Latest Man United gossip: Zouma, Matuidi, Silva, Hart

Sarah Winterburn

WHO DO MAN UNITED WANT TODAY?
It’s been that kind of week. On Friday they were going to spend £280m on new strikers and on Saturday they were targeting Joe Hart. When you are battling for a top-four spot – at best – you have to let it be known that things might get better.

On Sunday, we have The Sun exclusively claiming that Jose Mourinho is targeting his old Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma. The Frenchman is very much fourth-choice centre-half for Antonio Conte after returning from serious injury and Mourinho reportedly fancies swooping in and making him a United player.

Elsewhere, the Sunday Express claim that Mourinho ‘is ready to spend £80million on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi and Monaco’s star Bernardo Silva’. It sounds like a complete punt from rugby writer Neil Fissler but it’s fair to say both players would be welcome additions, with Silva’s nine assists in Ligue Un this season dwarfing anything produced by a United player.

Oh and the Sunday Mirror say that Manchester City will allow Hart to join United if they stump up £30m for the England international.

 

VAN DIJK FOR CITY, LIVERPOOL OR ARSENAL
We think this may be the first time that Arsenal have been linked with Virgil van Dijk and it comes courtesy of an exclusive in the Star. They say that ‘ARSENAL and Manchester City are leading the £50million chase for Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk’, with those two clubs moving ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton. Poor Everton.

The Sunday People have different ideas, claiming that the Dutchman’s representatives have talked to Liverpool and Arsenal this week.

 

SPURS WANT £50M FOR WALKER
If Manchester City want Kyle Walker – and we keep being told that is the case – then they will have to stump up £50m, according to The Sun. Walker himself appears to be ready to leave Tottenham, aware that his wages (said by The Sun to be less than £60,000 a week) would be more than doubled at City.

That move would make him the joint most expensive defender in world football. That simply can’t be right.

 

AND THE REST
Promoted Newcastle have made a shock move for Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford…Chelsea are still the favourites to sign Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko…Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen says he is not leaving Tottenham despite a disappointing season…Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez wants to permanently sign winger Christian Atsu…Everton manager Ronald Koeman has told midfielder Ross Barkley, 23, he will be sold if he does not sign a new £100,000-a-week contract.