Man Utd chief Woodward to use Pogba sale to fund transfer, £75m Liverpool exit, Chelsea

Monday, February 10

• Manchester United have taken a step closer to signing Jack Grealish, with Ed Woodward set to sell Paul Pogba and land the Aston Villa star
• Bayern Munich are ready to pay £75m for Liverpool star Roberto Firmino this summer, with the German giants also eyeing Manchester City’s Leroy Sane
• Real Madrid are hoping to beat Barcelona to Arsenal ace Gabriel Martinelli, with Florentino Perez a big admirer of the forward
• Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is keen to sign a striker in the summer transfer window and there are already two targets on the agenda

Chelsea striker signing?

Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez would prefer to join Barcelona over Chelsea, reckons former Liverpool full-back Steve Nicol.

Nicol believes Martinez would be the perfect replacement at Barca for Luis Suarez, who is currently out with a knee injury and is set to miss the remainder of the season.

“Would be a great signing for Chelsea,” Nicol told ESPN FC. “I think the problem for Chelsea is there may be if this guy becomes available, because I’m not quite sure if he’s available.

“Obviously money talks but if this guy is available and this guy keeps producing what he’s been producing, then Chelsea might be at the back of the queue.

“[Barcelona have] lost Suarez through injury, they’ll probably be losing Suarez over the next 12 months, 18 months to two years.

“They’re looking for somebody, he fits the bill big time.

“If it’s a choice for him of Chelsea or Barca… right [Barcelona].”

Aaron Ramsey to Man Utd backed

Manchester United have been backed to sign Juventus star Aaron Ramsey by former Chelsea man Tony Cascarino. That’s despite the club planning to swoop for James Maddison or Jack Grealish come the end of the season.

“Ramsey would be the perfect fit for United,” he wrote in his column for The Times.

“Ramsey played in Juventus’ defeat away to Verona on Saturday but it was fairly typical of his first season in Italy as he came on as a substitute and didn’t have an impact on the game.

“I can see the former Arsenal man back in the Premier League next season.

“Reports linking him to Manchester United make a lot of sense as he is the sort of player they need – a proven midfielder with goalscoring pedigree and plenty of Premier League experience.

“I could see him not costing too much, with Juventus possibly settling for £20 million as that would get them most of their outlay back.”

Real Madrid eyeing Man City star

Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Raheem Sterling ahead of a possible summer move for the England international, according to reports. The 25 year-old Manchester City winger, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, is under contract until 2023 and Los Blancos are weighing up their options about trying to sign the player at the end of the season.

According to The Telegraph, Real are closely watching whether Sterling will sign a fresh long-term deal with City.

And if no new agreement is agreed between the two parties, Real could then test City’s resolve with a bid for the winger in the summer.

Sterling is currently out injured after picking up an injury during their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham at the beginning of the month.

But City boss Pep Guardiola has since revealed the winger could only be on the sidelines for weeks rather than months.

Lionel Messi stance on Neymar to Barcelona

Lionel Messi still wants PSG star Neymar back at Barcelona.

The Brazil international left the Nou Camp for the Parc des Princes in 2017 but has regretted that transfer decision ever since.

Before the season started the Samba star tried to broker a sensational return to his old club.

And Messi, behind the scenes, wanted Barcelona to do everything in their power to land the forward.

That didn’t happen, with PSG always insisting the 28-year-old would not be allowed to depart.

But Goal say Messi still wants to be reunited with Neymar, with Barcelona struggling of late.

Liverpool handed Timo Werner boost

Liverpool have been handed a boost in their bid to sign Timo Werner in the summer transfer window.

Jurgen Klopp is considering a swoop for the RB Leipzig forward as he plots to strengthen his ranks for next season.

According to The Sun, Werner’s preferred option in the summer transfer window is a move to Anfield.

A string of clubs have been linked with the Germany international including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Werner has admitted he is open to a move to the Premier League in the future.

Man Utd Ighalo boost

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken of the “big, big boost” that new signing Odion Ighalo will give the Red Devils for the rest of the season.

Ighalo’s move to United has come under criticism from some fans who doubt the ability of the former Watford man, the club having missed out on the likes of Edinson Cavani and Erling Braut Haaland before recruiting the Nigerian.

But Solskjaer said of United’s new signing, who joins from Shanghai Shenhua on loan for six months: “Of course, we want players here who want to give everything they’ve got and Odion I know from before.

“He played in Norway and he’s got such a lovely personality, a great character.

“And he’s going to come in and be a big, big boost for both himself, his family, his country, but also our group.”

