Gossip: Jorginho to Man United; Wilshere to Wolves

JORGINHO IS MAN UNITED MIDFIELD TARGET
Toni Kroos might be the dream midfielder to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United’s smooth passer in midfield, but the Independent claim that Napoli midfielder Jorginho is emerging ‘as a greatly adept and more viable alternative’. The Italian has notched a pass completion rate just under 90% in Serie A this season and Mourinho fancies a slice of that tick-tock passing.

The Independent claim that Mourinho wants two central midfielders this summer – with Marouane Fellaini leaving – and Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Weigl, Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fred and Valencia’s Carlos Soler are also on his list. That’s a nice list.

 

LYON WANT MARTIAL NOW
We know what you’re thinking – that Lyon could not afford Anthony Martial and Anthony Martial would not want to join Lyon – but do not shoot the messenger; we are just carrying word from The Sun Online that the French club want to bring the Frenchman back to Ligue Un and would offer the flexibility of a loan move. Nice, but we suspect that Manchester United would prefer the flexibility of £60m in their pockets from Arsenal or Juventus or Barcelona.

And anywhere, Martial started against Bournemouth on Wednesday night and could well start against Tottenham at Wembley; his United race may not be run.

 

EVERYBODY WANTS KURZAWA
If the selection of Marcos Alonso at left-back in the PFA Team of the Year taught us anything, it is that there is a shortage of in-form left-backs in the Premier League. Which explains why Paris Saint-Germain left-back Layvin Kurzawa is wanted by three of the Big Six. The Mirror say Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United are all interested.

Spurs are likely to sell Danny Rose this summer while United could cash in on Luke Shaw (though lord knows where we are in that particular story arc). Completing the transfer triptych are Chelsea. We must have imagined them spending £25m on a back-up left-back in January.

 

WILSHERE TO WOLVES
The campaign of the Mirror’s John Cross to get Jack Wilshere a better contract at Arsenal continues apace as he links the midfielder with a summer move to newly promoted Wolves. And he writes: ‘They face major competition for England international Wilshere – he’s already had a huge offer from Everton while Liverpool and Manchester City continue to watch developments.’

Meanwhile, we are told that Wilshere really just wants to stay at Arsenal. But not on the paltry £90,000 a week (plus bonuses and incentives) he is being offered.

 

AND THE REST
Tottenham are considering another move for Leicester City winger Demarai Gray…Liverpool want to sign Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves…Crystal Palace will look to sell Belgian striker Christian Benteke this summer…Newcastle will re-open talks with Chelsea in an attempt to sign winger Kenedy on a permanent deal...Southampton full-back Matt Targett is open to joining Fulham on a permanent deal this summer…Everton are favourites to sign 16-year-old French midfielder Kamal Bafounta from Nantes.