Paper Talk: United want Aubameyang, Ivanovic to Inter

Branislav Ivanovic, Pierre-Emerick Aubemayeng and Simon Mignolet in the news

Ivanovic, Aubemayeng and Mignolet in the news

Manchester United will enter the race for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Liverpool will offer Simon Mignolet a new deal, while Branislav Ivanovic could join Inter Milan on a free transfer, claim Wednesday’s papers.

UNITED ENTER AUBAMEYANG RACE

Manchester United have entered the race to sign £42million-rated Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The striker, whose goal celebrations have seen him don Spider-Man and Batman masks, has emerged as one of Europe’s deadliest frontmen and the race to try to prise him out of the Bundesliga club is hotting up.

According to reports in both the Daily Mirror and Daily Star, United boss Louis van Gaal is determined to win the scrap for Aubameyang, who currently has a £42million price-tag.

Van Gaal has had the 26-year-old watched several times this season and is now ready to firm up the Old Trafford giants’ interest.

Aubameyang has bagged 22 goals in just 18 games for Dortmund in the current campaign – including 17 in 14 league matches.

As well as the goal threat, the former Monaco and Saint Etienne striker possesses the pace Van Gaal admits his side desperately need.

Capable of playing wide or up front, France-born Gabon international Aubameyang is also the type of “multi-functional” player the former Bayern Munich coach likes.

His current deal, signed in the summer, doesn’t expire until 2020, but Van Gaal is considering testing Dortmund’s resolve as early as January.

Although the Germans are expected to knock back any bids that arrive then, there is an acceptance there that if he continues scoring at his current rate there may be little they can do to hold onto him next summer.

Barcelona are also in the hunt for Aubameyang and have run the rule over him this season, while the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

LIVERPOOL OPEN NEW DEAL TALKS WITH MIGNOLET

Liverpool have opened discussions with Simon Mignolet over a new contract, according to The Guardian, offering further evidence of manager Jurgen Klopp’s confidence in the goalkeeper.

Klopp said on Tuesday he was not looking to sign a No1 despite, reports that claimed otherwise.

Mignolet, who signed for Liverpool from Sunderland in June 2013 for £9million on a five-year deal, would see his £60,000 a-week salary increased if he agrees a new contract.

Klopp claimed before Wednesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final at Southampton that Liverpool are not in the market for a goalkeeper after being linked with Stoke City’s Jack Butland and the Belgium Under-21 Guillaume Hubert.

INTER TO END IVANOVIC’S CHELSEA NIGHTMARE

Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini will attempt to lure Branislav Ivanovic from Chelsea by offering him a lucrative two-year deal.

Chelsea defender Ivanovic’s current contract expires next summer and he can start talking to foreign clubs about a Bosman free transfer from next month.

Ivanovic hoped to have extended his seven-year Stamford Bridge stay by now but he hasn’t yet been offered a new deal by the Blues amid a poor season by the Serbian’s own usual high standards.

And, according to both the Daily Express and Daily Mirror, the Italians are now aiming to exploit the uncertainty by firming up their long-term interest in the 31 year-old.

They hope to tempt Ivanovic by offering him the security of a two-year deal, double the length he would get from Chelsea.

AND THE REST

– West Ham, Stoke and Watford have been told to forget about signing Juventus striker Simone Zaza in January (Daily Star)

– Arsenal are considering a move for Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur as Arsene Wenger’s injury crisis grows (Daily Express)

– Manchester City’s chances of luring manager Pep Guardiola and star player Lionel Messi from Barcelona have been boosted by the sale of 13 per cent of the club to Chinese investors (Daily Mirror)

– Reading boss Steve Clarke wants to sign £5m-rated LA Galaxy striker Gyasi Zardes (Daily Star)

– Ander Herrera insists he is happy at Manchester United, despite reports to the contrary (The Independent)

– Steve Morgan wants up to £40m to sell Wolves (Daily Star)

– Arsenal have joined the Premier League list of suitors for Bordeaux’s Henri Saivet, after scouts from Everton, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Swansea and Bournemouth saw him score in the 2-1 Europa League defeat at Liverpool last week (Daily Mirror)

– Leicester striker Jamie Vardy is in talks to turn his journey from non-league football to the Premier League into a Hollywood movie (Daily Telegraph)

– Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has revealed he turned down the chance to buy Jamie Vardy for £800,000 in 2012 (The Sun)

– Kevin Watson is a front-runner to become the next Colchester United manager (Daily Mirror)

– Barcelona are being pushed to the absolute limit of their finances as they try to keep star players Lionel Messi and Neymar from moving to the Premier League, with Manchester City and Manchester United interested in signing them (Daily Mail)

– Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez says he will not walk out on the relegation-threatened club to join Tottenham (Daily Mail)

– Arsenal have not given up hope that Alexis Sanchez could return for the Premier League match against Manchester City on December 21 (Daily Telegraph)

– Chelsea are confident of beating Tottenham to use Wembley Stadium while they redevelop Stamford Bridge into a new 60,000 capacity stadium (The Times)