Gossip: Man United ramp up with Dier and Perisic

Sarah Winterburn

LOOKING FOR ERIC
Manchester United are ramping up the pressure on Tottenham with a story released to pretty much every reliable Manchester journalist that they are prepared to make a £50m bid for utility man Eric Dier. The (red) devil is in the detail, with all reports making it clear that the player himself wants the move. And not just because it would double his wages to £140,000 a week, but because he is a United fan.

Tottenham are said to have already knocked back a bid for Dier and told United that the England international is not for sale, but £50m for a player who is not first choice in any position. It’s a no-brainer.

 

AND PERISIC TOO
Those lucky Manchester journalists were given two stories on Tuesday night; the other was that Ivan Perisic could be a Red by Tuesday after a protracted saga that does not seem to be matched by any excitement among United fans. Inter still want £49m for the winger and United only being prepared to pay £40m.

The solution is pretty simple, with The Guardian reporting that ‘the fee may be about £45m’ and the Daily Telegraph noting the same. So if United get their way, Jose Mourinho will have his squad within the week.

 

WHICH STRIKER FOR CHELSEA?
Could it be Andrea Belotti? Italian newspaper La Stampa seems to think so, with talk of a ‘big bid’ incoming from Stamford Bridge for the Torino striker. It really will have to be a big bid, with his buy-out clause set at £89m. Ouch.

Could it be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? The Sun claim that Chelsea have been offered the striker for £65m but that Antonio Conte would still prefer Alvaro Morata. But will Real Madrid sell the Spaniard? They will certainly want more than the £62m reportedly on offer.

 

AND THE REST
Ross Barkley’s future at Everton looks increasingly uncertain after the England midfielder was left out of Ronald Koeman’s squad for the trip to Tanzania…Lucas Leiva could be on his way to Lazio after he was not offered a new contract at Liverpool…Paris St-Germain are considering a move for Manchester City and France defender Eliaquim Mangala…PSG are also on the verge of signing Brazil full-back Dani Alves on a free transfer despite interest from Manchester City…Everton want to replace Romelu Lukaku with Crystal Palace and Belgium striker Christian Benteke…West Ham want to sign Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart, 30, but only on loan…West Brom are among 20 clubs competing to sign 22-year-old Chelsea and France defender Kurt Zouma on loan…Everton will rival Crystal Palace for £8.6m-rated Ajax and Netherlands defender Jairo Riedewald.