Gossip: Another major Man Utd swap deal

Daniel Storey
Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Willian (C) celebrates after scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

MOURINHO WANTS WILLIAN FOR MARTIAL
You might be getting a little weary of Jose Mourinho’s schtick, but you cannot doubt his efforts in bringing back the notion of the swap deal to top-level football. The deal to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal and send Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the opposite direction was the first of its kind in years at the top end of the Premier League. Now, Mourinho wants to do another.

With Chelsea reportedly interested in signing Anthony Martial, Steve Bates writes in the Sunday Mirror that Manchester United’s manager will push for a deal to sign Willian from Stamford Bridge as part of the deal.

Mourinho is clearly a fan of Willian from their days together at Chelsea, and has expressed an interest in signing him before. It should be said that Willian is now 29, so would very much be a signing for the now.

 

OR SIGN MILINKOVIC-SAVIC
Alternatively, Mourinho might spaff his cash on Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The 23-year-old is incredibly highly-regarded in Italian football, and looks set to make a big move this summer. Barcelona have also been mentioned.

In the Sun on Sunday, Mike McGrath has an exclusive that an £80m deal for Milinkovic-Savic has already been agreed. It puts into perspective the deal Liverpool have pulled off in signing Naby Keita for £48m.

McGrath says that a deal has now been agreed after United accepted that they were not going to be able to get the Serbian on the cheap. He would make for an expensive central midfield with £40m Nemanja Matic and £89m Paul Pogba. No excuses now.

 

JUST GIMME DE LIGT
…and pass the dro. Buss anotha bokkle a moe.

The name of Matthijs de Ligt has been linked to several high-profile Premier League clubs. Manchester United were considered as potential suitors, while Tottenham could use him as a replacement for Toby Alderweireld and pair him with Davinson Sanchez.

Now, Manchester City are credited with interest. The Sunday Mirror’s Simon Mullock writes that Pep Guardiola is ready to sanction a £50m move for a defender who would replace Vincent Kompany in the long-term.

 

CONTE SWAP FOR SARRI
Antonio Conte won’t be the new manager of Italy, and Maurizio Sarri quite fancies the Premier League. So you can put two and two together and believe that those two Italian coaches will swap jobs this summer.

The chances of that happening have increased after Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis blew kisses at Conte.

“Conte is a friend, I admire him a great deal,” De Laurentiis said. “There are many fine coaches in Europe and all over the world, it’d be a shame to lose what we have built up in terms of football beauty.

“I am fond of Sarri and I don’t like divorces. But, if he tells me again that he wants stars, my dear, we have stars, but cannot afford those who play for Manchester City or Real Madrid.”

That’s not particularly subtle.