Friday, February 21
- Juventus are planning a player-plus-cash transfer bid for Manchester United star Paul Pogba this summer involving Aaron Ramsey
- Southampton are ready to try to tempt Adam Lallana back to the south coast in the summer, however, Arsenal and Tottenham are also eyeing the playmaker
- Liverpool transfer target Timo Werner has been issued a stern warning by RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann after the striker said he felt “very proud” to have been linked with a move to Anfield
- Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has identified three leading transfer targets ahead of the summer
Man Utd striker transfer decision
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has decided he wants to sign a striker this summer after the club walked away from a deal to sign Erling Braut Haaland last month. Old Trafford chiefs have been left to lick their wounds following the decision, with Haaland making a break taking start to life at Borussia Dortmund.
The 19-year-old has already pounded in 10 goals in Germany, with his latest two coming in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
It was a performance that saw many Manchester United supporters question why they did not close the deal.
According to the Evening Standard, United boss Solskjaer has now decided he will definitely sign a striker this summer.
He wanted to bring one through the door in January and eventually did after a deadline day scramble for Odion Ighalo.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd are keen to spend (Image: GETTY)
Pogba could turn on Raiola
Paul Pogba will be putting pressure on his agent Mino Raiola to get him a move away from Manchester United, says transfer expert Duncan Castles.
“With Mino Raiola you’re talking about someone who has experience of losing an elite, or top level, valuable client quite recently,” Castles said on the Transfer Window podcast.
“Romelu Lukaku decided to dump Raiola as his agent ahead of his move to Inter in the summer, hiring an Italian agent to do the work on that transfer which would have cost Raiola a very significant commission, an ongoing percentage from Lukaku’s salary.
“There can come a point where the player says: ‘Well, actually, have you placed me in a difficult position? Did you send me to the wrong club in the first place? I want out of here and you keep telling me I’m a great player, I think I’m a great player but there’s no offer on the table from a better club where I can play in the Champions League and I can win titles, and it’s your job to get me one’.
“So you can understand that there would be pressure on Raiola there to churn the market up. He needs to generate an offer for Pogba.
“He talked about there are not many clubs that can afford to sign him and there can’t be a lot of clubs who are interested in him because they can’t afford to sign him, before saying there are no talks with any clubs at the moment.
“He knows he has to draw one of those very affluent suitors in and then manufacture a situation where he can get him out of Manchester United for a reasonable transfer fee, at least match the very substantial wage that he earns at Manchester United and preferably better it, and get the deal done.”
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd want a striker (Image: GETTY)
Kai Havertz to Liverpool
Liverpool will look to wrap up the signing of Bayer Leverkusen starlet Kai Havertz “discreetly”, says Steve McManaman.
The 20-year-old Germany international has been linked with multiple European heavyweights with Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona expected to challenge.
But McManaman thinks Jurgen Klopp’s side will look to do business under the radar.
“We’ll have to wait and see; he’s a young player with plenty to improve on, who might be the type of player that Liverpool are looking at rather than a fully-fledged superstar,” McManaman told HorseRacing.net when quizzed about Havertz.
“Liverpool do a lot of their transfer business discreetly, and a lot of the other players were bought when we didn’t know it was happening, such as the likes of Alisson Becker and Fabinho, while Virgil van Dijk was very much the exception.
“They’re very low key when it comes to signing players they want in the summer, that’s why I take transfer rumours at the moment with a pinch of salt – and if Liverpool want to do business then they’re not going to tell anyone else about it. They’ll try and get it done before anybody else knows.”
Transfer news LIVE: Pogba could turn on Raiola (Image: GETTY)
Jonathan Tah to Arsenal
Arsenal are showing interest in Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah.
But Mikel Arteta will have to spend big to bring him to the Premier League next season.
Tah, 23, joined the Bundesliga outfit in 2015 and has since made 167 appearances for the club and earned nine caps at international level for Germany.
SportBild claim Arsenal are interested and are considering triggering his £34million release clause but will have to see off the challenge from Atletico Madrid.
Jack Grealish urged to snub Man Utd for Liverpool
Former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor thinks Jack Grealish can do better than joining Manchester United this summer and has urged Liverpool to make an approach.
“I am not just saying this as I have played with him, but I honestly think he is the best attacking midfield option that England have got at this current time,” Agbonlahor told Bet O’Clock.
“That is why, when people say Grealish to Manchester United, he could do so much better than that, and he could walk into any team in the world, even Barcelona or Juventus.
“For where Manchester United are now, he could go to better teams around the world, so he doesn’t need to limit himself to just United and focus on teams who are playing in the Champions League.
“He is the missing piece that a lot of teams need right now. I watch Liverpool, and they are an outstanding team, but they are missing a player like him, Chelsea can’t break anyone down and are missing someone like Jack. Mason Mount is not on the same level as Grealish.
“There are a lot of teams that he would walk into, so it is down to Villa to have the resolve to reject bids and for them to grow as a club because they aren’t a team that should be fighting with relegation.”
Transfer news LIVE (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd swap deal
Juventus are planning a player-plus-cash transfer bid for Paul Pogba this summer involving Aaron Ramsey, according to foreign reports. Pogba expressed his desire to leave Manchester United last summer and Juventus are believed to have been among the clubs interested in signing the Frenchman.
According to Italian sports journalist Nicolo Schira, the Old Lady are planning to offer United £42m-£50m (€50m-€60m) plus Aaron Ramsey.
Ramsey joined Juventus last summer for free after his Arsenal deal expired but has failed to set alight Serie A with just two goals in 21 appearances.
Schira confirmed that Pogba still wants to leave Old Trafford and his first choice is Juventus.
Transfer news LIVE: Jadon Sancho is a wanted man (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal want Liverpool ace
Southampton are ready to try to tempt Adam Lallana back to the south coast in the summer, Express Sport understands.
The Liverpool midfielder, who came through the famed academy at Southampton, has become a summer target for Leicester as well as Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham.
The former Saints star’s contract at Anfield runs out this summer, and Leicester were reported this week to have made an initial approach for the 31-year-old.
Lallana left Southampton to sign for Liverpool in a £25million deal in the summer of 2014, but is regarded as unlikely to sign another deal with Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are ready to let him go.
Transfer news LIVE: Timo Werner could join Liverpool (Image: GETTY)
Timo Werner update
Liverpool transfer target Timo Werner has been issued a stern warning by RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann after the striker said he felt “very proud” to have been linked with a move to the Premier League leaders.
“It would be more difficult for Timo Werner to play at Liverpool than at Leipzig”, Nagelsmann told German publication Sport Bild.
“He will not get the status he has here in the first few years and I tell him that too.
“The boys are seeing how we are developing and how much potential we have. We don’t leave anyone, who helps us, defenceless.”
Chelsea’s £210m plan
Chelsea have identified three leading transfer targets ahead of the summer. Frank Lampard is looking to revamp his squad after a frustrating January window that saw no arrivals at Stamford Bridge.
A £33.5million deal for Ajax’s creative kingpin Hakim Ziyech has already been agreed but further incomings are expected once the campaign is finished.
According to Goal, Chelsea are looking to further invest in attacking areas while a new left-back is also on the agenda.
Borussia Dortmund’s £100million-rated Jadon Sancho is high on the wish list but there are plenty of clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool tracking his situation.
Timo Werner (£50m) of RB Leipzig and Leicester’s Ben Chilwell (£60m) are also wanted.
