Euro Paper Talk: Deal finalised as Man Utd claim huge discount on midfield kingpin
Manchester United are close to securing a deal for a top midfield target, while Arsenal are in a tussle for a Basel defender – all in the latest Euro Paper Talk.
MAN UTD NEAR HUGE SAUL NIGUEZ DEAL
Negotiations over a deal for Manchester United to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez are “practically closed”, according to a report.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the first steps to revolutionising his midfield with the signing of Bruno Fernandes in January, but the Norwegian is said to want more recruits.
As well as Leicester’s James Maddison and Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, Atletico kingpin Niguez has also been linked after his continued excellent form this season.
Niguez has a €150million (£131million) release clause in his contract but a previous report claimed United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was prepared to offer €80million (£75million).
And that fee is said to have become his new price given the financial uncertainties across the sport.
According to Spanish publication Todofichajes, the two clubs have been in negotiations over that transfer fee for Niguez, who is now “very close” to becoming a United player.
The report claims that the Red Devils are aware of the good chance of Paul Pogba leaving this summer, which will offload a sizeable chunk -if not all – of the cost to sign Niguez.
As such, Todofichajes adds that the agreement between United and Atletico will be made official at the end of the season.
AND THE REST
Arsenal will battle with Galatasaray to sign Basel defender Eray Comert, 22 (Fanatik)
Portuguese football coach Pedro Caixinha has predicted that Raul Jimenez’s desire to go “one step higher” will see him leave Wolves (TUDN)
Tottenham are interested in signing Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who may be keen to team up again with former goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos (La Voix du Nord)
Spurs defender Juan Foyth is a transfer target for Barcelona when the transfer window re-opens (Mundo Deportivo)
Brighton and Everton have joined Napoli and Roma in the battle to sign Sassuolo attacker Jeremie Boga (Il Messaggero)
RB Leipzig will set their sights on Werder Bremen attacker Milot Rashica if Timo Werner completes a move to Liverpool (Bild)
Leicester, Inter Milan and Monaco are all keen on signing Benfica’s William Carvalho, who could make the Portuguese club the most money out of all potential sales (O Jogo)
Manchester United have set aside £35million for a bid for Benfica’s Carlos Vinicius, who has a release clause of £88million (A Bola)
Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic has a verbal agreement with Barcelona after rejecting offers from United and Paris Saint-Germain (Sport)
Barcelona could yet offer a swap deal to sign Pjanic, with Arthur Melo, Jean-Clair Todibo and Nelson Semedo all reportedly candidates to be involved (Mundo Deportivo)
Manchester City academy star Thierry Ambrose, who joined Metz on loan for the season last summer, is expected to sign a permanent deal with the French side (Foot Mercato)
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has backtracked on his comments last week that it would be unfair to hand Barcelona the LaLiga title if the Spanish top flight is brought to an abrupt end (Mundo Deportivo)
The agent of Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini has claimed that Napoli are interested in his client (Gonfialarete.com)