United fail to land Fernandes
Independent claims that Manchester United won’t be able to make any new signings this month after failing in their attempt to land Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes.
The paper says that Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has accepted defeat in his pursuit of Fernandes because of a “huge difference between the two clubs’ valuation of the player”.
Apparently, that gap is around £20m and there is “no sign of either side budging”.
The news will come as a bitter blow to United fans who had been hoping for an injection of fresh blood this month.
However, the Indy says there is better news down the line with United lining up summer moves for Leicester City’s James Maddison and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish.
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Awesome England
The papers are united in their assessment of England’s thumping Test series win over South Africa.
England wrapped up the series yesterday with another resounding victory in the fourth Test, this time by 191 runs at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Independent claims that the manner of the triumph can be a template for success in the next Ashes series.
Michael Atherton in The Times agrees, saying that the 3-1 series win “offers hope” for the future given that so many youngsters came of age.
The papers also single out Mark Wood for praise with the Durham paceman winning the man of the match award for taking nine wickets in a display of ferocious fast bowling.
In Metro, England captain Joe Root praises his team’s performance saying the Test series win in South Africa sends out an “Ashes warning” to Australia ahead of the 2021 tour.
Today’s newspaper back pages
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