Euro Paper Talk: Solskjaer demands Sporting star as Pogba successor

Manchester United are preparing an approach for a €100m Sporting star seen as Paul Pogba’s replacement, while Napoli are poised to secure an impressive triple raid, including a deal for a Tottenham man, according to Saturday’s European papers.

 

MAN UTD BID TO WIN RACE FOR BRUNO FERNANDES

Manchester United are giving serious consideration into bidding for €100m-rated Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, according to reports in the Portuguese media.

The attacking midfielder has been linked with Manchester City in recent weeks, but their interest is thought to have cooled amid claims they are trying instead to sign in-demand Benfica youngster Joao Felix – tipped as the next Cristiano Ronaldo.

And according to Sport Witness, via A Bola, that will leave the door open for United to swoop in for Fernandes, who has carved out a fine reputation for himself in the Portuguese capital.

It’s suggested manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will offload Paul Pogba this summer – most likely to Real Madrid – and sees Fernandes as the man he wants to replace him with in the United midfield. The paper goes as far to suggest that Solskjaer has demanded United make a firm bid for a player, who could fetch as much as €100m.

The Portuguese paper concludes that Fernandes’ agent Miguel Pinho will sit down to ‘listen to the terms’ the Old Trafford have to offer for his client before making any decision on his future.

 

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AND THE REST

Kieran Trippier’s wife, Charlie, is in Naples checking out schools for their young children, fuelling reports that Napoli are close to sealing a deal for the Tottenham right-back. The news will come as a blow for Man Utd, who are also keen (Sky Italia)

Napoli have approached Bournemouth over a summer deal for €30m-rated central defender Nathan Ake as a possible replacement for Raul Albiol (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Napoli have also struck a €40m deal to sign PSV Eindhoven forward Hirving Lozano this summer – fuelling talk that Lorenzo Insigne could be allowed to move on (Corriere dello Sport)

Jose Mourinho has been offered a three-year deal to return to Italy with Roma – and could be offered a huge warchest to turn them into Serie A title contenders (L’Equipe)

West Ham are interested in a summer move for Alaves’ Chilean defender Guillermo Maripan (Marca)

Bayern Munich have cooled their interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Julian Brandt over concerns about his consistency – leaving Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund as frontrunners for his signature (Bild)

Real Madrid are interested in Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek – and are willing to meet the €50m asking price on the 21-year-old Dutchman’s head (Marca)

Real Madrid are believed to be lining up a move for Neymar in summer 2020 amid claims a clause in his contract allows him to leave for €160m (Mundo Deportivo)

Real Betis have ruled out making a £20m bid for Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos (ABC de Sevilla)

Manchester United have agreed to sign Toni Kroos as part of any deal for Paul Pogba – but their demand for Raphael Varane leaves Real Madrid in a difficult situation (various)

Arsenal are still keen on signing €35m-rated Getafe defender Djene Dakonam this summer (Marca)

Bayern Munich legend Stefan Effenberg believes James Rodriguez has no choice but to leave Bayern Munich, if he wants to save his career (AS)

Barcelona are considering a swoop for Alexandre Lacazette this summer if they can’t persuade Atletico Madrid to part with Antoine Griezmann (Mundo Deportivo)

Fiorentina are prepared to offer a double-your-money new contract to Federico Chiesa, to ward off interest from the likes of Liverpool (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Manchester United have already opened negotiations with Benfica over defender Ruben Dias (Record)

Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze has admitted his ambition to play in England amid €60m links with Liverpool and Manchester City (Tribal Football)