Gossip: Man United record signing offered to Barcelona
POGBA OFFERED TO BARCELONA
Well don’t we have quite the whopping story for you here. Mundo Deportivo, via the mail on Sunday, claim that Paul Pogba has been offered to Barcelona by Mino Raiola, who believed Pogba to be unhappy with life at Manchester United.
You have to admire the brass balls on Raiola, if this is true and he has also leaked the story to Mundo. Raiola might well believe Pogba to be unhappy and be happy to tell Barcelona as much, but he’s Manchester United’s player.
The Mail point out that they said in April that Jose Mourinho was willing to sell Pogba this summer, although there’s no evidence that that is still the case.
Also, Mundo Deportivo say that Pogba is one of three French midfielders that Barcelona are targeting. Given that the other two are Adrien Rabiot and Steven Nzonzi, we’d advise that both are more likely to get done.
COURTOIS TO JOIN HAZARD AT REAL MADRID
Chelsea might finally have a new manager and a new central midfielder too, but their problems have not all magically disappeared. Eden Hazard spoke on Saturday evening and gave his strongest hint yet that he would like to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid. And he’s not the only one.
The Mail on Sunday claim that Real Madrid will soon make a £200m bid for Hazard, which isn’t bad given that we were told £150m on Friday. If Chelsea wait until the end of the week then they might get a world-record bid.
The more interesting news comes from Belgian outlet HLN. They claim that Real Madrid are in advanced talks with Courtois, who is desperate to join the club and replace Keylor Navas. They still need to make an official bid to Chelsea, but certainly have the goalkeeper on side.
ARSENAL TO SIGN ANOTHER URUGUAYAN SERIE A MIDFIELDER
Arsenal supporters are presumably enjoying this new efficient transfer business, and there might be more to come still. Having signed one Uruguayan midfielder from Serie A already, it looks like Arsenal might go back for more.
Gazzetta dello Sport reckon that Arsenal like the look of Rodrigo Bentancur, the Juventus midfielder who was a regular starter for Uruguay as they reached the quarter-finals. They also say that Barcelona are keen on him.
Bentancur is still only 21, having joined Juventus last summer from Boca Juniors, Given that he is highly-rated in Turin and has a contract until 2022, he’s going to cost an awful lot of money. Surely Arsenal have enough midfield options now?
AND THE REST
Tottenham are weighing up a move for France defender Benjamin Pavard… Chelsea are ready to sell Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud this summer and sign Gonzalo Higuain… Southampton have made a £20m offer to Liverpool for striker Danny Ings… Wolves are closing on a deal to sign Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario… Watford are considering signing Sunderland misfit Jack Rodwell… Burnley aim to push through a £12m deal for Swansea’s Sam Clucas.
