Transfer news UPDATES: Man Utd quoted £70m for Jadon Sancho, Arsenal find Ozil replacement
Posted Saturday, February 16, 2019 by Express.co.uk
Jadon Sancho to Manchester United
Manchester United made contact with Borussia Dortmund to discuss the signing of Jadon Sancho.
That’s according to The Sun, who claim Dortmund quoted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side a whopping £70million for the England international.
Sancho's story has been well publicised this year following the decision to turn his back on Manchester City in August 2017 in order to get more game time - one that has seen him burst into the limelight.
He’s since scored eight goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions.
However, should Ed Woodward and the United board agree to pay Dortmund’s £70m valuation - City will be entitled to 15 per cent because of a sell-on clause inserted in their original deal with Dortmund.
Matthijs De Ligt interest
Juventus have made signing Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt their top priority.
And they’ve hatched a plan to secure the 19-year-old’s signature.
Italian publication Tuttosport claim Juventus will offer Ajax Italy Under-21 international Moise Kean plus cash in exchange.
The report says Juventus will allow Ajax to sign Kean for £17.5million providing a buy-back clause is inserted in the deal.
de Ligt is valued at £75million, but with Kean heading in the opposite direction - Juventus will have to part with less cash.
Adrien Rabiot to Barcelona
PSG outcast Adrien Rabiot remains convinced he’s joining Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.
That’s according to French newspaper Le Parisien, who claim Rabiot has told friends and family that a Nou Camp switch is happening.
Rabiot has been frozen out by manager Thomas Tuchel after refusing to sign a new contract.
The midfielder talent hasn’t played a single minute for PSG since December 15 and doesn’t expect to play again this season.
Tottenham had been due to snare Rabiot in a £20million deal last month before the transfer collapsed.
And Express Sport understand Daniel Levy and co. are worried Liverpool might swoop in to beat them to the punch in the summer.
Marco Veratti to Old Trafford
Manchester United should sign PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, says Dimitar Berbatov.
Verratti, 26, pulled the strings for the French side during Tuesday’s Champions League win at Old Trafford.
And Betfair Ambassador Berbatov thinks United should make an approach.
“Marco Veratti was very impressive in the centre of the park for PSG,” Berbatov told Betfair. “What I like about him is that his first thought is always to go forwards, but if that's not on, he's happy just to keep the ball, controlling the tempo and almost putting the other team to sleep.
“The Italian is an unbelievable talent; he reminds me of Xavi and Iniesta in many ways. He'd be great at United next to Nemanja Matic in midfield, allowing the Serbian to do the dirty work while he controlled the game. Can't see PSG selling though!”
No Neymar return
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has ruled out a return for Barcelona.
Neymar joined Paris St-Germain for a world-record £200million in 2017 but is continually linked with a return to the Nou Camp.
"I've spoken with Neymar, we've seen each other a few times, but his people have never told me he wants to come back,” Bartomeu told Spanish radio station Radio Kanal Barcelona.
No one's called us about it. Neymar has a contract with PSG. It's his second season there and it's very difficult (to imagine) they want to sell. We didn't want to.
"We have the disadvantage of the (release) clause here. European clubs (can) take advantage of that. That's not the case (in France) so it's not possible for him to return.
"The club's taken another path, with (Ousmane) Dembele, (Philippe) Coutinho. We have to move on with them. They're the two biggest investments in the club's history and we back them 100 per cent."
Real Madrid Icardi twist
Real Madrid could have received a boost in their efforts to sign Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan.
Icardi is not happy at the San Siro and will miss Inter’s weekend clash with Sampdoria due to injury.
Gazzetta dello Sport report he had a 15-minute showdown talk with Inter manager Luciano Spalletti.
Icardi has already lost the Inter captaincy and did not train with the team on Friday.
Done Deals at Wolves
Wolves club captain Conor Coady and fellow defender Matt Doherty have signed new long-term contracts with the Premier League club.
Coady, 25, and Doherty, 27, have both agreed new four-and-a-half-year deals, Wolves announced on their official website.
"Conor Coady and Matt Doherty have committed their long-term futures to Wolves by agreeing new deals until 2023," read a statement.
Wanted: Matthijs de Ligt
Barcelona are interested in signing Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.
But the transfer hinges on the fitness of centre-back Samuel Umtiti.
Umtiti, 25, has returned to light training having spent three months on the sidelines nursing a serious knee injury.
It was reported that his return would spell the end of Barca’s search for defensive reinforcements.
However, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo claim Barcelona will look to bring £75m-rated de Ligt to the Nou Camp if Umtiti’s injury issues persist.
Mesut Ozil replacement
Arsenal have identified a replacement for Mesut Ozil, reports claim.
Ozil’s days at the Emirates look numbered having been repeatedly frozen out by Unai Emery.
The Daily Telegraph recently claimed that Arsenal are actively looking to find teams that could afford to sign the German, with his £350,000-a-week wages said to be the biggest obstacle.
And a significantly cheaper successor has been found.
Italian website Calciomercato claim the Gunners are preparing a summer swoop for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz.
The report claims Arsenal scouts have been monitoring the 19-year-old, who has notched up 11 goals and provided six assists in 28 appearances in all competitions.
Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan
Inter Milan are looking at alternatives to striker Mauro Icardi.
That’s according to Tuttomercato, who claim the Serie A side are looking at Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku to replace the Argentine.
Inter Milan announced on Wednesday that Icardi had been stripped of the captaincy with goalkeeper Samir Handanovic handed the honour.
The rift has led to speculation the 25-year-old could leave the San Siro this summer with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea expected to challenge for his signature.
And Tuttomercato suggest Lukaku, who is playing second-fiddle to Marcus Rashford, has been identified as a potential successor.
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