Paper Talk: Man United ‘in limbo’; Alli in £50m Spurs exit

Mark Scott
Matteo Darmian: Lack of interest

Man United are worried about one particular outcast while Tottenham are bracing themselves for a £50million bid for midfielder Dele Alli., according to Friday’s papers.

FEAR OVER JANUARY SALES

Manchester United are worried that they will not be able to offload full-back Matteo Darmian in the January transfer window, according to The Sun.

The £13.7million arrival from Torino has failed to impress Jose Mourinho so far this season and has been restricted to just eight appearances for the Red Devils.

Mourinho was hoping that the Italian would be one of the bigger names to leave Old Trafford, but there has been no firm interest shown in him despite being linked with a move to either Juventus or Inter Milan.

United would be willing to loan Darmian out in January with a move to selling him permanently in the summer, yet this try-before-you-buy approach has still not led to any club making an enquiry.

DELE IN DEMAND

Dele Alli: Linked with big-money exit

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have both been linked with a £50million move for Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli.

According to the Daily Mirror, the French giants are said to be feeling confident about landing the England international who they feel can help them in their pursuit of the Champions League trophy.

Real Madrid are also lurking in the background, but PSG are seemingly more ready to test Tottenham’s resolve.

The Ligue One champions kept a firm eye on the 20-year-old last season and have continued to monitor his progress throughout this season.

Alli is one of a whole host of Tottenham first-team players to recently commit his future to the North London club, but his reported £60,000-a-week wages give PSG an opportunity to offer a significantly higher amount to tempt him to move to Paris.

Tottenham would be able to make a huge profit on the man that cost them £5million from MK Dons, but Mauricio Pochettino will be determined to keep one of Spurs’ brightest talents.

AND THE REST

demarai gray

Everton could try to sign Leicester winger Demarai Gray, 20, in January after losing Yannick Bolasie to a serious knee injury, which could keep him out for over a year (Daily Mirror)

Everton are also interested in Manchester United forward Memphis Depay, 22, and attacking Napoli player Manolo Gabbiadini, 25, for whom they may be willing to bid £18m (Sun)

Watford, West Brom, Swansea and Everton want Manchester United winger Ashley Young, 31 (Manchester Evening News)

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are both keen on signing 17-year-old AIK striker Alexander Isak, who is also interesting Chelsea, Manchester City and West Ham (Marca)

Valencia could try to sign 25-year-old Italy forward Simone Zaza, on loan at West Ham from Juventus in January (Superdeporte)

Borussia Dortmund have an agreement with Real Madrid that they will inform the Spanish side before selling striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 27, midfielder Julian Weigl, 21, or 19-year-old forward Ousmane Dembele to another club (Marca)

Manchester City are bracing themselves for defender Eliaquim Mangala, 25, returning in the summer as loan club Valencia do not want to take up their £15m option to sign him (Sun)

Leicester City striker Leonardo Ulloa, 30, who is a target for Sunderland, is prepared to leave the Premier League for China (Sunderland Echo)

Chelsea face competition from Tottenham and Juventus for 19-year-old Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie (Gianluca Di Marzio, via Daily Star)

The English Football League will offer clubs cash rewards to play more young and home-grown English players (Daily Mail)