Transfer news UPDATES: Neymar to Barcelona twist as deal OFF, Man Utd exit, Arsenal plan
Posted Saturday, August 31, 2019 by Express.co.uk
Smalling to Roma confirmed
Manchester United have confirmed that Chris Smalling has joined AS Roma on a season-long loan deal.
The Serie A side have paid ï¿¡2.7million to bring in the 29-year-old for 12 months.
Smalling has spent nine seasons at Old Trafford since a ï¿¡10m move from Fulham in 2010 and has made over 200 appearances.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said earlier today: "It's just come up the last couple of days, this opportunity for Chris and we've sat down yesterday and discussed it.
"At the moment we have six fit centre-backs and I couldn't promise Chris regular football and he's on the plane over now. I think he'll enjoy the experience over there.
"It's a good club, a big league. There aren't many English players who have had the chance to play in Italy and I'm sure he will come back stronger and better for it."
Neymar to Barcelona twist
Barcelona have pulled the plug on their deal to re-sign Neymar.
Barcelona were tipped to re-sign the Brazil international before the European transfer deadline next week.
Reports this week claimed Barcelona have agreed a fee with PSG for the forward.
However, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, it will take a drastic change for Neymar to end up at the Nou Camp.
They say Barcelona have rejected PSG’s counter offer, adding a deal is ‘practically ruled out’.
PSG demanded ï¿¡195m (€215m), Ousmane Dembele, Ivan Rakitic and Jean-Clair Todibo.
However, Barcelona studied PSG’s proposal and refused to give in to their demands.
Reason behind Dybala to Man Utd falling through
Man Utd’s Alexis Sanchez nightmare was behind the decision to pull the plug on a deal that would have seen Paulo Dybala move to Old Trafford in the summer.
United agreed a deal with Juventus but pulled out because of Dybala’s wage demands and the agents’ fees involved.
And The Athletic claim they were worried about shelling out such significant sums on another player following their problems with Sanchez.
Sanchez was handed a contract worth around ï¿¡400,000 per week when they signed him from Arsenal in 2017 but he has struggled to settle.
Emery on Arsenal exit
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has revealed that left-back Nacho Monreal may be leaving the Gunners this summer.
Monreal has featured in each of Arsenal’s three Premier League matches this season.
But, the Gunners signed Scotland international Kieran Tierney this month as a long-term replacement for the Spaniard.
Monreal has been offered the chance to move back to Spain after a six-and-a-half year spell at the Emirates.
The 33-year-old could be on the move to Real Sociedad in a ï¿¡3million deal.
The European transfer window remains open until Monday September 2, and Unai Emery is willing to let Monreal leave.
Asking if the left-back will leave Arsenal, Emery said: “Yes, he’s one possibility.
Solskjaer on Smalling exit
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told Chris Smalling that he wasn’t guaranteed first-team football at Man Utd ahead of the defender’s loan switch to Roma.
“It’s just come up the last couple of days, this opportunity for Chris,” said Solskjaer.
“Of course we sat down yesterday and discussed it.
“At the moment we've got six fit centre-backs.
“I couldn't promise Chris regular football. He's on the plane over now.”
Man Utd exit blocked
The Glazers blocked a move for Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo to join Everton on transfer deadline day, according to reports.
Rojo remains unsettled at Old Trafford and was the subject of interest from the Merseyside club late in the window.
And the Evening Standard say a loan move was agreed before owners the Glazers pulled the plug as they were demanding a permanent deal that included a ï¿¡25million fee.
Solskjaer is now left with a player who earns a reported ï¿¡120,000 per week and is not wanted at the club.
Paul Pogba development
Paul Pogba is still waiting on his dream transfer to Real Madrid, French newspaper Marca say.
The Manchester United star is desperate to quit Old Trafford for La Liga before the European transfer deadline.
Marca add that Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola is working on the deal.
Pogba will not renew his United contract, which currently runs until 2021.
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