Paper Talk: Manchester United want Verratti as PSG eye Pogba

Rob Conlon
Marco Verratti: PSG Midfielder has 15 caps for Italy

Marco Verratti: PSG Midfielder has 15 caps for Italy

Paris St-Germain are set to allow Marco Verratti to join Manchester United, while Roy Hodgson has been told England need to make the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, according to today’s papers.

 

UNITED GIVEN VERRATTI HOPE

Paris St-Germain could allow midfielder Marco Verratti to join Manchester United in order to make room for their own signing of Juventus star Paul Pogba.

France international Pogba – who Sir Alex Ferguson allowed to join the Italian giants – is arguably the most sought-after player in Europe, having been linked with a return to Manchester, plus Barcelona and Real Madrid.

However PSG hope to persuade the 22-year-old to move back to his homeland, paving the way for Louis van Gaal to sign Italy international Verratti, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.

The Red Devil’s midfield has come under fire in recent weeks for a lack of pace and energy after some lacklustre displays.

Verratti, 23, would certainly add some tenacity to the centre of the park at Old Trafford and would be seen as a real coup should he move to the North West.

 

FA WANT HODGSON TO STAY – BUT ENGLAND MUST IMPROVE

The future of England manager Roy Hodgson is a hot topic in the papers this morning after FA chief executive Martin Glenn indicated he wanted the manager – whose contract expires after Euro 2016 – to also lead the team at the 2018 World Cup.

However, Glenn did insist that Hodgson’s side need to show “demonstrable progress, both in results and style of play” at this summer’s tournament, following the embarrassing group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup.

And according to the Daily Mail, this means anything less than the quarter-finals and the FA will be looking for a new manager to take over.

In truth, that is hardly an unreasonable expectation, with England drawn in Group B against Russia, Wales and Slovakia, while they could also qualify for the knockout stages even if they finish third.

The Independent, meanwhile, suggest that should Hodgson not carry on in the role, then the FA are likely to appoint a foreign coach, given the lack of English candidates.

 

AND THE REST

  • Pep Guardiola will inform Bayern Munich whether he is to remain at the German giants or leave the club in the summer (The Sun)
  • Vito Mannone is free to leave Sunderland when Jordan Pickford returns from his loan spell at Preston – Bournemouth, Ipswich, Reading, Verona and Bologna are all interested in the Italian (Daily Mirror)
  • Swansea City are monitoring Jorge Sampaoli’s dispute with Chile ahead of a potential move to make FIFA’s Coach of the Year their next manager (WalesOnline)
  • Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has registered his interest in becoming the next Fulham manager (Daily Mirror)