Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd done deal announced, Pogba pictured with Zidane, Arsenal £21m
Transfer news LIVE - all the latest rumours and gossip coming out of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Posted Friday, October 18, 2019 by Express.co.uk
Wojciech Szczesny enquiry
Manchester United were interested in signing former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny before David de Gea committed his future to the club, it has been claimed.
From the start of the year De Gea stalled on signing a new deal at Old Trafford, causing club executives to sound out potential replacements.
The club remained confident throughout the summer window that De Gea would sign on but did receive interest in the Spaniard from Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Goal, that triggered United into contacting Juventus over the availability of Szczesny.
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Denis Zakaria battle
Manchester United and Tottenham are expected to challenge for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria.
The Premier League duo are in the market for a midfielder in the upcoming transfer window and both have Zakaria in their sights.
German publication Bild claim Monchengladbach will demand upwards of £50million for the 22-year-old, who has 24 caps for Switzerland at international level.
Zakaria has just under three years remaining on his contract.
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Ivan Rakitic deal blocked
Manchester United will NOT be signing Barcelona outcast Ivan Rakitic.
And that, according to the Daily Mail, is because Rakitic’s family have blocked the move.
Rakitic has fallen down the pecking order at the Nou Camp after the arrival of Frenkie De Jong and will look to leave in the coming months.
Old Trafford was tipped as a potential destination but Rakitic’s family have ruled that out because of the weather with France or Italy preferred.
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Wanted: Erling Haaland
Another contender has entered the race to sign Red Bull Salzburg forward Erling Haaland.
Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have all been linked with the 19-year-old star, who netted against Liverpool at Anfield before the international break.
But there’s a new suitor.
The Sun claim Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have sent scouts to monitor the teenage sensation and could submit a mega-money offer to gazump their rivals.
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Don’t lose Allegri!
Manchester United must sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of missing out on Massimiliano Allegri, claims former West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.
The Red Devils have suffered their worst start to a season for 30 years, having won just two of their first eight Premier League games and sit 12th in the table.
And Hislop believes United must act fast because Allegri would be at the top of other clubs’ lists if they decided to change their manager.
"If you’re Manchester United, the time is now to act,” Hislop said on ESPN FC. “If these stories are originating in Italy, you have to think that Allegri or his representatives have played some part in leaking this information.
"And if you’re Manchester United and you’re thinking long term and you’re not convinced by Solskjaer - and let’s be honest why would you? - and you’re starting to think about who the next manager is, Allegri is already at the top of the list.
"But then saying that, any big club who’s considering changing their manager, Allegri would be top of their list as well.”
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Declan Rice
Paul Ince has warned Manchester United against signing West Ham star Declan Rice.
The Hammers midfielder, 20, has frequently been linked with a move to Old Trafford for a staggering £80million.
But Ince doesn’t think he’s the answer to United’s problems.
"People say things just for the sake of saying them. I don't think [Man Utd] spend £80m on Declan Rice, that's for sure, at this moment in time" Ince told TalkSport.
"You've got to remember he was a centre-half and as a midfield player, I've watched quite a lot of him this year, he's still got a long way to go.”
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Brandon Williams signs
Brandon Williams has signed a new long-term deal with Manchester United after making his first-team breakthrough.
The 19-year-old United fan has been with the club since the age of seven and made his debut in last month's Carabao Cup clash with Rochdale.
Williams' first start came the following week at AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League and the left-back has now agreed a new contract until 2022, with the option of a further season.
"This season has just been better than I expected, being a first year," he said. "Getting into the squad, obviously doing well in the league and keeping going until the end of the season.”
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Arsenal target
Arsenal are interested in Olympiakos winger Daniel Podence.
That’s according to Greek publication Sportime, who claim Unai Emery wants the Portuguese winger at the Emirates Stadium.
Podence, 23, joined Olympiakos from Sporting Lisbon in July 2018 and has since impressed - netting a superb individual effort against Tottenham in the Champions League.
Sportime claim two Premier League clubs are monitoring Podence with Sevilla also eyeing up the £21million-rated attacker.
However, Podence has today signed a new contract with Olympiakos - though the details of the deal are undisclosed and it’s not known whether that will put off potential suitors.
Messi talks Barcelona exit
Lionel Messi has reiterated his desire to stay with Barcelona.
The Argentine magician, 32, recently claimed he considered leaving Barcelona in 2013 amid a tax avoidance case.
But having landed an incredible sixth Golden Shoe of his career - Messi says he’s never “never had the need to leave” Barcelona.
"Each of us looks for experiences that he considers to be best for himself,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I have never had the need to leave the best club in the world, which is Barcelona. Here I enjoy every workout, every game and the city.”
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Aston Villa raid
Manchester United should raid Aston Villa for three of their star players in January, according to former Red Devils striker Alan Brazil.
Brazil reckons defender Tyrone Mings and midfielders Jack Grealish and John McGinn would improve Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
"When we’re talking about who United might target, they could do worse than Mings, Grealish and McGinn couldn’t they?” Brazil said on talkSPORT.
"If they are going to spend a couple of hundred million… I don’t want to decimate the Villa side but that would.
"If you are Ole and you’re going to Ed Woodward that is who I would want. Do you not think those three would improve United? “Put the three of them in United’s side and I think they finish top five.”
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Mesut Ozil’s future
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has insisted Mesut Ozil has the "possibility" to be a key part of his team again.
The playmaker has only featured twice for the Gunners this season, but in an interview with The Athletic refuted suggestions he may leave the Emirates any time soon.
Ozil signed a new three-and-a-half year contract worth £350,000 per week in January 2018 which will run until the summer of 2021 and stated this week he would be "staying until then."
Emery said: "This year started difficult for him. He worked well in pre-season and he was playing in the games. But then the problem he had along with Sead Kolasinac stopped him. After that he was sick for one week and then he lost a lot of training to keep his fitness.
"But in the last two to three weeks he's improved with us in training and I think it's good. I didn't close the possibility for him to play.”
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Lionel Messi discusses retirement
Lionel Messi says he will be the first person to know when it is time to retire.
The Argentine has maintained incredible levels of consistency over 15 years at Barcelona but has suffered an injury-hit start to this season.
"You realise yourself how long you can continue,” the Barcelona legend said. “I’ll find out over time. I’ll be the first to say: 'I've come this far and I can't do it anymore,’ or that I feel good to carry on.
"Over the years I will find that out.”
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Sergio Romero backed
David James believes Manchester United second-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero is just as good with the ball at his feet as Ederson and Alisson.
"I've analysed him and there are a few 'keepers who are highly-rated who just put the ball out there in a general area. But he's as good as Ederson and Alisson using his left foot and right foot,” James told Goal .
"David de Gea is, of course, the number one, but I looked at Romero when Manchester United bought him and I was amazed at how good the guy is with his feet – then I saw an improvement in De Gea.
"What you tend to find is when you've got two 'keepers or two players training with each other day in, day out, you start picking up positive habits from the other player.”
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Solskjaer sack latest
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could face the sack within two weeks, with Manchester United to replace him with Massimiliano Allegri, according to Italian reports.
Tuttosport says ex-Juventus boss Allegri is close to signing a deal, and wants to be on his way to Old Trafford within the next fortnight, to give him as much time as possible to turn United's season around.
Reports say Solskjaer will be sacked if United lose to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Allegri would be keen on signing Juve's Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic if he joins United, Tuttosport says.
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