Gossip: Man United swap deal as defence faces overhaul

MARTIAL AND ALDERWEIRELD SWAP DEAL
They were the top two in our list of top ten Premier League players available for transfer this summer, and reports now suggest that the two players will swap clubs this summer. The Evening Standard went big on Monday on the claim that Tottenham see Anthony Martial as the perfect signing as he can a) deputise for Harry Kane and b) play behind Harry Kane, and there have been further suggestions that Tottenham will push for the deal as part of United’s move for defender Toby Alderweireld, which the Manchester Evening News suggest will cost around £55m.

You know it makes sense.

 

MAN UNITED ALSO WANT FULL-BACKS
Fielding a defence of Sir Alex Ferguson signings in the FA Cup final has obviously convinced Manchester United that they basically need a whole new back line, with the Manchester Evening News saying that United ‘are aiming to recruit a left-back and a right-back’, with Alex Sandro likely to be the man to the left of Alderweireld next season.

The same report says that ‘United are working on a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred. The club have also held informal talks with Chelsea winger Willian.’ Like you do.

 

NEYMAR TELLS PSG: I WANT OUT
We have been told many, many times that Neymar saw PSG purely as a stepping stone to Real Madrid and now Goal claim that the Brazilian has been explicit and told the board of the Parisian club that he wants to move this summer.

They say: ‘Neymar’s agent Pini Zahavi met with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez on May 13 before meeting with Neymar’s lawyer a day later, with the player’s father in the background eager to push a deal through.’

PSG are said to be very keen to keep hold of Neymar but have been assured by Zahavi that there is life after the Brazilian in the form of another client – Robert Lewandowski. If all this goes through, Pini Zahavi is going to be lighting his barbecue with £50 notes.

But Chelsea have other ideas about Lewandowski, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that the Polish striker has been made Chelsea’s No. 1 target, though he could cost £100m.

 

AND THE REST
Manchester City are poised to snap up Leicester ace Riyad Mahrez as their first signing of the summer…Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is targeting one of two English centre-backs this summer, Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles or Burnley’s James Tarkowski…Brighton are closing on a deal for Nigeria international defender Leon Balogun…Championship side Ipswich have interviewed former England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard about their vacant manager’s job…Leeds are keen to bring Manchester City goalkeeper Angus Gunn, 22, to Elland Road on a season-long loan…Swansea are set for talks with former Bayern Munich assistant coach Willy Sagnol.