Paper Talk: City to pay Barca star’s release clause; PSG looking to snatch De Gea

Rob McCarthy

French giants PSG are ready to make a big-money move for a Manchester United star, while Man City are set to pay the release clause of a Barcelona midfielder, according to Monday’s newspapers.

PSG EYE MOVE FOR MAN UTD STOPPER

Paris St-Germain are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

The Spain star has been continually linked with a return to Madrid since a switch to Real fell through in 2015, but it would now appear that French giants PSG have entered the running for the 26-year-old.

PSG made a huge statement when they landed Neymar in a world record deal this summer, backing that up with the loan arrival of Kylian Mbappe, and have the backing of their Qatari ownership to land more big-money deals.

And according to the Daily Express (via Le10 Sport), they are now looking to replace current stoppers Kevin Trapp and Alphonse Areola with the outstanding United man.

Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak has also been mentioned a potential target but PSG believe that they have more chance of getting De Gea next summer.

PSG’s director of football Antero Henrique is said to have already talked to the player’s agent Jorge Mendes about a move to Ligue 1.

AND THE REST

Virgil van Dijk is staying at Southampton this January and will not be allowed to join Liverpool until next summer (The Sun)

France boss Didier Deschamps has confirmed N’Golo Kante is out of France’s qualifier against Belarus (The Sun)

Manchester City are prepared to pay the €40m (£35.8m) release clause in Sergi Roberto’s contract at Barcelona (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy has checked into a Barcelona hospital to continue his rehab from knee surgery (the Sun)

Former Italy international Andrea Pirlo, 38, has refused to rule out a coaching role with Antonio Conte at Chelsea after announcing he will retire at end of MLS season where he plays for New York City.

Ben Woodburn has been warned he will be on the Wales bench because of Tom Lawrence’s form (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea target Alex Sandro, 26, is set to be handed a new contract by Juventus (Daily Star)

Barcelona are weighing up a move for Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, according to reports in Spain (Daily Mail)

Wayne Rooney deserved more from his England career, says Sven-Goran Eriksson (Daily Mail)

Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna, released by Manchester City in the summer and still without a club, is wanted by Leicester (Manchester Evening News)

West Brom are among a group of Premier League teams who are understood to have been offered former Portugal international Raul Meireles (Birmingham Mail)

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy is still baffled by Rangers’ decision to sell Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn to the Tractor Boys (Daily Record)