£70m for Aubameyang?
Of all the transfer rumours swirling around Old Trafford at the moment, among the most outlandish is the claim that Manchester United are interested in Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Reported by the Daily Star, the claim was made by talkSPORT radio host Andy Goldstein, who said: “I’ve got someone on the inside, not at United by the way, someone on the inside who every so often would tell me transfer gossip.
“He has told me that United are interested in Aubameyang. He’s got two years left on his deal, he is 29 years old, he is the finished article. United did something similar with [Robin] van Persie, Romelu Lukaku isn’t doing it for [United manager Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer, I’m led to believe.”
The fee, he claimed, would be £70m – or as Goldstein himself put it “crazy money” for a 29-year-old. However, his source apparently has a 75% strike rate on calling transfers, so who knows?
Wan-Bissaka a priority
It’s hard to escape the transfer rumours surrounding United this summer as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rebuilds the squad and big names shuffle towards the Old Trafford exit.
But amid all the noise it seems that Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is currently United’s No.1 target.
The Manchester Evening News (MEN) reports that United “are prioritising a deal” for the full-back “before they move onto other targets in the transfer window”.
However, the paper says that the move is complicated by the fact that Wan-Bissaka is currently on duty with the England under-21s, for who he scored a stoppage-time own goal to gift France victory in the European Championship on Tuesday night.
On top of that United have already had two bids of £40m and £35m including add-ons rejected by Palace. It means that “a number of player representatives are in a ‘holding pattern’ as United continue negotiations”, says the MEN.
Once the deal is done United will move on to their next task – signing a midfielder, presumably to replace Paul Pogba.
Meunier also on the radar
If a deal for Wan-Bissaka cannot be agreed then United have identified an alternative in the form of Thomas Meunier of Paris Saint-Germain.
However, that deal may not be straightforward either. Metro points out that Arsenal are also keen on the PSG defender and are anxious to sign him quickly after Hector Bellerin was ruled out for the opening weeks of the season and Stephan Lichtsteiner left the Emirates.
United in ‘seductive’ Lo Celso move
So, which midfielders are on United’s wishlist this summer? FourFourTwo says Giovani Lo Celso is a target despite the fact he is also being courted by Tottenham.
FourFourTwo picks up on a report in Spain that suggests Real Betis are tempted to sell the 23-year-old thanks to United’s “seductive” proposals… and the £80m that goes with it.
“The report claims that United are planning for a potential Paul Pogba exit, and that they have identified Lo Celso, 23, as a replacement,” says the magazine.
A bid of £80m could soon be on the table and “that amount wouldn’t be far off Lo Celso’s £89m release clause, and is believed to be a very attractive offer for Betis”.
Pereira could sweeten Maguire deal
Man Utd’s other big defensive target this summer is said to be Leicester City centre-back Harry Maguire.
The Sun reports that the Old Trafford hierarchy could use young Brazilian ace Andreas Pereira as a “sweetener” in their bid to sign the England international.
United are “unwilling to meet the Foxes’ eye-watering £90m valuation” of Maguire, explains the tabloid, but are aware that Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers is a big fan of rookie midfielder Pereira.
Rodgers tried to get the 23-year-old on loan when he was at Celtic and he could now be used as bait in the deal for Maguire.
Jones offered in Diop swap
West Ham defender Issa Diop is also on the Old Trafford watch list and The Sun claims United have offered Phil Jones in part exchange.
United’s £45m-plus-a-player offer for 22-year-old Diop was rejected out of hand by West Ham. But the Sun has discovered that the player deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford was centre-back Jones.
West Ham turned down the offer “partly because they had no intention of selling Diop and also because they have no interest in taking Jones”, says the paper.
Other Man Utd transfer rumours:
- Matthijs de Ligt has put United on “red alert” after turning down a move to Barcelona – but PSG are now favourites to sign him. (Daily Express)
- David de Gea may not leave this summer with PSG now poised to swoop for AC Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma instead. (The Sun)
- Anthony Martial looks to be staying after United baulked at the suggestion the French winger could be the makeweight in a deal for West Ham’s Issa Diop. (Daily Star)
- Romelu Lukaku will not use the “same unsavoury methods” as Paul Pogba to force an Old Trafford exit, although he too wants to leave. (Daily Mail)
