Euro Paper Talk: Man Utd barge Newcastle aside for colossal £103m striker signing; Barcelona star ‘accepts’ €35m move involving Tottenham, Liverpool

Man Utd have taken the lead in the race to sign an elite centre-forward who’ll cost £103m ‘at the very least’, while a Liverpool and Tottenham-linked Barcelona star has accepted a move and an Arsenal transfer has been delayed – all in Wednesday’s Euro Paper Talk.

MAN UTD SHOVE NEWCASTLE, CHELSEA ASIDE

Why the Red Devils have become the frontrunner for Victor Osimhen has been revealed, and developments at Napoli could conspire to result in the Nigeria international moving on this summer, per a report.

Signing a top-class centre-forward is priority number one at Old Trafford this summer. Moves at goalkeeper, centre-half and for Mason Mount are also wanted, but the striker signing will take precedence.

Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen have long been believed to be the two outstanding options on United’s radar. However, difficulties in signing Kane could now see Osimhen take centre stage.

Indeed, if convincing Tottenham to sell to a domestic rival wasn’t difficult enough, Karim Benzema’s move to Al Ittihad has prompted Real Madrid to step up their chase for Kane.

Spurs are reluctant to sell their all-time leading scorer, though if forced to cash in, they’d greatly prefer to sell overseas.

With that in mind, a fresh update from Gazzetta dello Sport talks up a Man Utd move for option number two – Victor Osimhen.

The 24-year-old was simply sensational this season, firing Napoli to their first league title since 1990 with 26 league goals.

Napoli have publicly indicated they’re under no pressure to sell their star frontman. However, change is already afoot in Naples.

Indeed, title-winning manager Luciano Spalletti has resigned and intends to take a 12-month sabbatical from football. With the manager who turned Osimhen into the footballer he is no longer at the helm, Osimhen may be more receptive to a new challenge elsewhere.

On the subject of which club he’d join, Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), report Man Utd are ‘ahead of the others’ in the race, namely Chelsea and Newcastle.

Explaining why, it’s claimed Osimhen would only select a club that has Champions League football on offer which immediately rules out Chelsea.

Newcastle will grace the UCL for the first time since 2003 next year, though Man Utd’s far superior ‘prestige’ and ‘winning tradition’ will see them favoured over the Magpies.

An Osimhen move to Man Utd is far from close, though it does now appear Old Trafford is the likeliest destination if a transfer takes place.

On the subject of cost, the report concluded ‘€120m (approx. £103m) at the very least’ will be required.

BARCELONA STAR HEADING FOR TOTTENHAM?

Barcelona enforcer, Franck Kessie, has ‘accepted’ he’ll be moved on this summer and €35m will be enough to seal a deal. Inter Milan, Liverpool and Tottenham are ready to pounce, but it’s Spurs who have emerged as his likeliest destination. (AS & Sport)

Arsenal are emerging as a threat to Tottenham and Sevilla moves for Galatasaray centre-half, Victor Nelsson. The 24-year-old has a release clause worth €25m and Galatasaray will sell to whoever meets that valuation. (Turkish press)

Man Utd are open to selling Anthony Elanga this summer and talks with RB Leipzig have been held. The Sweden international could net the Red Devils between €15m-€20m (approx. £12.9m-£17.2m). (Sky Germany)

Kim Min-jae is Man Utd’s “main” defensive target. Ten Hag’s side are “in contact” with the Napoli centre-back’s agents, though competition will come from Newcastle. (Fabrizio Romano)

Leeds Utd and Junior Firpo will part ways this summer and “several European sides” are showing interest despite a disastrous two-year stint at Elland Road. (Fabrizio Romano)

West Ham are a ‘hot candidate’ to sign Union Berlin striker, Sheraldo Becker. The 28-year-old scored 11 and assisted seven in the Bundesliga last term and will cost ‘up to €20m’ to sign. (BILD)

ARSENAL TRANSFER DELAYED

Arsenal hope to sign a replacement for Granit Xhaka before signing off on his €15m move to Bayer Leverkusen. Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo and Ilkay Gundogan are the three players in Arteta’s sights. (Sky Germany)

Newcastle and PSG are both showing interest in 23-year-old Nice centre-half, Jean-Clair Todibo. The Frenchman is expected to cost anywhere between €30m-€40m. (Nice-Matin)

Borussia Dortmund remain a firm fixture in the race to sign Man City captain, Ilkay Gundogan. The German veteran is out of contract this summer and clubs like Dortmund and Arsenal are prepared to offer a two-year deal, while City are only tabling a one-year deal with a club option for a second. (BILD)

Speculation forgotten Arsenal left-back, Nuno Tavares, is on course to join Galatasaray is wide of the mark. (Fabrizio Romano)

Man Utd are open to selling nine first-team players in a mass exodus this summer. The nine-strong list features: Dean Henderson, Alex Telles, Brandon Williams, Eric Bailly, Harry Maguire, Fred, Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Martial. (Mirror & Florian Plettenberg)

Speculation forgotten Arsenal left-back, Nuno Tavares, is on course to join Galatasaray is wide of the mark. (Fabrizio Romano)

MOURINHO MAKING BIG MOVES AT ROMA

Roma are close to signing free agent centre-half, Evan Ndicka. The Frenchman, 23, had been linked with Arsenal and Tottenham, though will now sign a five-year deal in Rome. (Gianluca Di Marzio)

Jose Mourinho’s side could add another new face in the form of PSG’s Mauro Icardi. Roma have a void up front after Tammy Abraham suffered an ACL injury in the last match of the Serie A season. (Corriere della Sera)

Elsewhere, Roma have initiated contact with Leicester free agent, Youri Tielemans. However, the Belgian’s camp have informed Roma Tielemans will prioritise remaining in the Premier League. (Gianluca Di Marzio)

Matt Doherty will not be offered a new contract at Atletico Madrid and will become a free agent this summer. The Irishman joined Atletico on a six-month deal in January after Tottenham mutually agreed to terminate his contract. (Matt Doherty’s Instagram)

Chelsea are the latest to join the race to sign Celta Vigo ace, Gabri Veiga. Other suitors include but are not limited to Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool, Newcastle, Man City and Real Madrid. (Guardian)

Real Madrid are reluctant to bid above €80m (approx. £69m) to sign Harry Kane. However, they could sweeten the deal by including French left-back, Ferland Mendy, as a makeweight. (Cadena SER)