Euro Paper Talk: Barca line up Umtiti replacement as Man Utd get ready to pounce

Manchester United have been linked with no less than four Real Madrid stars, while Napoli are making moves to prevent Arsenal pinching one of their major assets, according to Wednesday’s European papers.

 

MOURINHO ASKS REAL MADRID ABOUT TRIO

Fresh from claims suggesting an £80million deal for Gareth Bale has been agreed, Jose Mourinho has reportedly asked Real Madrid about the possibility of signing three more of their stars this summer.

The Manchester United boss is hoping to take advantage of what is likely to be a wholesale clearout at the Bernabeu this summer by registering his interest in three of their possibly-departing stars.

Diario Gol claims Mourinho has asked United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to land him Raphael Varane, Luka Modric and Isco this summer should Real give any indication they will sell the trio.

Quite where all these players would fit into the Manchester United side remains to be seen, though the report suggests Mourinho sees the trio as key additions if the club are to close the gap on neighbours Manchester City next season.

BARCELONA PLOT MOVE FOR AJAX STAR

Barcelona are ready to step up their interest in Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt, amid claims the club are growing increasingly reigned to losing Samuel Umtiti to Manchester United.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona officials will be in attendance for Holland’s friendly against England on Friday night where it’s reported the 18-year-old could start in the centre of defence alongside Virgil van Dijk.

If the teenager impresses, the paper believes there is every chance Barcelona will launch a summer move for his services, with Ajax likely to hold out for a fee of at least €50million.

Their search for a new defender comes amid heightening fears that Umtiti could be tempted away from the club this summer by Manchester United. France defender Umtiti is one of four top targets for Jose Mourinho and his exit clause is still set at €60m (£52.4m) – hardly a prohibitive fee for the Premier League giants.

While Barcelona are keen to improve the defender’s contract and hugely raise his buy-out, the club reportedly don’t have much room to manoeuvre when it comes to wages and there is a growing concern that Umtiti will push for a move to Old Trafford, where he could more than treble his current Barca pay packet.

 

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AND THE REST

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis will meet with coach Maurizio Sarri this week to offer him a new deal and ward off interest from the likes of Arsenal (Corriere dello Sport)

Borussia Dortmund have joined Arsenal in the race for Trabzonspor starlet Yusuf Yazici (Turkish Football)

 

Roma will accept a €60m offer from Real Madrid for keeper Alisson this summer – after club directors decided they would not do business with Liverpool again after selling Mo Salah to them last summer. It’s also suggested they believe the sale of the popular star would be easier to explain to their supporters if the buying club were Real, as opposed Liverpool (Corriere dello Sport)

Manchester United have ended their interest in Antoine Griezmann and will instead make the signing of Gareth Bale their No 1 focus this summer (Don Balon)

 

Griezmann insists his Atletico Madrid future will be resolved before the World Cup (L’Equipe)

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, meanwhile, has held talks with Paulo Dybala as he tries to replace Griezmann with the Manchester United target (Mundo Deportivo)

Arsenal could miss out to AC Milan for Boca Juniors forward Cristian Pavon, amid talk a €40m bid is in the pipeline (Tuttosport)

Emil Forsberg has denied he has had a spat with RB Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuttl. The Swede has been linked with Man Utd, Arsenal and Bayern Munich (Kicker)

West Ham have had a 13.7million (£12m) offer for loan star Joao Mario turned down by Inter Milan (FC Inter News)

Gennaro Gattuso could sign a new deal with Milan next week to keep him in charge until 2020 (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Real Madrid have decided to sign Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and have ‘an agreement in principle’ with his agent Pini Zahavi. Real have opted for the Pole after deciding Harry Kane was too ‘introverted’ to succeed at the Bernabeu (AS)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has denied reports he was offered to Barcelona last summer (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Xabi Alonso: Enjoys Oktoberfest with his wife Nagore Aramburo

Prosecutors are demanding a five-year prison sentence for Xabi Alonso after he allegedly evaded tax from his time at Real Madrid (ABC.es)

Xavi claims that Barcelona’s summer signing Ousmane Dembele must improve dramatically to prove he deserves to stay at the Nou Camp (So Foot)

Cristiano Ronaldo has enquired about life in China, according to former Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (Esporte Interativo)

Marco Verratti has admitted that Paris Saint-Germain are lucky to have Brazil forward Neymar, who is reportedly a summer transfer target for Real Madrid (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Sevilla boss Vincenzo Montella admits it would be a dream for him to manage Italy (RAI Sport)

Alexis Sanchez has reportedly been sending messages to Colombian star James Rodriguez to join him at Manchester United this summer (Don Balon)

 

Planet Sport quiz: How well do you know Rory McIlroy’s career achievements (Golf365)?