Euro Paper Talk: Rakitic a no-go, but Liverpool will sign Barcelona star

Manchester United will go head to head with Juventus for two top Serie A stars this summer, while Liverpool could sign a Barcelona star as part of any deal for Philippe Coutinho, according to Thursday’s European papers.

UNITED BATTLING JUVENTUS FOR TOP SERIE A MIDFIELD DUO

Manchester United face a straight battle for Juventus to sign two top Serie A midfielders this summer, according to reports in the Italian media.

Atalanta’s Bryan Cristante and Lazio’s Serbian wonderkid Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have both emerged as favoured midfield targets for Jose Mourinho this summer, with the duo regularly being scouted by United’s scouting team.

Any deal for Milinkovic-Savic, however, won’t come cheap with the player commanding a reported €90million asking price.

Lazio will also be reluctant to sell their star player too, but should they give any indication they will allow him to leave, Il Gazzetta dello Sport claims Juventus will be at the forefront of the queue to sign him alongside United.

The same paper also claims Juventus also want to recruit Atalanta’s Cristante. Mourinho has earmarked the €40million-rated star as a replacement for Marouane Fellaini, who looks increasingly certain to quit Old Trafford at the end of the season.

And the player has dropped a strong hint that he would favour a move to the Premier League should United follow up their interest, telling the Italian paper: “So many people tell me: ‘The Premier League is the perfect place for you,’ and I agree with them. It’s physical, there’s a lot of tackling and open football. I can really see myself there. I was told at the end of a youth tournament that there were some Chelsea scouts there to watch me.

“The Premier League was a dream then and it’s still a dream now, just as I hope it will be a reality in future, although I don’t know when. Everything has its right moment.

“It’s one thing being attracted to a spell abroad when you are 19 years old, such as when I went to Benfica and realised I had to start all over again, but it’s another when you are no longer a kid and have already made your mark.”

 

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AND THE REST

Philippe Coutinho’s potential move to Barcelona has already caused anger and resentment among Barcelona’s senior stars (Diario Gol)

Liverpool will sign Andre Gomes from Barcelona as part of any deal for Philippe Coutinho after being told first-choice Ivan Rakitic is not for sale (Diario Gol)

Liverpool have rejected Juventus’ offer of €5.5million for Emre Can from Juventus (Tuttosport)

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has dismissed claims Man City have opened talks over a £53m deal for Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti, who is also a target for Manchester United (L’Equipe)

With Umtiti not longer an option, Manchester City will sign one of West Brom Jonny Evans or Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez. The latter will cost City the defender’s full €32m release clause (AS)

Gareth Bale has told his agent he has no interest in a move to Chelsea and will only join Manchester United if he leaves Real Madrid (Don Balon)

Arsenal have contacted AC Milan to offer them a chance to sign Theo Walcott on loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer (Corriere dello Sport)

Arsenal will look to make a January move for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if Alexis Sanchez leaves during the transfer window (Gianluca Di Marzio)

Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has already signed a contract with Real Madrid with the €20m set to be announced in the coming days (AS)

Sassuolo winger Matteo Politano is being chased by Inter Milan, Roma and Napoli (Sky Sports Italia)

Nice striker Alassane Plea has become a target for Villarreal (L’Equipe)

Olympique Lyonnais striker Mariano Diaz has not ruled out a future return to Real Madrid after leaving the Bernabeu this summer (Marca)

Italian giants Roma are launching a bid for Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran (Diario AS)

Benfica and Galatasaray are looking to sign Roma wing-back Bruno Peres, with the Italians looking to sign Aleix Vidal from Barcelona as his replacement (Calciomercato)

Sevilla have entered the race to sign out-of-favour Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu (Mundo Deportivo)