Liverpool plan

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has made Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz his top midfield target ahead of the summer transfer window, Express Sport understands.

Havertz is highly rated by Bayer, and it could take a fee close to a club record in order to prize him away.

The 20-year-old centre-midfielder has been a key player for Leverkusen so far this campaign, having scored four times and provided two assists in the Bundesliga.

He has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in Europe, and is wanted by multiple teams – including Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

But Express Sport understands that Premier League table-toppers are desperate to bring in the youngster.

Philippe Coutinho plan

Philippe Coutinho has been told he can leave Barcelona for a cut-price £77m this summer in the hope of attracting Premier League interest. The Brazilian playmaker is currently on loan at Bayern Munich, and they have got a £102m option to make the deal permanent.

Barcelona want to make several changes to their squad this summer and are planning to offload a number of players to fund the revolution under Quique Setien.

The Catalan giants are eager to ensure that they can sell Coutinho, who has already attracted interest from Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Express Sport understands they are willing to take a massive hit on the £142m they paid Premier League champions-elect Liverpool to lure him to Spain in January 2018.

Coutinho has struggled firstly at Barca and now isn’t impressing at Bayern, who have already made up their minds not to take up the option to buy.

Liverpool change plans

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will look to dip into the transfer market in the summer because Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will be missing for a portion of next season due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision was made for the tournament to once again take place in the middle of the European season earlier this year.

The 2021 edition will take place next January – an important time for Premier League sides to be picking up points following the hectic Christmas schedule.

And according to Football Insider, that means they could look to sign a new forward or two in the summer.

Joshua King talks failed Man Utd move

Joshua King admits a return to Manchester United was his “dream” but he insists he will give his all for Bournemouth as they battle against the drop.

“How close it was I have no complete answer to,” the 28-year-old told Norwegian broadcaster TV2. “I have to watch what I say.

“I had some faith that it was going to happen. And it was a bit sensitive for me considering that I moved over here as a 16-year-old to England to achieve my dream and wanted to reach that goal in Manchester United.

“It did not go [to plan] and then I made a choice and left. When you hear that you are connected to United and a bid comes in, then the feelings you had as a 16-year-old come back to you. But why it did not happen, I have not answered.

“I’m a Bournemouth player and I really enjoy it here. But it had been a dream come true, I will not lie.

“But that didn’t happen and I’m going to give everything to Bournemouth as long as I’m in this club.”

Man Utd handed transfer boost

Manchester United have taken a step closer to signing Aston Villa star Jack Grealish in the summer transfer window.

Goal say the 24-year-old has given the go ahead to head to Old Trafford at the end of the season.

It’s claimed United will likely sell Paul Pogba and use the funds to land Grealish.

United are demanding around £150m for the France international this summer, with Real Madrid and Juventus eyeing the midfielder.

The Red Devils are fully focused on signing Grealish after turning their attention away from Leicester’s James Maddison.

Liverpool’s £75m dilemma

Bayern Munich are ready to pay £75m for Liverpool star Roberto Firmino this summer.

The Sun say the German giants want partner Firmino alongside Manchester City ace Leroy Sane next season.

Bayern boss Hans Flick has identified Firmino as the ideal long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who turns 32 this year.

The Sun add that Liverpool are in pole position to sign RB Leipzig star Timo Werner this summer.

Real Madrid want Arsenal star

Real Madrid are hoping to beat Barcelona to Arsenal ace Gabriel Martinelli.

Barcelona had been one of the teams monitoring the Brazilian’s form for the north London club but amid the current turmoil at the Catalan giants, Real Madrid are now preparing to step in with their own pursuit of Martinelli.

Spanish publication El Desmarque say Real president Florentino Perez is hoping to exploit the unrest at Barcelona to pip their rivals to signing Arsenal’s Martinelli.

The Gunners signed the 18-year-old from Brazilian side Ituano last summer for a fee of around £6million.

However, before making the move to the Premier League, Martinelli had visited Barcelona to train at their La Masia youth academy but nothing materialised after this visit.

Chelsea striker plan

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is keen to sign a striker in the summer transfer window and there are already two targets on the agenda.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is keen to bring in some extra firepower this summer, when Abramovich is likely to spend big once again having only made one signing since recruiting Christian Pulisic in January 2018.

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, there are two names on the club’s radar.

The first of which is Moussa Dembele, the Lyon striker who is also attracting interest from Manchester United.

Second on their wish-list is Lautaro Martinez, who is developing into one of the most highly-rated forwards in world football.