’s 18-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe (Diario Gol)

AC Milan CEO Marco Fassone insists Gianluigi Donnarumma will stay at the club next season despite a contract dispute. “Donnarumma is staying here. Next year he’ll be free to make a decision, but for now he stays.” (Milan TV)

Inter and Sevilla have reached a verbal agreement for the transfer of Argentinian midfielder Ever Banega (Sky Sports Italia)

Patrik Schick: Wanted by North London rivals

Patrick Schick is in Turin where he is having his medical with Juventus ahead of a €35million switch from Sampdoria. The Czech striker had been linked with Tottenham and Chelsea (Calciomercato)

Juventus are confident that they will be cleared of any wrong doings by FIFA over the sale of Paul Pogba to Manchester United last summer (Ilbianconero)

Former Inter Milan and Ajax boss Frank De Boer has been offered the Crystal Palace job

Inter Milan are in talks to sign Sampdoria’s Slovakian defender Milan Skriniar in a €13million deal (Gazetta dello Sport)

Jose Mourinho wants Manchester United to complete the signing of Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic, 28, before the squad travel to the United States for their pre-season tour (Gazetta dello Sport)

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed the club are on the verge of completing a £16.6m deal for Chelsea striker Bertrand Traore (L’Equipe)

Federico Bernardeschi is Juventus’ primary target to strengthen their attacking department (Tuttosport)

Lucas Biglia: Lazio star linked with exit

Lazio are ready to pay Luiz Gustavo’s release clause if Lucas Biglia joins AC Milan (Corriere dello Sport)

The rossoneri are also interested in James Rodriguez who can leave Real Madrid for €60million (Corriere dello Sport)

Inter are close to signing Fiorentina star Borja Valero (Corriere dello Sport)