Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd open talks, Liverpool done deal, Chelsea backed to sign three

Posted Sunday, December 15, 2019 by Express.co.uk

Transfer news LIVE - All the latest rumours and gossip coming out of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Haaland to Man Utd update

Erling Haaland’s father wants assurances over his son’s playing time if he were to join Manchester United in January, according to transfer expert Ian McGarry.

"We’re going to start with a bit of news on Erling Haaland, the RB Salzburg striker who is tearing it up in the Champions League as well as the Austrian league,” McGarry said on the Transfer Window podcast.

"We know that Marcel Bout, who is Manchester United’s chief scout, watched him this week against Liverpool.

"We can tell you that he then met Erling’s father, of course the former Leeds United and Manchester City player Alf Inge Haaland, to talk about the possibility of a transfer to Old Trafford.

"Things went well as much as we’ve been told except for one little thing, which is a major thing, and that is his game time.

"Erling has become accustomed, at just the tender age of 19, to playing every game, playing almost every 90 minutes as well and obviously scoring prolifically in every time he takes the field it seems.

"Now Alf, his father, specifically asked Marcel Bout for assurances with regards to what Erling his son could expect if he joins Manchester United in terms of game time and in terms of the pecking order.”

Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd open talks, Liverpool done deal, Chelsea backed to sign three
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd are keen to spend (Image: GETTY)

Saul Niguez Man Utd plan

Manchester United can sign Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez for cheaper than his £126million buyout clause, according to reports.

The Spain international is being viewed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a potential replacement for Paul Pogba.

Saul has a huge £126m clause in his contract - which means he would be an expensive replacement.

But the Daily Mail say that clause is negotiable.

And to such an extent that United may be able to enter negotiations with Atletico should they stump up an offer of £90m instead.

The La Liga giants aren’t exactly strapped for cash but there’s a sense that now may be the time for the player to move on.

Man Utd boss Solskjaer jets in for Haaland talks

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer flew to Salzburg on Friday to meet with Erling Haaland’s entourage.

The Norwegian is said to have spent the day trying to convince representatives that Haaland should join United, before returning to England as his side prepare to take on Everton on Sunday.

Solskjaer was the man who helped Haaland’s club career get off and running when he managed the hotshot at Molde in his homeland.

Now he is keen on a reunion with the striker at Old Trafford, with Manchester United set to make their move when the January transfer window opens.

According to Norwegian newspaper VG, Solskjaer flew out to Salzburg early on Friday morning for a meeting with the player’s representatives.

His father Alf-Inge Haaland was among those to meet Solskjaer upon his arrival in Austria.

The report claims Solskjaer was absent from United training on Friday while he tried to help tie up a deal.

Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd open talks, Liverpool done deal, Chelsea backed to sign three
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd are keen to spend (Image: GETTY)

Liverpool done deal

Liverpool midfielder James Milner joked that manager Jurgen Klopp only signed his contract extension once he found out that the former England international had penned one himself. The Reds star will be staying at Anfield until 2022.

"I’ve been lucky and privileged to play for this club for four-and-a-half years now, it has been an amazing time seeing how the club is changing and developing,” Milner said.

"I just enjoy coming into training every day, working with this group of players, this manager and coaching staff, and being a part of this football club.

"We had discussions with the club and this was obviously the ideal for me, this was what I wanted to do – stay and play at the highest level as long as I can.

"Liverpool is an unbelievable place to be and we’re a very, very good football team and hopefully we can keep improving.

"Obviously the gaffer waited to sign his dependent on whether I signed mine, so that makes me feel a bit more important!”

Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd open talks, Liverpool done deal, Chelsea backed to sign three
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd want Erling Haaland (Image: GETTY)

Chelsea backed to sign three

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard can secure a top four place in the Premier League he if makes the right signings in the January transfer window, Paul Merson claims.

Writing in his column for the Daily Star, Merson makes the case for Chelsea signing a striker, a centre-back and a left-back.

"They need a centre forward to take the load off Tammy Abraham for a start,” said Merson.

"He’s done brilliantly but you can’t rely on him alone for the rest of the season.

"I think Olivier Giroud will go. He’s hardly played and isn’t getting any younger.

"So they will need to replace him.

"They might need a more experienced centre half if Antonio Rudiger isn’t going to be 100 per cent for the rest of the season – and they need a left back as well.”