Euro Paper Talk: Man Utd to sign Monaco talent on Thursday

Manchester United will confirm their third signing of the summer on Thursday, while Steven Gerrard is set for a reunion with a former Liverpool teammate at Rangers, according to Wednesday’s European papers.

 

UNITED CLOSE ON THIRD SUMMER SIGNING

Hannibal Mejbri’s agent will fly into England for talks over a move to Manchester United for the talented teenager.

The Monaco youngster – just 16 years of age – is expected to become the club’s third arrival of the summer by close of play Thursday, according to reports in his homeland.

According to RMC Sport journalist Loic Tanzi, United have agreed to pay Monaco €10m to sign Mejrbi, with the midfielder set to go into their development squad once the deal is completed.

However, big things are expected of the youngster and it is hoped he will continue his progress and push for a place in the first team squad come a year from now.

United have so far signed Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but with a deal for Mejrbi imminent, the club will then turn their attentions to bringing in the likes of Paulo Dybala and Harry Maguire as United ready themselves for a busy end to the transfer window.

 

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MAN UTD’S MIDFIELDER PROPOSAL SET TO BE ACCEPTED

Rakitic Barcelona

Manchester United have agreed a €50million fee with Barcelona for Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, according to the latest reports from Spain.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been left with a void to fill as Andre Herrera walked out at the end of the season as a free agent to join PSG on a five-year deal.

Herrera has since explained why he opted to quit United, with the Red Devils since being heavily linked with a move for Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff as his replacement, but his astronomical £50m asking price will surely be deemed too much.

The Red Devils have also been repeatedly linked with a move for Rakitic over the past few months, and they will have been encouraged by reports suggesting Barca are willing to let him leave.

Rakitic has two years left to run on his existing deal at the Nou Camp and it is believed he has held talks over a possible new deal, but is yet to find any agreement.

Now, a report from Don Balon states that United are willing to pay €50million to secure Rakitic’s signature and that the amount is deemed satisfactory by the Catalan giants.

They go on to add that Rakitic’s sale may indirectly help their rivals Real Madrid, as Paul Pogba would in theory move ‘closer’ to the Bernabeu.

With the €160million that is recouped by Pogba’s potential sale they could also apparently sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and form a new-look midfield trident next to Nemanja Matic.

 

AND THE REST

Martin Skrtel is close to joining former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard at Rangers (The Scotsman)

Barcelona have made an improved offer of €27million plus Juan Miranda in a bid to beat Liverpool to the signing of Real Betis full-back Junior Firpo (Don Balon)

Fiorentina have agreed terms with Inter Milan to sign Radja Nainggolan on a season-long loan deal (Sempre Inter)

Arsenal defender Krystian Bielik is poised for a £9.5m switch to Derby this week (Przeglad Sportowy)

Everton have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City to seal a €40m deal for Brazilian starlet Reinier Jesus (Esporte Interativo)

Roma have turned their attention to Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren after being priced out of a move for Toby Alderweireld (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Manchester United are interested in signing Barcelona and France centre-back Samuel Umtiti (Le10 Sport)

Inter Milan and Argentina striker Mauro Icardi could be heading to Napoli in an €80m deal (Corriere dello Sport)

Patrice Evra has called former Juventus team-mate Paulo Dybala in an attempt to talk him into a move to Manchester United (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to battle Barcelona for the services of Marseille teenager Isaac Lihadji (La Provence)

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says he did not understand why manager Niko Kovac said the club were confident of signing Manchester City winger Leroy Sane (Bild)

Inter have made contact with Monaco over a move for striker Pietro Pellegri (Calciomercato)

Arsenal centre-back Shkodran Mustafi’s father and agent has played down the 27-year-old Germany international moving to an Italian club (Romanews)

Gonzalo Higuain’s brother and agent Nicola held talks with Roma on Tuesday over a transfer (Calciomercato)

Raphael Varane has said he believes his France team-mate Paul Pogba would be a “fantastic” addition at Real Madrid (AS)

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke says 19-year-old Portugal striker Joao Felix will become “one of the best players in the world” (ESPN)

Jose Mourinho is a candidate to take over the managerial job at Valencia (Libertad)

French champions Paris Saint-Germain have vetoed Barcelona’s move for Neymar (Marca)

Alternatively, PSG officials will meet their Barcelona counterparts to discuss a deal which will take Brazil international Neymar back to the Spanish club (Mundo Deportivo)

Barcelona winger Malcom has moved closer to joining Zenit St Petersburg after rejecting an offer from Everton. (Sport)