Paper Talk: Agent urges United to call Saul; Courtois sale talk

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Manchester United have been urged to sign Saul Niguez, Chelsea could sanction the sale of Thibaut Courtois, while Juventus will bid for N’Golo Kante, according to Saturday’s papers.

 

UNITED ‘ENCOURAGED’ TO MAKE SAUL APPROACH

Agent Jorge Mendes has told Manchester United to sign Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez, according to reports emanating in Spain.

Spanish outlet OK Diario claims the player, who shares an agent with Jose Mourinho, could leave Atletico Madrid this summer if his release clause of 45million euros (£35million) is met.

Mendes, who helped United broker deals for David De Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo, retains a good relationship with officials at Old Trafford and has reportedly told the club they’ll have a top quality midfielder for a decade if they move to sign him now.

Atletico are obviously keen to hand the player a new deal – and thus increase his buy-out clause – with a number of Europe’s top sides circling. Arsenal and Barcelona have both also been linked with the player.

United have also been heavily linked with Benfica’s Renato Sanches and Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos this summer – but the chance to sign Saul might be too good an opportunity to pass up.

 

CHELSEA WILLING TO SELL COURTOIS – FOR THE RIGHT PRICE

Thibaut Courtois: Linked with move to Real Madrid

Chelsea have given Real Madrid encouragement to bid for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, with reports in the Daily Mirror claiming Antonio Conte is prepared to sell the Belgian for the right price.

A summer move would suit Courtois too – he has indicated to Conte he wants to leave the Bridge and has made no secret about his lack of happiness at the club.

The Belgium international’s strained relationship with goalkeepers’ coach Christophe Lollichon is one factor behind his discontent. He is also unhappy about missing out on the Champions League next season because of the defending Premier League champions’ dismal defence of the title.

Courtois’ discontent and complaints about life and training sessions at Chelsea have not gone unnoticed around the club.

The Blues put a whopping £73million price-tag on his head last summer but may be forced to drop that valuation, given his dip in form this season.

Southampton’s England international Fraser Forster is a potential replacement for Courtois, who could interest Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

 

 

AND THE REST

N'Golo Kante: Has enjoyed a stellar season for Foxes

Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has snubbed a summer move to Manchester United as he eyes a switch to Real Madrid (Daily Mirror)

Daniel Sturridge has warned Jurgen Klopp he wants to be a starter for Liverpool (Daily Mirror)

Italian giants Juventus have made a move for Leicester midfielder N’Golo Kante (Daily Mirror)

Stoke are confident they can rebuff any attempt by Everton to lure Mark Hughes away from the Britannia (Daily Mirror)

Roberto Martinez claims Everton can cope with losing in-demand star men Romelu Lukaku and John Stones (Daily Mirror)

Guus Hiddink has told Chelsea not to sell Willian to China (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United are set to seal a £46m deal for Benfica’s teenage midfield sensation Renato Sanches (Daily Mail)

West Ham and Inter Milan are planning to bid for Bournemouth’s Max Gradel this summer (Daily Mail)

Swansea City will move to re-sign Joe Allen from Liverpool this summer, setting up a potential reunion with Brendan Rodgers (Daily Mail)

Pep Guardiola will compile detailed tactical dossiers to ensure Manchester City’s summer signings hit the ground running next season (Daily Mail)

Swansea are in talks with Roberto Di Matteo as they grow anxious waiting on Brendan Rodgers (The Sun)

West Ham plan to make a double swoop for Bournemouth pair Max Gradel and Adam Smith (The Sun)

Jurgen Klopp is after Cologne keeper Timo Horn as his new No 1 and is plotting a £7m raid for the 22-year-old (The Sun)

James Rodriguez is set to leave Real Madrid this summer with agent Jorge Mendes already looking for his next club (The Sun)

Manchester United are looking to £34m-rated Atletico Madrid Saul Niguez this summer but could lose out to Barcelona (The Sun)

Jose Mourinho has been assured in the last 48 hours that he will be Manchester United’s new boss (The Sun)

Victor Valdes will return to Manchester United after Standard Liege cancelled his loan deal (The Sun)

Chelsea are ready to part ways with £24m to sign Ajax star Riechedly Bazoer this summer (The Sun)

Manchester United and Tottenham are hot on the trail of Real Madrid’s teenage striker Pedro Ruiz (The Sun)

Manchester United are leading a host of Premier League clubs in the race to sign Real Madrid wonderkid Pedro Ruiz (The Sun)

Manchester United targets James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos could both leave Real Madrid this summer (The Sun)

Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini could have kicked his last ball for the club after Toon chief Rafa Benitez this afternoon ruled him out for the rest of the season (The Sun)

Mauricio Pochettino says his new five-year deal can help him “do a Fergie” and build a dynasty at Tottenham (Daily Express)

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he will not hesitate to leave out Daniel Sturridge again after saying that he omitted the striker for the defeat by Villarreal to make Liverpool stronger off the ball (The Times)

Jose Mourinho has an agreement in principle to become the next manager of Manchester United but nothing has yet been signed between him and the club (The Times)

Alexandre Pato’s parent club Corinthians expect Chelsea to take up their option to buy the 26-year-old Brazilian forward at the end of the season (Sky Sports)

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, 28, has denied speculation that new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has lined him up as a replacement for John Terry, 35 (Daily Express)

West Brom’s on-loan midfielder Sandro, 27, would welcome a permanent move from QPR to the Hawthorns this summer (Daily Mail)

Manchester City are lining up a summer move for highly rated West Ham defender Reece Oxford, 17 (Daily Mail)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he has left defender Jon Flanagan out of recent squads because he wants the 23-year-old to work on his “physical resistance”.