Paper Talk: Messi asks Barca to buy PL duo; Bale hope for Man Utd

Lionel Messi has two names figuring prominently on his list of Barcelona targets, while Man Utd could sign Gareth Bale – but at a price, according to Sunday’s newspapers.

 

MESSI WANTS TOP PREMIER LEAGUE PAIR AT BARCELONA

Lionel Messi has told Barcelona to sign Philippe Coutinho and Ander Herrera in January.

The Daily Star Sunday, quoting Spanish outlet Diario Gol, say Messi wants the duo to sign for the club in January after identifying the duo as key arrivals for the La Liga giants.

Barcelona’s interest in Coutinho is nothing new given their failure to land him over the summer and their vow to come back in for him in January. However, it’s now claimed Messi and Barcelona have discussed alternatives should they fail to land Coutinho, with Mesut Ozil and Juan Mata among those discussed.

Furthermore, it’s also claimed that Messi wants Barcelona to sign Herrera to strengthen their midfield resolve. The Spaniard is highly thought of by Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, but has had to wait for his chances this season, with the arrival of Nemanja Matic and the form of Marouane Fellaini pushing him down the reckoning.

AND THE REST

Tottenham and Chelsea will go head to head in the race to sign MK Dons defender Callum Brittain (Mail on Sunday)

Liverpool are keeping tabs on young Fortuna Sittard defender Perr Schuurs after the 17-year-old impressed on trial at Anfield (Mail on Sunday)

Crystal Palace are keeping tabs on Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun (Mail on Sunday)

Everton are ready to bid £31m for Sporting Lisbon’s 25-year-old midfielder William Carvalho despite the Portuguese club saying he is not for sale (Mail on Sunday)

Torino’s 23-year-old striker Andrea Belotti, a target for Manchester United and Chelsea, is set to be offered a new contract at the Italian club (Mail on Sunday)

Manchester United could finally push through a deal to sign Gareth Bale, but Real Madrid want David de Gea in return (Sunday Express)

Liverpool will face competition from Barcelona in the race to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk (Daily Star Sunday)

Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in a deal for Tottenham’s Danny Rose (Daily Star Sunday)

Manchester United reject Memphis Depay has revealed he expects to play for Real Madrid one day (Daily Star Sunday)

Arsenal and Tottenham are keen to sign Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez in the next transfer window (Sunday Mirror)

Injured Santi Cazorla faces crunch time to save his Arsenal career, having not played for the Gunners since October 2016 (Sunday Mirror)

Tottenham’s new stadium may not be ready for the start of next season (Sunday Mirror)

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: Linked with man United move

Manchester United target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the subject of ‘several offers’ ahead of January transfer window (Sunday Mirror)

Arsenal are prepared to pay £20million for Napoli defender Nikola Maksimovic in January (Sunday Mirror)

Liverpool have been ‘dealt a huge transfer blow’ in their pursuit of Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka after he was offered a new contract by Schalke (Sunday Mirror)

Pep Guardiola wants Ryan Bertrand to boost Manchester City’s title hopes (The Sun on Sunday)

Everton want Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez as Ronald Koeman’s replacement at Goodison Park (The Sun on Sunday)

Bacary Sagna could be on his way to Italy to join Inter or AC Milan, despite interest from Leicester City (The Sun on Sunday)

AC Milan insist they are not making moves to lure Antonio Conte back to Italy (The Sun on Sunday)

Reece Oxford could be on his way out of West Ham after Slaven Bilic left his future at the club in doubt (The Sun on Sunday)