Paper Talk: Man Utd still want £100m Prem man to fill Pogba void
Manchester United are lining up Paul Pogba’s perfect replacement, although it could cost them £100m, while Mikel Arteta is ready to make a move for a Man City defender, according to Thursday’s transfer gossip.
UNITED EYE PERFECT POGBA REPLACEMENT
Manchester United have reportedly retained an interest in signing Jack Grealish, as Paul Pogba looks certain to quit the club.
The Red Devils were strongly linked with a move for the Aston Villa and England playmaker all summer, but no formal offer was made.
Villa were demanding £70-80m at the time, although the Daily Mail now claims that price has jumped to £100m due to Grealish’s stunning form for club and country this season.
The 25-year-old has five goals and five assists to his name and has become a regular in Gareth Southgate’s national side.
And now The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell suggests that United are ready to renew their interest in signing the player.
He claims that there has ‘been a feeling that United may have missed a trick by not signing him’.
The creative midfielder is viewed as an ideal replacement for the unhappy Pogba, while he can also take some of the creative burden off Bruno Fernandes.
Whitwell said: “His new contract protects his value for Aston Villa, but Grealish still has admirers at United.”
United will likely have to make him the most expensive British player in history if they are to sign him.
Whether they would be prepared to spend that sort of money on one player, with other glaring needs, remains to be seen.
However, there could be a major vacancy at Old Trafford if Pogba gets his wish to leave, with Grealish seemingly the perfect man to fill it.
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ARTETA TARGETS CITY MAN
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keeping tabs on young defender Eric Garcia’s situation at his former club Manchester City. (The Sun)
England’s ‘big six’ clubs could all be part of a new-look Champions League amid UEFA chiefs’ latest plans to fend off the genuine threat of a breakaway European Super League. (The Sun)
Brazil striker Hulk, 34, is willing to take a 90% pay cut to seal a free transfer to the Premier League after ending his four-year spell with Shanghai SIPG. (The Sun)
Race row Romanian ref Sebastian Coltescu looks set to dodge a 10-game ban – by quitting football. (The Sun)
Raul Jimenez’s father says the striker’s fractured skull ‘won’t have any consequences’ on his Wolves future. (The Sun)
Diego Maradona’s relatives have begun fighting over his £37million fortune – with at least 16 battling for a slice. (The Sun)
RB Leipzig will have to pay £16.2m to sign Champions League hero Angelino on a permanent basis in the summer. (The Sun)
AND MORE GOSSIP
Paul Pogba is heading for the Manchester United exit following heart-to-heart talks with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over his substitute role in the crushing defeat to Red Bull Leipzig. (Daily Mail)
David Seaman believes Dean Henderson may have to part ways with Manchester United. That is if he wants to challenge Jordan Pickford for the spot as England’s No 1 goalkeeper. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United’s early exit from the Champions League has cost the club a minimum of £8.6m. (Daily Mail)
Slaven Bilic could become the first Premier League manager to be sacked if West Brom lose against Newcastle. The Baggies chiefs are already looking at alternatives to the Croatian manager. (Daily Mail)
Samuel Umtiti could leave Barcelona to join Juventus on loan during the January transfer window. (Daily Mail)
Liverpool are hoping ‘sporting guarantees’ can convince Kylian Mbappe to take a wage-cut and join the Premier League champions. (Daily Mirror)
Hatem Elhamed has confessed he has struggled to settle at Celtic – as three Israeli clubs battle to sign him in the New Year. (Scottish Sun)