Gossip: Arsenal star will leave; Man United want £75m

Daniel Storey

MARTIAL TO COST SOMEONE £75M
Manchester United may be publicly insisting that Anthony Martial is not for sale, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that it is merely a strategy to keep his asking price sky-high. Martial has fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho; that bright start to life in England feels an awfully long time ago.

Sunday brings two notable updates. The Star on Sunday have an exclusive from Paul Hetherington that Martial will cost £70m, with Manchester United keen to make a significant profit three years after signing him from Monaco. Understandably, the Star put two and two together and say that an asking price of £70m would dissuade Tottenham from making a move.

In the Sunday Mirror, Steve Bates has a very similar story, presumably coming from the same source. He says that Manchester United have slapped a £75m price tag on Martial, not wanting to sell at anything less than a silly price. This one will run and run.

 

WILSHERE WILL BE LEAVING ARSENAL
After his deliciously vague Instagram post the other day, the chances of Jack Wilshere staying at Arsenal appear to be diminishing. Having been told by Unai Emery that he is wanted at Arsenal but will not be a guaranteed starter, Wilshere must choose whether he wants to give his career the recharge it so clearly needs.

In the Mirror, John Cross writes that Wilshere will do a U-turn and leave, but he also lists six clubs that are interested in him. Those six are: Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Sampdoria, AC Milan and Juventus. Quite the range.

In the Sun on Sunday, Justin Allen has an exclusive with claims that West Ham believe that they can convince Wilshere to sign for them, and it is a pretty obvious fit. Allen says that West Ham would offer Wilshere £30,000 more than the £100,000 a week Arsenal have offered.

 

WEST HAM TO SIGN PASTORE
Speaking of West Ham takes us to Sky Sports, and their claim that the Hammers are in talks to sign Javier Pastore from Paris Saint-Germain.

Pastore has slightly fallen off the radar. The attacking midfielder started only 14 times in Ligue 1 last season, and is not part of Argentina’s World Cup squad. He has started two games for his country since June 2015.

The sticking point will be wages. Pastore is reportedly asking for £190,000 a week to join West Ham, which is a sodding lot of money.

 

ALISSON TO REAL MOST LIKELY
It will come as little surprise to Liverpool supporters that had probably already given up hope, but Real Madrid now look firmly in the driving seat to sign Roma goalkeeper Alisson.

The Mail on Sunday bring us the latest update, namely that Real Madrid have made a bid of £50m for the Brazilian, and will make a move for Thibaut Courtois as their alternative option if Roma continue to hold out for £75m.

 

AND THE REST
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce wants Wigan’s Dan Burn to replace John Terry… Fulham want to sign goalkeeper Tim Krul on a free transfer from Brighton… Michail Antonio is set to leave West Ham with Crystal Palace interested.