Hunting Hudson-Odoi
Manchester United have “joined the chase” to sign Chelsea and England star Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The Daily Mail reports that the Red Devils are battling with Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich for the hand of the latest Three Lions star.
Hudson-Odoi made his senior international debut for England in Friday’s 5-0 thrashing of the Czech Republic and such was his mature display that his stock has risen even higher.
Despite this, however, Chelsea appear in no rush to tie down the teenager to a long-term deal, and that’s led to United’s decision to latch onto the tail of Hudson-Odoi.
After his substitute performance against the Czechs on Friday, Sky Sports reports that Hudson-Odoi is set to make his full England debut tonight against Montenegro.
Money vs. game-time
The Daily Mail claims that Bayern Munich are ready to table a £30m bid for the 18-year-old in the summer, and United are apparently ready to exceed that sum.
Chelsea want Hudson-Odoi to stay at the Bridge, and although they have offered him an £85,000-a-week deal what they can’t guarantee is regular game-time.
That, says the Mail is why he’s weighing up his future. Bayern “want him as an integral part of their team rebuild”, even promising Hudson-Odoi he can have Arjen Robben’s No.10 shirt.
United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also vowed to bring on young players – assuming he is appointed full-time manager – and that could be a decisive factor in Hudson-Odoi’s decision-making.
Godfrey a target
While United continue to be linked with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, there’s a new defensive name in the mix and that comes courtesy of The Sun.
The paper claims that Norwich City youngster Ben Godfrey “is a target” for United in the summer with the Premier League club “stunned” by his composed performances for the Championship leaders this season.
The 21-year-old comes with a £10m price tag, a figure that has increased dramatically in recent months as he’s blossomed with the Canaries.
Called into the England Under-20s, Godfrey has not missed a single minute of action this campaign since breaking into Norwich’s first team and United believe he has the potential to become a world-class blocker.
The cost for Koulibaly
Metro reports that United now know what they must pay in order to bring Napoli defender Koulibaly to Old Trafford.
That’s because the Italian club have told the Red Devils they will let the 26-year-old Senegal international go for £150m, which is twice as much as Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk last year.
Rated one of the best central defenders in European football since joining Napoli from Genk for £6.5m in 2014, Koulibaly has long been linked with United and although he has also attracted interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona it’s believed his preference is to move to Old Trafford.
But, adds Metro, Napoli are so desperate to hang on to Koulibaly they are ready to offload Allan Marques Loureiro – also known as just Allan – to Paris Saint-Germain “so they don’t need the money for Koulibaly”.
Defenders a priority
Other defenders linked with moves to Old Trafford include Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Sampdoria’s Joachim Andersen.
The Daily Star reports United would have to pay £90m to land England star Maguire – that would be a world-record fee for a defender.
CalcioMercato says that United will have to battle Tottenham to sign Danish international Andersen.
