Euro Paper Talk: Man Utd rival Spurs for €70m Italy youngster
Manchester United will rival Tottenham for an in-demand Italian star, but have cooled their interest in Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Everton have been overtaken in the race for a striker, according to Tuesday’s European papers.
MAN UTD JOIN RACE FOR ITALY STARLET
Manchester United have joined Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Roma starlet Nicolo Zaniolo, according to reports in Italy.
The 20-year-old midfielder is one of the most in-demand players in world football after a breakout year, in which he scored six goals in 36 appearances.
There is a lack of clarity over his future at present, as he has been asking for an improved contract at Roma in view of his displays last season – despite only signing one year ago.
Sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has admitted that the player isn’t for sale, but that “anything is possible.”
It was previously believed that Spurs and Juventus were the two main contenders for his signature – with the Italian preferring the latter, whom he supported as a child – but Rome-based paper Il Tempo add that Man Utd have also entered the race.
Zaniolo would certainly fit the profile Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking for in terms of young, determined players, but United will have to await the outcome of his contract discussions with Roma.
ARSENAL READY TO SPEND ZAHA FUNDS ON REAL MADRID PAIR
Arsenal will officially end their chase for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha by turning their attentions instead to a pair of Real Madrid stars instead.
With a deal for exciting Brazilian forward Everton Soares also within their sights – the clubs are said to have agreed a €40m fee – the Gunners have turned their attentions towards further strengthening their side.
As such Marca believes Arsenal are set abandon their efforts to sign Zaha, and will instead focus their efforts on landing two unwanted Real Madrid men for what looks like a lesser outlay.
With Palace holding out for a minimum £70m for Zaha – some way higher than what Arsenal are willing to pay – Marca reports the Gunners have now turned their attentions towards Spain.
And the Spanish paper reckons Unai Emery’s side are readying a double €60m (£54m) approach for winger Lucas Vazquez and goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who are among a list of nine players that the Spanish giants have made available for transfer.
It’s reported Navas would cost just €18m after falling behind Thibaut Courtois in the pecking order, while Spain winger Vazquez, 28, will be allowed to move on for a fee of around €42m.
James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Borja Mayoral, Jesus Vallejo, Brahim Diaz, Dani Ceballos and Mariano Diaz are the other seven players reportedly made available by Los Blancos this summer.
AS, meanwhile, are reporting that Arsenal are close to the loan signing of midfielder Ceballos, who is also on Liverpool and Tottenham’s radar.
Arsenal will likely need to offload players soon after with the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil and possibly one of their high-profile strikers set to move on.
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AND THE REST
AC Milan are confident of a new deal for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after both PSG and Man Utd cooled their interest (Tuttosport)
Napoli have rejected a bid of around €20m for Italian winger Simone Verdi, with Sampdoria and Torino linked (Corriere Dello Sport)
Atletico Madrid are actively trying to sell forwards Nikola Kalinic and Angel Correa this summer to recuperate funds (Marca)
Newcastle have targeted a move for Roma midfielder Maxime Gonalons, who spent last season on loan with Sevilla (Calciomercato)
Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin has reached an agreement with Benfica (Calciomercato)
Borussia Dortmund are leading Everton in the race for Moise Kean due to their willingness to let Juventus keep a buyback clause on the striker (Gazzetta Dello Sport)
Representatives of Brazilian club Flamengo are in Madrid to negotiate with Filipe Luis (Globo Esporte)
Roma have reached an agreement with Fiorentina for ex-Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Veretout, with personal terms already agreed (Gianluca Di Marzio)
Andre Schurrle could take a paycut to join Frankfurt from Dortmund (Frankfurter Rundschau)
Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham target Franck Kessie has been valued at €40m by current club Milan (Calciomercato)
Barcelona have taken up the option to re-sign Marc Cucurella from Eibar in €4million deal – but they could sell him straight away for €10m to Borussia Dortmund or AC Milan (AS)
Paris Saint-Germain have signed Abdou Diallo from Borussia Dortmund in a €32million deal
Inter Milan are ready to submit an offer for Romelu Lukaku (ESPN)
Inter Milan have identified Atalanta’s Colombian forward Duvan Zapata as a prime alternative to Romelu Lukaku should Manchester United continue to play hard ball over the striker (Corriere dello Sport)
Talks are continuing between Tottenham and Real Madrid over a deal for Gareth Bale; that despite the denials from the Welshman’s agent Jonathan Barnett (Marca)
Roma director Gianluca Petrachi has confirmed the club has held talks over a deal to sign Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Real Betis have spoken to Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir over a move as the Frenchman closes in on a €30m switch from Lyon (Le Parisien / ABC De Sevilla)
Manchester United have been quoted a price tag of €100m if they want to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer (Corriere dello Sport)
Atletico Madrid are nudging closer towards a €25m deal for Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier (AS)
Atletico Madrid believes signing James Rodriguez from Real Madrid would complete a ‘super attack’ and give them the options up front needed to win LaLiga. The club also has Joao Felix, Thomas Lemar, Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata at their disposal (Marca)
Juventus have finally agreed a fee of €75m (£67.5m) with Ajax for the signing of Dutch centre-back Matthijs De Ligt, with the deal finally set to be completed this week (Sky Italia)
Real Betis are poised to complete the signing of Alfonso Pedraza on loan with an option to buy. Initial deal will be for €1m, with permanent fee to be set at a further €15m (Marca)
Roma have targeted a deal for PSV winger Steven Bergwijn as their replacement for Stephan El Shaarawy (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Arsenal have given Milan the all-clear to sign Ismael Bennacer from Empoli for €16m and he’ll have his medical after the Africa Cup of Nations (Sky Italia)
Napoli star and Liverpool target Lorenzo Insigne is PSG’s No 1 target to replace Neymar this summer should the Brazilian be lured back to LaLiga (RAI Sport)
Sevilla sporting director Monchi is looking to bring Spanish attacking midfielder Luis Alberto back to the club from Lazio (Corriere dello Sport)